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Blues File: Big Mama Thornton

Series: Blues File
From: WXPN
Length: 00:03:59

life & career of Big Mama Thornton Read the full description.

Bigmama_small Big Mama Thornton is remembered for doing the original versions of "Hound Dog" and "Ball & Chain" though there was much more to her music than these two songs that are forever associated with rock stars, Elvis Presley and Janis Joplin. Her talent went beyond singing-- she played harmonica and drums. She died in poor physical and financial health at age 57 in 1984.

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Piece Description

Big Mama Thornton is remembered for doing the original versions of "Hound Dog" and "Ball & Chain" though there was much more to her music than these two songs that are forever associated with rock stars, Elvis Presley and Janis Joplin. Her talent went beyond singing-- she played harmonica and drums. She died in poor physical and financial health at age 57 in 1984.

Broadcast History

WXPN-FM Philadelphia 3-9-2006

Timing and Cues

3:59 self-contained. Opens with theme & host intro, ends with song fade.

Musical Works

format:

Artist Name "Song Title"
Label Name: Album Title
copyright info
catalog number

Big Mama Thornton "They Call Me Big Mama"
MCA: Hound Dog: The Peaccock Recordings
? 1992 MCA Records, Inc.
MCAD 10668

Big Mama Thornton "Hound Dog"
MCA: Hound Dog: The Peaccock Recordings
? 1992 MCA Records, Inc.
MCAD 10668

Big Mama Thornton "I Need Your Love"
Arhoolie: Big Mama Thornton In Europe
? 2005 Arhoolie Productions, Inc.
CD 9056

Big Mama Thornton "Chauffeur Blues"
Arhoolie: Big Mama Thornton In Europe
? 2005 Arhoolie Productions, Inc.
CD 9056

Big Mama Thornton "Sassy Mama"
Vanguard: Sassy Mama
? 1975 Vanguard Records, a Welk Muisc Group Company
VMD 79354

Big Mama Thronton "Ball And Chain"
Solid Smoke: San Francisco Blues Festival, Vol. 3 LP VA
? 1979 Solid Smoke Records
8011

Related Website

http://www.xpn.org/blues