Big Mama Thornton: I Can't Be Anyone But Me
A documentary about the legendary blues singer Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton (1926-1984). Leiber and Stoller wrote the song Hound Dog for Thornton and it went on to sell 500 000 copies… (when Elvis covered the song a few years later, it was no longer about a cheating partner, but an ode to a dog… that version sold over 10 million records. Thornton received a one-off payment of just $500 for the song that launched rock n roll. Sadly this was typical of the lack of respect Thornton encountered over the course of her career.) Clem has done a masterful job in piecing together her story to make what will likely be seen as the definitive documentary on Big Mama.
| Director: | Robert Clem |
| Cast: | Lynnee Denise, Charlie Musselwhite, Mike Stoller |
