If you want to see big mama thornton singing the blues in her. Music profile for big mama thornton, born 11 december 1926. Her father was a minister, and her mother sang in the church choir. Hailing from ariton, alabama, thornton grew up singing gospel music with her family at the church where her father preached. According to music writer gillian gaar, thornton also recorded ball and chain for bay tone, although it. There was a lot of interesting information in the book that i was unaware of. Thats a damned shame, because thorntons menacing growl was indeed something. Later the same year she released they call me big mama peacock 1621. Jul 22, 2014 the book is entitled, big mama thornton. Big mama thornton little red rooster lyrics genius lyrics. Hound dog night mare by willie mae big mama thornton. Big mama thornton school boy by big mama thornton lyrics.
Big mama thornton willie mae thornton, december 11, 1926, montgomery, al july 25. Willie mae big mama thornton december 11, 1926 july 25, 1984 was an american rhythm and blues singer and songwriter. Willie mae big mama thorntonwillie mae thornton 19261984 was an influential african american blues singer and songwriter whose career extended from the 1940s to the early 1980s. Big mama thornton is associated with the young texan guitarist sherman robertson. Willie mae thornton was the daughter of a minister and learned drums and harmonica as a child. 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. Big mama thornton bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Willie mae thornton december 11, 1926 july 25, 1984, better known as big mama thornton, was an american rhythmandblues singer and songwriter. The first few minutes are of crowd noise, followed by her band warming up. Albums include hound dog night mare, in europe, and big mama thornton vol. Big mama thornton quotes author of with the muddy waters blues. Jimmy fallon, one of the most popular entertainers in the world and nbcs tonight show host, was on a mission with his first childrens book to have every babys first word be dada. Two were released on a single, you did me wrong and big mamas blues. 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.
Big mama thornton discography, albums and songs mp3 buy at. Big mama thornton simple english wikipedia, the free. About the authors michael sporke is a political scientist and author of music biographies. The life and music is certainly a useful reference book, detailing where and when thornton played and recorded and with whom. Her introduction to music, as with most fellow blues legends, started in the baptist church. Willie mae big mama thornton with kansas city bill and orchestra. Her father was a minister, and her mother sang in the church. Big mama thornton music, videos, stats, and photos. The life and music, and is an exhaustively researched and documented about this legendary blues. Thornton, willie mae big mama the handbook of texas. If you have a threeyearold, theyll love the pictures. Willie mae thornton, better known as big mama thornton, was an american rhythmandblues singer and songwriter.
Like the first one, this one seems more directed at parents of babies and toddlers than the. Big mama thornton was the original artist to record and. Big mama thornton is the most astounding blues belter there ever was. 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. Audiam publishing, latinautor, umpi, bmi broadcast music inc. Big mama thornton quotes author of with the muddy waters. Big mama thornton posted on november, 2017 by simon robinson heres another great albeit it prerestoration shot from the upcoming book of brian smiths blue photographs.
Willie mae big mama thornton was described by songwriter jerry stoller as a bit frightening, a force of nature and absolutely magnificent. Willie mae thornton was born on december 11, 1926, in ariton, alabama, usa. Willie mae big mama thornton was an american rhythm and blues singer and songwriter. 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. Hound dog, hound dog single version, ball n chain, sweet little angel, im feeling alright, biography. She was the first to record the hit song hound dog in 1952. In the early 1960s,thornton recorded several songs for baytone records. So take a lighthearted look at the world from your babys point of view as different animals.
Shellac 10 willie mae big mama thornton hound dog night mare 1953, shellac discogs. Willie mae big mama thornton, blues singer and songwriter, was born on december 11, 1926, in montgomery, alabama. She is best known for her gutsy 1952 rhythm and blues recording of hound dog, later covered by elvis presley, and for her original. The story begins with her first musical attempts in the hot harlem revue as a girl of 14. Willie mae big mama thornton only notched one national hit in her lifetime, but it was a true monster. Willie mae big mama thornton willie mae thornton 19261984 was an influential african american blues singer and songwriter whose career extended from the 1940s to the early 1980s. 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. The bside was they call me big mama, and the single sold almost two million copies. Big mama thornton was a transgressor par excellence and a textbook. Hound dog, a song by big mama thornton on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. When just a teen, she ran off with sammy greens hot harlem revue in the early 40s, billed as the new bessie smith she moved to houston towards the end of the decade and her blues career. Big mama thornton willie mae thornton, 19261984 was born this day. Her best known known record is hound dog, which elvis presley chose, after hearing her version, for his second attempt at a. Big mama thornton biography, birth date, birth place and pictures.
She was the one who recorded hound dog and ball and chain long before elvis presley and janis joplin,and was bitter that others had big. A legal battle began, and the court sided with composers lieber and stoller, thereby keeping big mama thornton from ever receiving any of the sizable royalties the song has accrued through numerous cover versions since her original version was recorded in 1952. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our cookie policy. He would go on to write more than 100 books and thousands of shortstories during his lifetime. Even if her career had been limited to just two songs, big mama thornton still would be vital part of blues and rock history. The book then follows big mama thornton through the seventies and eighties until her untimely death.
Sammy greens hot harlem revue december 11, 1926 montgomery al. Waldo burgess 18741965, american author, naturalist and conservationist, wrote popular childrens stories including the old mother west wind 1910 series. Big mama thornton biography, life, interesting facts. Willie mae big mama thornton encyclopedia of alabama. Big mama thornton, who he photographed backstage in manchester on a blues package tour in 1965. I feel she had one of the greatest voices in american music history, and she does not get near enough attention. Alas, elvis presleys rocking 1956 cover was even bigger, effectively obscuring thorntons chief claim to immortality. Parents need to know that everything is mama, by the tonight show host jimmy fallon is the followup to his first picture book, your babys first word will be dada. Johnny otis writer, jerry leiber writer, mike stoller writer. The life and music, and is an exhaustively researched and documented about this legendary blues pioneer. Big mama thornton, muddy waters, james cotton, otis span.
Four wellexecuted titles which show that, despite his health problems, big mama thornton keeps a real presence on stage. Dec 28, 2015 big mama thornton, muddy waters, james cotton, otis span and others 1965 by jim marshall stay safe and healthy. The singles 19511961, hound dog, jail, vanguard visionaries, sassy mama, top tracks. 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 live at the museum of modern art. Nov, 2017 big mama thornton posted on november, 2017 by simon robinson heres another great albeit it prerestoration shot from the upcoming book of brian smiths blue photographs. Stream adfree or purchase cds and mp3s now on amazon. Willie mae big mama thornton and her hound dog blues band perform at the museum of modern arts jazz in the garden series on july 22, 1971. Willie mae thornton december 11, 1926 july 25, 1984, better known as big mama thornton.
She is best known for her gutsy 1952 rhythm and blues recording of hound dog, later covered by elvis presley, and for her original song. Helping mamas find mental space so that we can be free to enjoy each day and season of motherhood. And if you have a oneyearold, theyll love how it tastes. Thornton was the first who recorded hound dog by leiber and stoller. Like the first one, this one seems more directed at parents of babies and toddlers than the kids themselves its about teaching kids words. I am the little red rooster too lazy to crow for day i am the little red rooster too lazy to crow for day keep everything in the farm yard upset in every way. The daughter of a minister, she and her six siblings began to sing at a very early age. Hound dog the peacock recordings by big mama thornton on. Basing herself in texas, she made her first records as big mama thornton for peacock in 1951.
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