This Day in Music relates that on August 13, 1952 Big Mama Thornton recorded Leiber and Stoller‘s “Hound Dog” which, of course, subsequently was a huge hit for Elvis Presley.
Thornton was something. Check out her performance of the song, followed by “Down Home Shakedown.” It’s a harmonica convention: Thornton, John Lee Hooker, Big Walter (Shakey) Horton and Charles Isiah (Doctor) Ross take turns on the harp.
