July 24 – August 19, 2012
Before Elvis there was Big Mama Thornton, recording hit songs like Hound Dog and Ball & Chain, years before others made them famous. Canadian legend Jackie Richardson stars as Big Mama, whose rocky but joyful life came to an end too early. This soulful revue pays homage to this extraordinary blues singer: the godmother of rock and roll. With a vocal style not easy to imitate, only a few – like Janis Joplin – have been able to summon Thornton’s mix of raw power and deep emotion.