Who Is Big Mama Thornton? Age, Biography and Wiki
Big Mama Thornton, born on December 11, 1926, in Montgomery, Alabama, was a groundbreaking American blues singer best known for her powerful voice and emotive performances. She made significant contributions to the music industry during her lifetime and paved the way for many female artists in the blues and rock genres. Thornton gained fame with her hit "Hound Dog," which later became a massive success for Elvis Presley. Despite her passing in 1984, her influence continues to resonate in music, making her an enduring figure in American culture.
| Occupation | Blues Singer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 11, 1926 |
| Age | 57 Years |
| Birth Place | Ariton, Alabama, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 25 July, 1984 |
| Died Place | N/A |
Popularity
Big Mama Thornton's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Though exact body statistics are difficult to pinpoint with accuracy due to fluctuating standards over the decades, Big Mama Thornton was known for her robust physique that matched her commanding stage presence. Estimates suggest that she was approximately 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall and weighed around 200 pounds (90 kg) during her prime. Thornton’s unique style and appearance were as integral to her identity as her music.
Thornton was found dead at age 57 by medical personnel in a Los Angeles boarding house on July 25, 1984. She died of heart and liver disorders due to her longstanding alcohol abuse. She had lost 355 lb in a short time as a result of illness, her weight dropping from 450 to 95 lb.
Thornton was buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery in Los Angeles County, California. Her pauper's grave features a small granite marker with two additional names, indicating her body was buried along with two strangers.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Throughout her life, Big Mama Thornton had her share of relationships, though she remained fiercely independent and dedicated to her craft. Details about her personal dating life were relatively private, and there are few documented accounts of her romantic relationships. At the time of her passing in 1984, she was not publicly known to be in a relationship. Thornton's family life was also kept away from the spotlight, focusing primarily on her career and musical achievements.
She was introduced to music in a Baptist church, where her father was a minister and her mother a singer. Thornton said: "I used to go to church a lot, but I didn't do too much singing in church." Thornton's mother fell gravely ill from tuberculosis.
Only 13 years of age, Thornton cared for her mother until her death in the Montgomery Tuberculosis Sanatorium in 1939. At the time Thornton was still in the third grade. After losing her mother, she was unable to continue to attend school. Thornton left school and got a job washing and cleaning spittoons in a local tavern.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of her death, Big Mama Thornton's estimated net worth was around $500,000, a significant amount considering the era in which she performed. In 2025, with her legacy revived through documentaries and tributes, her estate has likely grown, especially given her posthumous recognition and popularity resurgence among new generations. As an influential figure in blues, her estate continues to earn from music royalties, merchandise, and tribute concerts.
14-year-old Thornton left home, traveling with the show between different cities in Alabama and Georgia. Thornton described the revue as "a stage show, like, playing in theaters... dancers, chorus girls, comedians, singers".
Originally hired as a dancer, singer and comedienne, Thornton quickly became known as the "New Bessie Smith" for her vocal talent. Thornton left Green's show in 1948 over a money dispute, about which she said: "I traveled with them for quite a few years, and I went to Houston, Texas in '48. We played there and then we left.
As a matter of fact, I quit the show in '48... They owed me a little, quite a bit of money and they wouldn't pay it, and I just got tired".
Career, Business and Investments
Big Mama Thornton's career spanned several decades, marked by her raw vocal talent and ability to convey deep emotion through her music. She started her career in the 1940s and rose to fame in the 1950s. Beyond "Hound Dog," her discography includes several critically acclaimed albums such as "Big Mama Thornton Sings the Blues" and "In the Key of the Blues." In 2025, her music still inspires countless artists across genres.
In addition to her singing career, Thornton’s influence has led to various investments in music venues and partnerships with upcoming artists, ensuring her contributions to blues remain celebrated. Increased digital streaming and licensing of her music have also contributed to ongoing earnings.
Thornton's talent was discovered in 1940 when she was 14 years old. Diamond Teeth Mary, the half-sister of one of her early idols Bessie Smith, encouraged her to enter a talent contest after having heard Thornton singing while working a side-job on a garbage truck.
Thornton described the audition during a 1970 Studs Terkel radio interview, saying: "Show came through in the first of the '40s and called it 'Sammy Green's Hot Harlem Revue' as I mentioned earlier. They didn't have a singer, and so I asked him, I said, 'Give me an audition, let me sing'.
I said, 'I've been singing all the little talent shows around here'. He said, 'Oh, little 'ole girl, you can't sing'. I said, 'Will you give me a try?' He said, 'Yeah, well, when the show start, say we gonna give a little audition for singers, 'cause I'm looking for a singer'. And so he give auditions.
So I was there, he wrote my name down, and several people they sung, and then he said, 'Well, I, I want to see what you can do'. So I got up there, I had an old pair of jeans, one leg rolled up, I got up and I started singing one of Louis Jordan's song called "G.I.
Jive", and I sung that song, and I sang this blues by Big Maceo, "Worried Life Blues" and he hired me. Out of 25 people, I was the 26th but then he hired me".
Social Network
In today's digitally driven world, Big Mama Thornton's legacy has found a new audience through various social media platforms. Music fans and historians frequently share her performances, quotes, and tributes, reminding new generations of her impact. Platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook have pages dedicated to her life and music, fostering a community of fans who celebrate her contributions.
As her career began to fade in the late 1950s and early 1960s, she left Houston and relocated to the San Francisco Bay area, playing clubs in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Her performances were infrequent so she could not retain a steady group of musicians to back her.
Chris Strachwitz said that when Thornton was booked to perform in a good venue like the Fillmore, her manager at the time, Jim Moore, would hire "lounge musicians. He called them 'jazz musicians' or whatever... they had no clue what the blues was all about. They were mediocre at the best".
While living in the Bay Area, Thornton recorded for a succession of labels, including Bay-Tone, Irma, Kent, Sotoplay and the Berkeley-based Arhoolie Records.
Education
While specific information regarding Big Mama Thornton's formal education is limited, she was deeply influenced by the musical traditions surrounding her growing years in Montgomery, Alabama. Thornton honed her craft in gospel music before transitioning to the blues, learning from the rich cultural environment around her.
Thornton’s story is one of resilience and talent, and while she may no longer be here, her music continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide. As we look ahead to 2025 and beyond, the legacy of Big Mama Thornton as a trailblazer in blues will undoubtedly endure.
Thornton was the first to record Leiber and Stoller's "Hound Dog", in 1952, which was written for her. It became Thornton's biggest hit, selling over 500,000 copies and staying seven weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B chart in 1953.
According to New York University music professor Maureen Mahon, "the song is seen as an important beginning of rock-and-roll, especially in its use of the guitar as the key instrument".
