Big mama thornton book

Big mama thornton biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. Thornton, willie mae big mama the handbook of texas. Willie mae big mama thornton was an american rhythmandblues singer and songwriter. Big mama thornton in concert eugene oregon 1971 duration. In her plaid lumberjack shirts and smart coopting of menswear style in the 1960s, big mama was a pioneer.

The first version of hound dog was recorded by a 25yearold africanamerican rhythm and blues singer named willie mae big mama thornton. Big mama ran out of the dressing room yelling johnny ace just killed himself. The life and music, by michael sporke, was published in 2014. There are some interesting interviews with people who played with her, especially in the first two chapters which deal with her early career.

But while she was a great blues artist she never recieved the honour for her work that she deserved. This nickname was quite appropriate given the singers large stature and remained with her throughout her life. The first version of hound dog was released in march 1953 by willie mae big mama thornton, an africanamerican rhythm and blues singer from alabama. As the present big mama narrates her past, she does so with unique. Big mama thornton american singersongwriter britannica. It is not that surprising that it took a european sporke is german to write it. Michael sporke with the slowdown of the blues in the early sixties this book follows big mama thorntons way to california, discusses her struggle to survive and celebrates her grandiose musical comeback in the. Im a little school girl yeeeah im a little school girl and i want those boys i want those boys take me out, yeah and i want my little school. Big mama thornton is one of the most important female blues artists. She wrote a total of twentytwo blues releases and her first name willa mae is often credited as willie mae. Then the book follows her journey into the mecca of texas blues, houston, where big mama thornton met johnny otis, with whom she recorded her greatest.

Sep 28, 2019 mention the words hound dog, and inevitably an image of a pelvisswiveling elvis presley leaps to mind. The first fulllength biography of thornton, big mama thornton. A classic juke joint blues shouter, thornton recorded the original versions of hound dog and ball and chain, which ended up being big hits for elvis presley and janis joplin, respectively. Big mama thornton music, videos, stats, and photos. The daughter of a minister, she and her six siblings began to sing at a very early age. With the slowdown of the blues in the early sixties this book follows big mama thorntons way to california, discusses her struggle to survive and celebrates her grandiose musical comeback in the course of the blues revival and the hippie movement. Big mamma thornton and johnny ace yes baby released sometime between 195254 but this version is probably from the singles album released about johnnys death in 1955. Sadly, big mama thornton hardly collected any of the profits she rightfully deserved. One of the most elegant assessments of big mama thorntons importance has come in recent years from maureen mahon, a cultural anthropologist at new york university and a specialist in the racialization of rock music. If you want to see big mama thornton singing the blues in her. The story begins with her first musical attempts in the hot harlem revue as a girl of 14. I feel she had one of the greatest voices in american music history, and she does not get near enough attention. Even if her career had been limited to just two songs, big mama thornton still would be vital part of blues and rock history.

This book is an ideal text for courses in american studies, cultural studies, popular culture, and music. The life and music, and is an exhaustively researched and documented about this legendary blues. Big mama thornton by michael sporke overdrive rakuten. Willie mae thornton was born on december 11, 1926, in ariton, alabama, usa. The success that resulted from this show landed thornton the headliner position at the next nights show at the apollo. The hound dog single was accompanied by they call me big mama on. Big mama is traditionally viewed as a blues artist, and the blues was not a field dominated by white males in the 1960s. Dec 11, 2016 willie mae big mama thornton was born in ariton, alabama on december 11, 1926, so today would have been her 90th birthday. Big mama thornton quotes author of with the muddy waters.

Then the book follows her journey into the mecca of texas blues, houston, where big mama thornton met johnny otis, with whom she recorded her greatest success hound dog more. Vocal coach reacts to big mama thornton hound dog youtube. Jul 22, 2014 the book is entitled, big mama thornton. Although her recording did not appear on the record charts, the song has become one of thornton s bestknown, largely due to performances and recordings by janis joplin. Before elvis and janis there was big mama thornton daily kos. Thornton recorded two albums for vanguard in 1975, one a studio affair sassy mama. Her introduction to music, as with most fellow blues legends, started in the baptist church. Alas, elvis presleys rocking 1956 cover was even bigger, effectively obscuring thorntons chief claim to immortality. Big mama thornton simple english wikipedia, the free.

Stream adfree or purchase cds and mp3s now on amazon. With the slowdown of the blues in the early sixties this book follows big mama thorntons way to california, discusses her struggle to survive and. Jan 16, 2017 thorntons lack of access to broader audiences both white and black, was a barrier to her, as well as many other black performers commercial success as vocalists and composers. Big mama thornton was born on december 11, 1926 in montgomery, alabama, usa. Book a lesson with beth at find out about beth at beth roars l. Thornton said in a written statement included in the book the late great johnny ace that ace had been playing with the gun but not playing russian roulette. Then the book follows her journey into the mecca of texas blues, houston, where big mama thornton met johnny otis, with whom she. Big mama, a name for mary, mother of jesus in the mama tata religion. A big break for big mama thornton came in 1953 when jerry lieber and mark stoller composed the song hound dog, which willie mae recorded with peacock records. The ballad of big mama thornton by mat raymond script revolution. She was the first to record leiber and stollers hound dog in 1952, which became her biggest hit. Written by sporke in german and translated into english by big brothers sam andrew as he also did with myth, the book is an engrossing pageturner from beginning to end.

Sassy mama and the previously unreleased big mama swings. Big mama thornton biography, birth date, birth place and pictures. Nov 30, 2010 big mama thornton in concert eugene oregon 1971 duration. Listeners who are left wanting more big mama thornton can invest in the complete vanguard recordings, a triplecd set that includes all of jail and two albums from the same era.

The song was a smash hit and sold almost two million copies. Thornton s lack of access to broader audiences both white and black, was a barrier to her, as well as many other black performers commercial success as vocalists and composers. Later the same year she released they call me big mama peacock 1621. A quick glance at citation number 5 suggests that the author is considering big mama as a rocknroll star, which would explain the comment about white males, though shes never been classified as rock and for good reason. The bside was they call me big mama, and the single sold almost two million copies. Mahon believes big mama thornton was a transgressor par excellence and a textbook example of rockandroll attitude. Trivia 1 willie mae big mama thornton was an american rhythm and blues singer and songwriter. Big mama thornton is the most astounding blues belter there ever was. Willie mae big mama thornton 19261984 find a grave.

That was about the time that i got interested in this music. Fans of big mama thornton will be elated that there is finally a book about her. Billy ward and the dominoes that was the time when clyde mcphatter was there with them. There was a lot of interesting information in the book that i was unaware of. Music profile for big mama thornton, born 11 december 1926. The life and music, and is an exhaustively researched and documented about this legendary blues pioneer. Four years before presley would croon the song to a bored basset hound on the steve allen show on july 1, 1956, a bawdy blues singer named big mama thornton first sang the track. Big mama thornton performs ball and chain with buddy guys blues band.

The life and music is certainly a useful reference book, detailing where and when thornton played and recorded and with whom. Big mama thornton school boy by big mama thornton lyrics. On august 1952, willie mae thornton, now better known as big mama thornton, recorded, with johnny otis and his orchestra a song that would become her signature forever. With her largerthanlife personality and earthy vocal delivery, thornton was one of the rhythm and blues performers who helped usher in the rock and roll era.

Willie mae thornton december 11, 1926 july 25, 1984, better known as big mama thornton, was an american rhythmandblues singer and songwriter. Her father was a minister, and her mother sang in the church choir. Big mama thornton, american singer and songwriter who performed in the tradition of classic blues singers such as bessie smith and memphis minnie. She was the first to record the hit song hound dog in 1952. Reviewed in the united states on june 11, 2018 i was thrilled to learn that a book was written about this magical blues woman, its the only book written about big mama thornton to date. Her work inspired imitation by elvis presley and janis joplin, who recorded popular cover versions of thorntons hound dog and ball and chain. At the time, however, the singer was still living in houston and had to commute to new york for recording sessions. Jan 31, 2015 its sad that it has taken a german to write a book on big mama thornton no american biographer would touch her but thats the way it is.

Willie mae big mama thornton was an american rhythm and blues singer and songwriter. Thornton was the first who recorded hound dog by leiber and stoller. Playing guitar as a sideman for the likes of john lee hooker, percy mayfield, big mama thornton, louisiana. And it was just a few days after that that she had become big mama thornton. Albums include hound dog night mare, in europe, and big mama thornton vol. Big mama thornton was a transgressor par excellence and a textbook. The book shows how big mama thornton found her niche in clubs and festivals. With the end of the sixties, facing a declining interest in the old school blues, the book shows how big mama thornton found her niche in clubs and festivals in the u.

This script has managed to bring big mama thornton to life with a lot of. That was the first time i had ever been to new york. Rockabye baby by big mama thornton 8436542016889 cd. The book then follows big mama thornton through the seventies and eighties until her untimely death. Willie mae big mama thornton only notched one national hit in her lifetime, but it was a true monster. Willie mae thornton december 11, 1926 july 25, 1984, better known as big mama thornton. In 1966 she recorded the album big mama thornton with the chicago blues band on the arhoolie label. Big mama thornton interview the arhoolie foundation. According to thornton, ace pointed the gun at his girlfriend and another woman who were sitting nearby. In the 1st part big mama thornton is singing hound dog. Big mama, a nickname of josephine joseph, matriarchal character in the soul food film and television series big mama unconditional love, a song by ll cool j from his 2002 album 10. During her apollo performances, willie mae acquired the nickname big mama.