R.I.P. Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton

R.I.P. Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton

 (December 11, 1926 – July 25, 1984) 

     Willie Mae Thornton toured the south as a blues singer in the 1940s.

     In 1948 Big Mama landed a five-year contract, singing with the Louis Jordan Band in Houston, Texas. She wrote and sang blues songs, played the harmonica and taught herself to play the drums (I got tired of everbody messin' up so I just started bangin') 

   
Play Big Mama's HOUND DOG here!!!

      In the 1960s "Big Mama" Thornton moved to California and continued to tour throughout America and Europe.

Thornton was well received at such festivals as the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Newport Folk Festival, and the Ann Arbor Blues Festival. She also toured Europe with the American Folk Blues Festival in 1964.

     In 1966 Big Mama recorded "Big Mama Thornton With The Muddy Waters blues band."   The players on this album were: Muddy Waters (guitar), Sammy Lawhorn (guitar), James Cotton (harmonica), Otis Spann (piano), Luther Johnson (bass guitar), and Francis Clay (drums). Songs included "Everything Gonna Be Alright", "Big Mama's Blues", "I'm Feeling Alright", "Big Mama's Bumble Bee Blues", "Looking The World Over", "Big Mama's Shuffle", and "Since I Fell For You".

   Big Mama's next major release was in 1968  with Lightnin' Hopkins: Lightnin' Hopkins (guitar) and Larry Williams (vocals)  "Hound Dog", "Wade in the Water", "Little Red Rooster", "Ball 'n' Chain", "Money Taker", and "Prison Blues".

In 1984 Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton was inducted into the Blues Foundation's Hall of Fame

Check out Big Mama's last appearance in 1984; that same year she died from heart and liver complications. 350 pounds of Big Mama Thornton had withered to a mere of 95 pounds.

Big Mama was nominated for the Blues Music Awards six times. One of Thornton's last albums was Jail (1975) that captures her charm during a couple of mid-'70's gigs at two northwestern prisons, enjoy !!!

  
LISTEN TO BIG MAMA'S LAST PERFORMANCE OF BALL & CHAIN

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