BIG MAMA THORNTON

Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton’s defiantly eclectic music mixed blues, gospel, R&B and sharp storytelling. With her raw, unadorned voice and transgressive masculine wardrobe, she challenged gender norms and broke barriers for women. Her original 1953 recording of “Hound Dog” laid the groundwork for rock & roll. Her powerful renderings of pain and resilience inspired future icons like Tina Turner, Janis Joplin and countless others.