Big Mama Thornton, born Willie Mae Thornton in 1926, was an American singer and songwriter known for her powerful, gritty vocals and instrumental style that influenced blues, R&B, and rock and roll. Her most famous songs are “Hound Dog” (1952) and “Ball and Chain” (1968), which were covered by rock artists Elvis Presley and Janis Joplin, respectively. Thornton died in 1984.
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