flyandfamousblackgirls:Willie Mae Thornton was one of rock & roll’s earliest innovator
flyandfamousblackgirls:Willie Mae Thornton was one of rock & roll’s earliest innovators; she laid down a gloriously sexy version of “Hound Dog” before Elvis had ever heard it and wrote “Ball and Chain,” which became one of Rock Hall inductee Janis Joplin’s signature songs. The Alabama-born belter’s raunchy performance style caused songwriter Jerry Lieber to dub her “the saltiest chick Mike [Stoller] and I have ever seen,” and it inspired countless performers. -- source link