February 1, 2023 - Big Mama Thornton

Today on February 1, 2023, Lyles Station Historic Schoolhouse and Museum celebrates the start of Black History month by exploring the life of one of the greats from Blues and rock and roll: Big Mama Thornton.
The recent release of Baz Luhrmann’s biopic Elvis does more than depict Elvis Presley’s musical career: it highlights how African-American musicians and singers influenced Presley’s musical style and performances. Luhrmann presented Big Mama Thornton in the movie, along with her slightly more risqué presentation of “Hound Dog.”
Born Willie Mae Thornton in 1926, Big Mama grew up surrounded by Gospel music. Her father was a minister, and she sang along with her mother and siblings at church. After the early death of her mother, Willie Mae left school and home at the age of fourteen and joined Sammy Green’s Hot Harlem Revue. Her early musical influences included rhythm and blues singers Bessie Smith and Memphis Minnie, so she was no doubt honored when she was billed as the “New Bessie Smith.”
The manager of Harlem’s Apollo Theater nicknamed her “Big Mama” because of her booming voice, her large stature, and her strong personality, and she claimed to be louder than any microphone.
Thornton moved to Houston in 1948, where her career took off, signing with Peacock Records in 1951. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller wrote “Hound Dog” which she recorded in 1952. The song was her biggest hit, but Presley’s recording overshadowed her success with the song which is considered an important beginning of rock-and-roll, especially in its use of the guitar as the key instrument,” according to music professor Maureen Mahon. Leiber explained that they had her vocal style in mind for the recording, stating, “We wanted her to growl it.”
Big Mama growled her way to the top of the R&B chart and helped develop rock ‘n roll. Without Big Mama, rock ‘n roll might have stalled, as evidenced by the inclusion of her song “Ball ‘n’ Chain,” in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll,” Although she composed the song, she never financially profited from it. Years after Big Mama wrote “Ball ‘n’ Chain,” Janis Joplin popularized the song and arranged for Big Mama to open shows for her, crediting Big Mama with helping her find her voice.
Thornton herself stated, “My singing comes from my experience... My own experience. I never had no one teach me nothin’. I never went to school for music or nothin’. I taught myself to sing and to blow harmonica and even to play drums by watchin' other people! I can't read music, but I know what I'm singing! I don't sing like nobody but myself."
Thornton toured Europe where she enjoyed recognition and better access to audiences in a Blues field dominated by men. She performed and recorded with Blues greats such as Muddy Waters, B. B. King, and Luther Johnson and wrote over twenty songs, recording several albums through the years. Thornton’s personal career highlight came when she recorded a gospel record titled Saved, including gospel classics "Oh, Happy Day,” "Down By The Riverside,” "Glory, Glory Hallelujah,” "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” "One More River,” and "Go Down Moses.”
Financial success seemed to elude Thornton, and she never received the recognition she deserved during her career, no doubt due to racial segregation and discrimination in the United States and in the music industry itself. Despite this, Big Mama was nominated for the Blues Music Awards six times and in 1984 inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, the same year she died at age fifty-seven.