WILLIE MAE "BIG MAMA" THORNTON, BLUES AND R&B

Today, The Grandma has been listening to one of her favourite singers, Big Mama Thornton, American songwriter of blues and R&B, who died on a day like today in 1984.

Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton (December 11, 1926-July 25, 1984), was an American singer and songwriter of blues and R&B.

The Encyclopedia of Pop, Rock and Soul described Thornton by saying: Her booming voice, sometimes 200-pound frame, and exuberant stage manner had audiences stomping their feet and shouting encouragement in R&B theaters from coast to coast from the early 1950s on.

Thornton was the first to record Leiber and Stoller's Hound Dog, in 1952, which was written for her. It became Thornton's biggest hit, selling over 500,000 copies and staying seven weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B chart in 1953. According to New York University music professor Maureen Mahon, the song is seen as an important beginning of rock-and-roll, especially in its use of the guitar as the key instrument.

Thornton's other recordings include her song Ball and Chain, made famous in the late 1960s by Janis Joplin. Though later recordings of her songs by other artists sold millions of copies, she was denied royalties by not holding the publishing copyrights to her creativity. 

Thornton was born on December 11, 1926, the sixth of George and Mattie (née Haynes) Thornton's seven children.

Thornton's talent was discovered in 1940 when she was 14 years old. Diamond Teeth Mary, the half-sister of one of her early idols Bessie Smith, encouraged her to enter a talent contest after having heard Thornton singing while working a side-job on a garbage truck.

Hound Dog was Thornton's only hit record, selling more than 500,000 copies, spending 14 weeks in the R&B charts, including seven weeks at number one.

As her career began to fade in the late 1950s and early 1960s, she left Houston and relocated to the San Francisco Bay area, playing clubs in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Thornton was found dead at age 57 by medical personnel in a Los Angeles boarding house on July 25, 1984.

Thornton was buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery in Los Angeles County, California.

Thornton's performances were characterized by her deep, powerful voice and strong sense of self. She was given her nickname, Big Mama, by Frank Schiffman, the manager of Harlem's Apollo Theater, because of her strong voice, size, and personality.

Her style was heavily influenced by gospel music that she listened to growing up in the home of a preacher, though her genre could be described as blues.

In 2024, Thornton was selected for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the musical influence category.

More information: Arhoolie

 I hope there's someone out there who could tell me
Why the man I love wanna leave me in so much pain.

Big Mama Thornton