Big Mama Thornton
1926 – 1984

Big Mama Thornton

American rhythm and blues singer and songwriter

songwritermusiciansinger
Born
1926-12-11, Ariton
Died
1984-07-25
Birthplace state
Alabama

Biography

Willie Mae Thornton was born on December 11, 1926, in Ariton, Alabama. She worked as a singer, songwriter, and musician, performing blues and R&B. She died on July 25, 1984.

Occupation

Big Mama Thornton is recorded as a songwriter, a musician and a singer, born in Alabama (1926–1984).

Connections to Alabama

Big Mama Thornton was born in Ariton, Alabama in 1926. Explore other notable figures from Alabama, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Alabama›Alabamahistory ›Historic sites in Alabama›
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Ariton

Big Mama Thornton came from Ariton. A full Aubrey report on Ariton pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Ariton report
Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Alabama

Other historical figures born in Alabama, ranked by historical prominence.

Helen Keller
Helen Keller
American deafblind author, political activist, lecturer, scholar (1880-1968)
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks
civil rights activist
Harper Lee
Harper Lee
American novelist (1926–2016)
Jesse Owens
Jesse Owens
American track and field athlete (1913–1980)
Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
American singer and jazz pianist (1919–1965)
Edward O. Wilson
Edward O. Wilson
American biologist, naturalist, and writer (1929–2021)
Hank Williams
Hank Williams
American singer-songwriter (1923–1953)

Frequently asked about Big Mama Thornton

Who was Big Mama Thornton?
Big Mama Thornton was American rhythm and blues singer and songwriter, born in Alabama (1926 – 1984).
When and where was Big Mama Thornton born?
Big Mama Thornton was born on 1926-12-11 in Ariton.
When did Big Mama Thornton die?
Big died on 1984-07-25.
What was Big Mama Thornton known for?
Big Mama Thornton is recorded as a songwriter, a musician and a singer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report