153 Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton (1926-1984) “Hound Dog” 1953

The link between blues pioneer Ma Rainey and “’60s blues-rock queen Janis Joplin.” “Hound Dog” made her a star, but like many performers of her day, she saw little of the royalties (The Big Book of the Blues). Listed on the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress.

Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton “Hound Dog”