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This Day in Black History: Dec. 11, 1926

Blues singer Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton born in Montgomery, Alabama.

<p>Blues singer <a target="_blank" href="http://www.allmusic.com/artist/big-mama-thornton-p553">Willie Mae &quot;Big Mama&quot; Thornton</a> was born in Montgomery, Alabama. Her monster smash hit, ?Hound Dog,? which would be re-recorded by Elvis Presley, topped Billboard's R&amp;B charts for seven weeks in 1953.</p> <p><i>&nbsp;</i></p> <p><i>BET National News - Keep up to date with breaking news stories from around the nation, including headlines from the hip hop and entertainment world.</i></p>

<p><i>(Photo: Tom Copi/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)</i></p>

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