2026Nominee
Best Performance
Elvis: A Life in Music
Big Mama Thornton
Actor
Montgomery, Alabama, USA
December 11, 1926
Biography
Willie Mae 'Big Mama' Thornton (December 11, 1926 – July 25, 1984) was an American rhythm-and-blues singer and songwriter. She was the first to record Leiber and Stoller's "Hound Dog", in 1952, which became her biggest hit, staying seven weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B chart in 1953 and selling almost two million copies. Thornton's other recordings included the original version of "Ball 'n' Chain", which she wrote. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Photo
Representative Works
Awards and Honors
Critical Favorites
2004Nominee
Best Performance
Gunsmoke Blues
2004Winner
Best Performance
The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1969, Vol. 3
Career Highlights
2003Highlight
Best Performance
The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1966, Vol. 2
Video
Elvis: A Life in Music