Big Mama Thornton

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Big Mama Thornton (1980)
Big Mama Thornton (1980)

Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton (born December 11, 1926 in Montgomery , Alabama , † July 25, 1984 in Los Angeles ) was an American blues singer , songwriter and harmonica player . She was the first to record " Hound Dog " by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller ; the song later became a hit for Elvis Presley . She also wrote the composition and original recording of Ball and Chain , a later hit for Janis Joplin .

Life

In her childhood, like many blues singers, she took her first musical steps in church. When she was fourteen she was hired by a roadshow called "Hot Harlem Review".

With her strong voice and her impressive demeanor, attempts were made to make a new Bessie Smith out of her. But it wasn't until 1952 that Big Mama was able to record her first success on the Johnny Otis Show with passionate rhythm and blues : Hound Dog , which later became a classic of rock 'n' roll in the version of Elvis Presley . "Hound Dog" was added to The Wire's "100 Records That Set the World on Fire (While No One Was Listening)" list.

In the years 1951-1954, Big Mama recorded some tracks with the Johnny Otis Band for the Peacock Records label , where she played harmonica virtuoso on some recordings. But none of these recordings (for example “I Smell a Rat”, “Stop Hoppin 'on Me”, “The Fish”, “Just like a Dog”) reached the charts again.

Now based on the west coast of the USA, she went through a difficult time in 1957 without a regular band or engagement. During this time she only went to small clubs.

In the 1960s, she also improved her harmonica playing, which, along with her impressive voice, became her trademark. Only with the blossoming blues revival did their situation improve somewhat. In 1965 she took part in the European tour of the American Folk Blues Festival . On this occasion, the album Big Mama Thornton in Europe was recorded in London . With its irrepressible dynamism, it carried away musicians and spectators. Her hit "Ball and Chain" ( covered by Janis Joplin, among others ) let her win the favor of the large audience. She subsequently took part in many tours and festivals, including the Monterey Jazz Festival and the San Francisco Blues Festival , and recorded several albums. Together with T-Bone Walker , she took part in the American Folk Blues Festival again in 1972. She has also performed in major venues such as B. the New York Apollo Theater . During her career she was nominated for the Blues Music Awards six times .

Big Mama increasingly suffered from her alcohol problems, which were bad for her health.

She was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1984. She is also the namesake for the Willie Mae Rock Camp for girls, a non-profit organization that offers musical training for girls between eight and eighteen.

Discography

Live and studio albums

  • 1965: Big Mama Thornton in Europe (Arhoolie)
  • 1966: Big Mama Thornton with the Muddy Water Blues Band (Arhoolie)
  • 1967: Big Mama the Queen at Monterey (MCA Records)
  • 1968: She's Back (Backbeat)
  • 1968: Ball 'n Chain (Arhoolie)
  • 1969: Stronger Than Dirt (Mercury)
  • 1970: Maybe (Roulette Records)
  • 1970: The Way It Is [live] (Mercury)
  • 1973: Saved (Pentagram Records; gospel album)
  • 1975: Jail [live] (Vanguard)
  • 1975: Sassy Mama! [live] (Vanguard)
  • 1978: Mama's Pride (Vanguard)

Posthumously

  • 1986: Quit Snoopin 'Round My Door (Ace)
  • 1990: The Original Hound Dog (Ace)
  • 1992: Hound Dog: The Peacock Recordings (MCA)
  • 1995: The Rising Sun Collection [live] (Just A Memory Records)
  • 1996: They call me Big Mama (MCA Special Markets)
  • 1998: The Way It Is (Mercury)
  • 2000: Complete Vanguard Recordings (Vanguard; consisting of Jail (1975), Sassy Mama (1975) and Big Mama Swings (previously unreleased))
  • 2004: Hound Dog: Essential Collection (Spectrum Music)
  • 2004: With the Muddy Waters Blues Band 1966 [live] (Arhoolie)
  • 2004: Classics 1950-1953 (B&R Classics)
  • 2005: Sassy Mama [Justin-Time] [live] (Just A Memory Records)
  • 2006: Blues (Disky)
  • 2007: Big Mama Thornton Vanguard Visionaries (Vanguard)
  • 2008: Mighty Crazy with Lightnin 'Hopkins (Snapper)

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ All Music Guide biography of Bill Dahl
  2. ↑ All Music Guide biography of Bill Dahl
  3. ↑ Willie Mae Rock Camp-History ( Memento from October 26, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
  4. ↑ Maureen Mahon: Listening for Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton's Voice: The Sound of Race and Gender Transgressions in Rock and Roll . In: Women and Music: A Journal of Gender and Culture . 15, 2011, pp. 1-17. doi : 10.1353 / wam.2011.0005 .
personal data
SURNAME Thornton, Big Mama
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Thornton, Willie Mae (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American blues singer, songwriter and harmonica player
DATE OF BIRTH December 11, 1926
PLACE OF BIRTH Montgomery , Alabama , USA
DATE OF DEATH July 25, 1984
Place of death Los Angeles , California , USA