
A documentary premiering January 23 featuring legendary blues singer Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton
Who is Big Mama Thornton?
One of the greatest blues singers of all time, Alabama-born Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton was inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in October 2024. She joined a traveling variety show at age 14, and for the next forty years, she navigated the murky waters of the music industry while retaining her own unique style, defying gender norms and refusing to sing anything unless it “sang to her soul.” Big Mama was also an inspiration to other artists—Elvis Presley’s hit “Hound Dog” was both inspired and originally sung by her, Joplin’s “Ball and Chain” was written by her and became Joplin’s signature song.
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