This shit made my morning "Pistol Packin' "Big Mama Thornton"




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BIG MAMA THORNTON:

Blues singer Big Mama Thornton (pictured above) was no joke! She was one of the few black artists during the 50's who wasn't cheated out of her royalties although she was cheated out of-receiving song credit. White male music executives were terrified of Thornton and she was known to allegedly carry a pistol in her handbag with a pint of booze.

Big Mama wasn't on a royalty schedule like other artists. When she needed money, allegedly, she was known to strut in the record company and demand, "Motherf**kers, where is my money?" Personnel would scramble and get Big Mama her royalty check, they didn't like to keep her waiting.

Thornton's signature song was "Hound Dog," later recorded by Elvis Presley. Thornton always claimed she wrote the song, although she never received credit. She was incensed when Presley's version eclipsed her version. She was so mad, she allegedly threatened to whoop his ass, the next time she saw him.

Once, when Big Mama suspected a white executive of cheating her (he was new and not aware of her temper) she took her purse and swung it from left to right, upside his head. He pleaded for her to stop. She stopped when accounting rushed in and gave her a check. Other executives pleaded with her to calm down.

When Thornton left, she went to hang out with her homies at the local bar. She loved to drink and talk smack. She was a colorful character. Even the police kept their distance.

Thornton's name gained wider prominence and her career enjoyed a significant resurgence when Janis Joplin covered her song, "Ball and Chain," making it a regular number in her repertoire.

Years of hard drinking and living began to take their toll.

Sadly, she died in 1984, in Los Angeles, of natural causes. Johnny Otis conducted her funeral services and she was laid to rest in Inglewood Park Cemetery.http://panachereport.com/...ornton.htm

StarMon said:

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Proud owner

Stax said:

funkpill said:

" Word "