Music Fan Film Series: Big Mama Thornton; I Can’t Be Anyone But Me

Inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in October 2024, Alabama-born Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton joined a traveling variety show at age 14 and for the next forty years was one the greatest blues singers ever, navigating the dangerous sharks and shoals of the music business and retaining her own unique style, defying gender norms and refusing to sing anything unless it “sang her soul.” Presley’s hit “Hound Dog” was both inspired and originally sung by her; Joplin’s “Ball and Chain” was written by her and became her signature song for the rest of her too-short life.

This special screening will be hosted by the film’s Director, Robert Clem