Big Mama Thornton Radio
Big Mama Thornton Radio
Rock & Roll Originator Finally Assumes Her Place in the Hall of Fame
The home for Songs That Saved Your Life Radio on WKNY 107.9FM where Jami explores the very queer roots of rock n roll and plays a lot of great music!
Listen to the episode below:
Rock & roll history is Black, queer history and in this episode we celebrate a rock originator - Big Mama Thornton. Thornton is finally taking her rightful place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame later this year.
Though Thornton originated rock classics like "Hound Dog" and "Ball and Chain," her influence is usually mentioned as a footnote in stories about white artists like Elvis Presley and Janis Joplin who had access to larger audiences due to structural racism in the recording industry. Thornton's impact on rock & roll is indelible and we celebrate her legacy here tonight.
Music in the episode includes songs from queer rock & roll ancestors Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Little Richard and those who came after including Durand Jones, Brittany Howard, and Shea Diamond. Music also includes Blues legends like Muddy Waters, Big Maybelle, and Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup.
For a deeper dive into Willie Mae’s story (written in January of this year, prior to her nomination into the Rock Hall.)
"I smell a RAT, baby!"
In the spellbinding documentary “Little Richard: I Am Everything,” Lisa Cortes delves into the influence of Mama Thornton on the queer rock icon and the broader landscape of early popular music. “STAX: Soulsville U.S.A.” is another notable addition to the history of influential Black musicians. Jamila Wignot’s remarkable documentary tells the story of a collective group of musical geniuses and visionaries who overcame unimaginable adversity, leaving a lasting impact on the R&B genre. Stax Records reflects Memphis’ complicated racial history, much like Mama Thornton and Little Richard embody the black and queer roots of rock and roll. I highly recommend both documentaries currently streaming on Max.