Big Mama Thornton
Big Mama Thornton (Willie Mae Thornton, December 11, 1926, Ariton, AL - Jul… Read Full Bio ↴Big Mama Thornton (Willie Mae Thornton, December 11, 1926, Ariton, AL - July 25, 1984, Los Angeles, CA) was an American blues musician.
Her introduction to music, as with most fellow blues legends, started in the Baptist church. The daughter of a minister, she and her six siblings began to sing at a very early age. While still a child, Willie Mae taught herself to play the drums and harmonica, and by the age of 14, she had run away from home to make her career in secular music.
She joined Sammy Green's "Hot Harlem Revue" and toured throughout the South in the 1940's, first beginning her musical career in 1947. While touring Texas in 1948, Thornton left the Revue in favor of the state's growing club scene, which she immersed herself in. It was during this time that she was discovered by Don Robey, a black entrepreneur who owned several clubs and record stores in the Houston, TX area. Impressed by her massive size (6 ft, 350+ lb),formidable multi-instrument abilities, and fiery stage presence, Robey signed her to his Peacock Records label, where he began the task of translating the forceful belter's energy onto record.
Her big hit came, not from Robey's capable pen, but from the young songwriting team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was "Hound Dog," which she recorded in 1952 with the Johnny Otis band and released in February 1953. Big Mama Thornton always claimed to have written the song herself (a claim which may actually hold some validity), and her ferocious rendition of it ( complete with Big Mama's growl and a nasty guitar line by Pete Lewis) held the #1 spot in the Billboard rhythm and blues charts for nine weeks. Unfortunately for Thornton, Elvis Presley's smoother and bowdlerized version was a major pop hit in 1956 and successfully eclipsed her biggest claim to fame.
Thornton continued to tour the "chitlin' circuit" as fans began to favour newer R&B sounds over blues. For some years, Big Mama suffered in obscurity like most of her fellow bluesmen. Her name gained wider prominence and her career enjoyed a significant resurgence as her song "Ball and Chain" was covered by Janis Joplin, making it a regular number in her repertoire. From that point onward, Thornton would remain a headliner at blues festivals, colleges, and clubs throughout the country and even in Europe. She began recording again, and released albums for the Arhoolie, Mercury, and Vanguard labels. Years of hard drinking and living began to take their toll, however, and by the late 1970s her health (and her trademark girth) had declined greatly. She nevertheless performed until her death at the age of 57 on July 25, 1984 in Los Angeles, where she was found dead from natural causes in the boarding house room in which she had been living. Johnny Otis conducted her funeral services, and she was laid to rest in Inglewood Park Cemetery.
Her introduction to music, as with most fellow blues legends, started in the Baptist church. The daughter of a minister, she and her six siblings began to sing at a very early age. While still a child, Willie Mae taught herself to play the drums and harmonica, and by the age of 14, she had run away from home to make her career in secular music.
She joined Sammy Green's "Hot Harlem Revue" and toured throughout the South in the 1940's, first beginning her musical career in 1947. While touring Texas in 1948, Thornton left the Revue in favor of the state's growing club scene, which she immersed herself in. It was during this time that she was discovered by Don Robey, a black entrepreneur who owned several clubs and record stores in the Houston, TX area. Impressed by her massive size (6 ft, 350+ lb),formidable multi-instrument abilities, and fiery stage presence, Robey signed her to his Peacock Records label, where he began the task of translating the forceful belter's energy onto record.
Her big hit came, not from Robey's capable pen, but from the young songwriting team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was "Hound Dog," which she recorded in 1952 with the Johnny Otis band and released in February 1953. Big Mama Thornton always claimed to have written the song herself (a claim which may actually hold some validity), and her ferocious rendition of it ( complete with Big Mama's growl and a nasty guitar line by Pete Lewis) held the #1 spot in the Billboard rhythm and blues charts for nine weeks. Unfortunately for Thornton, Elvis Presley's smoother and bowdlerized version was a major pop hit in 1956 and successfully eclipsed her biggest claim to fame.
Thornton continued to tour the "chitlin' circuit" as fans began to favour newer R&B sounds over blues. For some years, Big Mama suffered in obscurity like most of her fellow bluesmen. Her name gained wider prominence and her career enjoyed a significant resurgence as her song "Ball and Chain" was covered by Janis Joplin, making it a regular number in her repertoire. From that point onward, Thornton would remain a headliner at blues festivals, colleges, and clubs throughout the country and even in Europe. She began recording again, and released albums for the Arhoolie, Mercury, and Vanguard labels. Years of hard drinking and living began to take their toll, however, and by the late 1970s her health (and her trademark girth) had declined greatly. She nevertheless performed until her death at the age of 57 on July 25, 1984 in Los Angeles, where she was found dead from natural causes in the boarding house room in which she had been living. Johnny Otis conducted her funeral services, and she was laid to rest in Inglewood Park Cemetery.
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Big Mama Thornton Lyrics
Ball 'N' Chain S-sitting down by my window, Oh, looking at the rain. S-si…
Ball and Chain S-sitting down by my window, Oh, looking at the rain. S-sitt…
Ball and Chain (Live) tting by my window, And I was looking out at the…
Ball n S-sitting down by my window, Oh, looking at the rain. S-sitt…
Big Mama's Bumble Bee Mama bee, mama bee Why don't you come back home I said…
Black Rat Yes you′re one black rat, notfhing have get you through Yes…
Born under a bad sign Well you know how I′m not in trouble He's my only…
Down Home Shakedown You ain't nothing but a hound dog Been snoopin' 'round the…
Everything Gonna Be Alright Call me a Baby sitting down on my knees right here pretty…
Gimme a Penny Yes, I′m alone in this new town My good time buddies…
Hound Dog You ain't nothing but a hound dog Been snoopin' 'round the…
Hound Dog - Single Version You ain't nothing but a hound dog Been snoopin' round my…
Hound Dog/ Walkin' the Dog You ain't nothing but a hound dog Been snoopin' 'round the…
How Come How come you don't treat me good? How come you ain't…
I Smell A Rat I smell a rat, baby I smell a rat, baby You'd better…
Let's Go Get Stoned You know my baby He won′t let me in You know, I…
Life Goes On So you left me, I'll never know I hate to tell…
Little Red Rooster I am the little red rooster Too lazy to crow for…
Little Red Roster I am the little red rooster Too lazy to crow for…
My Heavy Load Packin' up my trouble, movin' on down the road Uh um…
Nightmare Nightmare Last night I had a nightmare Nightmare Last night …
Oh Happy Day Oh happy day (oh happy day) Oh happy day (oh happy…
One Black Rat I smell a rat, baby I smell a rat, baby You'd better…
Rock Me Baby rock me babe baby rock me all night long rock me babe hony…
School Boy I′m a little school girl Yeah-hey I'm a little school girl A…
since i fell for you You made me leave my happy home You took my love…
Summertime Summertime And the livin' is easy Fish are jumpin' And …
Sweet Little Angel I've got a sweet little angel And I love the way…
Swing It on Home I wished I was an Elf Hanging from a tree Now! All…
They Call Me Big Mama Well, they call me Big Mama Cause I weigh 300 pounds Call…
Unlucky Girl i went down on blake street to get a glass of…
Wade in the Water Wade in the water Wade in the water Children wade, in…
Watermelon Man Hey! Watermelon Man Hey you with the red truck- Watermelo…