Willie Mae ("Big Mama") Thornton (December 11, 1926 - July 25, 1984) was an American Texas blues, R&B singer, and songwriter. She was the original singer to record the hit song "Hound Dog" in 1952. The song was #1 on the Billboard R&B charts for seven weeks. The B-side was "They Call Me Big Mama," and the single sold almost two million copies. Three years later, Elvis Presley recorded the Rock 'n' roll version of the song. In a similar occurrence, she wrote and recorded "Ball n' Chain," which became a hit for her. Janis Joplin later recorded "Ball and Chain," and it became a huge success in the late 1960s.

Helen Humes (June 23, 1913 - September 9, 1981) was an American jazz and blues singer. Helen was born in Louisville, Kentucky. She moved to New York and became a recording vocalist with Harry James big band in 1937. Her swing recordings with Harry James included “Jubilee”, “I Can Dream Can’t I”, “That’s The Dreamer In Me” and “Song Of The Wanderer”. Helen Humes became one of the vocalists with Count Basie’s band in the late 1930s. Her vocals with Basie’s band included “