Listen to Route 66 Sunday from 7:00 to 9:00 A.M. Eastern (U.S.) on
Atlanta’s WRFG 89.3FM. Your independent community radio station is
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Our featured artist is Big Mama Thornton. Born Willie Mae Thornton in Ariton, Alabama, on December 11, 1926, Thornton was a singer, harmonica player, and
songwriter. A self-taught musician, Thornton was heavily influenced by
Bessie Smith and Memphis Minnie.
At 14 she sang Louis Jordan’s “G.I. Jive” and Big Maceo’s
“Worried Life Blues” for her successful audition for Sammy Green’s Hot Harlem Revue.
Thornton toured with the revue for more than a decade. In 1950 she launched her solo career, moved to Houston, and signed a five year contract with Peacock Records.
Her first recording for Peacock, “Let Your Tears Fall Baby,”
became a local hit in Houston.
Although Thornton’s career spanned more than 40 years, she is best remembered
for a song she recorded in Los Angeles on August 13, 1952. Shortly after
Johnny Otis introduced Thornton to the fledging songwriting team of Jerry Leiber and
Mike Stoller, she was booked for a session to record a song they had written for her.
The song was “Hound Dog” and it secured Big Mama Thornton’s place
in the history of popular American music.
BIG MAMA THORNTON RESOURCES
Biography @ wikipedia.org
Discography @ discogs.com
“Hound Dog” @ wikipedia.org
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
WRFG ROUTE 66 PLAYLIST FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2024
Song
Artist
Original Album or Label & Date
Chica Boo Lloyd Glenn Swing Time Records 1951
Let Your Tears Fall Baby
Wille Mae Thornton & Billy Harvey’s Band
Peacock Records 1951
You Had Better Change Your Ways Buddy Johnson Decca Records 1948
Walkin’ Joe Liggins & The Honeydrippers Exclusive Records 1947
My Blue Heaven Fats Domino Imperial Records 1956
Moosey Bull Moose Jackson King Records 1949
Bump On A Log Lula Reed King Records 1954
Sweet Honey Stevie Hawkins Sweet Honey (single) 2024
Disc Jockey Boogie Hal Singer Acorn Records 1950
Just One Of Those Things Billie Holiday …Distingue Lovers 1958
I Cover the Waterfront John Lee Hooker Mr. Lucky 1991
Ain’t That Love Catherine Russell & Sean Mason My Ideal 2024
Keep A Dollar In Your Pocket Roy Milton Specialty Records 1948
Prayin’ For Your Return Percy Mayfield Specialty Records 1951
Bad Bad Whiskey Jimmy Witherspoon Baby, Baby, Baby 1963
Drunk Jimmy Liggins & His 3-D Music Specialty Records 1953
Stop That Dancing Up There Harry “The Hipster” Gibson …In Blue 1944
Hound Dog
Big Mama Thornton with Kansas City Bill & His Orchestra
Peacock Records 1952
Mr. Hound Dog’s In Town
Roy Brown & His Mighty Mighty Men
King Records 1953
Greyhound Amos Milburn Aladdin Records 1952
Salty Papa Blues Dinah Washington Keynote Recordings 1943
Addi Planet D Nonet Echoes of Harlem… 2024
Alright, Ok, You Win Count Basie & Joe Williams Count Basie Swings… 1956
Go Girl! The Knickerbocker All-Stars Love Makes A Woman 201
I’m Still in Love with You Jimmie Vaughan Baby, Please Come Home 2019
Now Or Never Big Rhythm Combo Too Small To Dance 1997
I Live My Life Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown Peacock Records 1951
As Long as I’m Moving Ruth Brown Atlantic Records 1955
The Things That I Used to Do Guitar Slim Specialty Records 1954
G.I. Jive
Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
Decca Records 1944
Worried Life Blues
Ray Charles
Ingredients In A Recipe For Soul 1963
Every Time I Think Of You
Big Mama Thornton
Peacock Records 1952
(sign off)
Tag (You’re It) Little Charlie & The Nightcats Nine Lives 2005
WRFG Route 66 