Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton (* 11. Dezemba 1926 z Ariton, Alabama, † 25. Juli 1984 z Los Angeles) wor a amerikanische Bluessengarin und Liadschreibarin.

1952 hods „Hound Dog“ vom Jerry Leiber und Mike Stoller afgnumma. Dees Liad wor in de Billboard R&B charts 1953 siebm Wocha lang de Numma oans. De B-Seitn wor "They Call Me Big Mama". De Single is zwoa Milliona Moi vakafft worn. Drei Joar spoda hod aa da Elvis Presley damit an grossn Eafoig ghobt. A weidana grossa Eafoig vo ia wor "Ball 'n' Chain", wo se sejm gschriebm hod. De Janis Joplin hod damit in de spodn 1960a Joar an Riesen-Eafoig gfeiat.

Anno 1984 is de "Big Mama" in de Blues Hall of Fame afgnumma worn und 2006 ia Single "Hound Dog".

Diskographie
1965 Big Mama Thornton in Europe Arhoolie
1967 Big Mama the Queen at Monterey MCA Records
1968 She's Back
1968  Ball ´n Chain 	Arhoolie
1969 Stronger Than Dirt
1970 MaybeRoulette Records
1970 The Way It Is [live] Mercury
1973 Saved Pentagram Records
1975 Jail [live] Vanguard
1975 Sassy Mama! [live] Vanguard
1978 Mama's Pride Vanguard
1990 The Original Hound Dog Ace
1992 Hound Dog: The Peacock Recordings MCA
1994 The Rising Sun Collection [live]	 Just A Memory Records
1998 The Way It Is  Mercury
2000 Complete Vanguard Recordings Vanguard ( bestehend aus Jail(1975),Sassy Mama(1975) und Big Mama Swings-bisher unveröffentlicht)
2002 The Rising Sun Collection Just A Memory
2004  Hound Dog: Essential Collection Spectrum Music
2004 With the Muddy Waters Blues Band 1966 [live]		Arhoolie
2004 Classics 1950-1953 Classic
2005 Sassy Mama [Justin-Time] [live]	 	Just A Memory Records
2005 They call me Big Mama Proper
2006 Blues Disky
2007 Big Mama Thornton Vanguard Visionaries 	Vanguard
2008 Mighty Crazy mit Lightnin' Hopkins Snapper
Big Mama Thornton & Chicago Band Arhoolie
Quit Snoopin' Round My Door Ace
Best of the Blues: A Summit Meeting, Recorded Live at Newport in New York

Literatua
Stambler, Irwin: The Encyclopedia Of Pop, Rock And Soul. 3. überarbeitete Auflage, New York City, New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1989, S. 684f – ISBN 0-312-02573-4

Im Netz

Home Shakedown Big Mama Thornton mit John Lee Hooker, Big Walter Horton & Dr Ross Down
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