Difference between revisions of "Willie Mae Thornton"

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[[Willie Mae Thornton|Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton]]
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[[File:Big_Mama_Thornton.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Big Mama Thornton featured on the album cover of [[We're Only In It For The Money]]]]
  
Born: 11th December 1926 Alabama
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[[Willie Mae Thornton|Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton]] (December 11, 1926 - July 25, 1984) was an American R&B and blues singer.
 
 
Died: 25th July 1984 Los Angeles
 
 
   
 
   
 
One of seven children born into a musical family - father a church minister and mother leading the choir.  During the 1940s sang with a touring show where her height and forceful vocals brought her to the attention of Don Robey while performing at one of his clubs and he signed her to his Peacock Record label.   
 
One of seven children born into a musical family - father a church minister and mother leading the choir.  During the 1940s sang with a touring show where her height and forceful vocals brought her to the attention of Don Robey while performing at one of his clubs and he signed her to his Peacock Record label.   
  
In 1953 while working as vocalist with the [[Johnny Otis]] band at Peacock she recorded a song Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller had written for her. [[Hound Dog]] was a huge hit topping the charts for three weeks. Both Thornton and Otis would later claim credit for the creation of the song. [[Elvis Presley]] also scored a huge hit with the song.
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In 1953 while working as vocalist with the [[Johnny Otis]] band at Peacock she recorded a song Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller had written for her. [[Hound Dog]] was a huge hit topping the charts for three weeks. Both Thornton and Otis would later claim credit for the creation of the song. [[Elvis Presley]] also scored a huge hit with the song.<ref>[https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19754/m1 Show 7 - The All American Boy: Enter Elvis and the rock-a-billies.]</ref>
  
In the early 1960's she moved to San Francisco and continued to work the clubs along the west coast.  [[Janis Joplin]] introduced her to a new generation by recording Thornton's "Ball And Chain"  
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In the early 1960's she moved to San Francisco and continued to work the clubs along the west coast.  [[Janis Joplin]] introduced her to a new generation by recording Thornton's "Ball And Chain", which Joplin sang at the 1967 [[Monterey Pop Festival]] as part of [[Big Brother and the Holding Company]].<ref>[https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19815/m1/#track/3 Show 47 - Sergeant Pepper at the Summit: The very best of a very good year.]</ref> 
  
She is name-checked on the cover of [[Freak Out!]] and is pictured in the collage on the [[We're Only In It For The Money]] cover.
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She is name-checked on the cover of [[Freak Out!]] and is pictured in the collage on the [[We're Only In It For The Money]] cover. <ref>[http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/notes/We%27re_Only_In_It_For_The_Money_Cover.html We're Only In It For The Money Cover Art]</ref>
  
 
The Mothers Of Invention perform [[Hound Dog]] on [['Tis The Season To Be Jelly]].
 
The Mothers Of Invention perform [[Hound Dog]] on [['Tis The Season To Be Jelly]].
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==Notes==
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<references/>
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
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*[[wikipedia:Big Mama Thornton|Wikipedia article on Big Mama Thornton]]
 
*[[wikipedia:Big Mama Thornton|Wikipedia article on Big Mama Thornton]]
  
[[Category:Supporting Cast|Thornton, Willie Mae]]
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[[Category:Blues singers|Thornton, Willie Mae]]
[[Category:Musicians|Thornton, Willie Mae]]
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[[Category:Doo-wop and R&B Artists|Thornton, Willie Mae]]
 
[[Category:Freak Out! (The List)|Thornton, Willie Mae]]
 
[[Category:Freak Out! (The List)|Thornton, Willie Mae]]
 
[[Category:We're Only In It For the Money (The List)|Thornton, Willie Mae]]
 
[[Category:We're Only In It For the Money (The List)|Thornton, Willie Mae]]
 
[[Category:Favorite Artists|Thornton, Willie Mae]]
 
[[Category:Favorite Artists|Thornton, Willie Mae]]
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[[Category:Influences|Thornton, Willie Mae]]

Revision as of 12:52, 17 May 2018

Big Mama Thornton featured on the album cover of We're Only In It For The Money

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

One of seven children born into a musical family - father a church minister and mother leading the choir. During the 1940s sang with a touring show where her height and forceful vocals brought her to the attention of Don Robey while performing at one of his clubs and he signed her to his Peacock Record label.

In 1953 while working as vocalist with the Johnny Otis band at Peacock she recorded a song Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller had written for her. Hound Dog was a huge hit topping the charts for three weeks. Both Thornton and Otis would later claim credit for the creation of the song. Elvis Presley also scored a huge hit with the song.[1]

In the early 1960's she moved to San Francisco and continued to work the clubs along the west coast. Janis Joplin introduced her to a new generation by recording Thornton's "Ball And Chain", which Joplin sang at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival as part of Big Brother and the Holding Company.[2]

She is name-checked on the cover of Freak Out! and is pictured in the collage on the We're Only In It For The Money cover. [3]

The Mothers Of Invention perform Hound Dog on 'Tis The Season To Be Jelly.

Notes

See Also