“Willie Mae Sings Willie Mae” | Colorado Blues artist Willie Mae “Erica” Brown is raising funds to professionally record and release a tribute album honoring Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton, one of the most powerful and historically overlooked pioneers of American blues and rock & roll.
Learn about the collaboration of singer/artist Erica Brown and producer/guitarist Julian Peterson, in paying tribute to the late, great Big Mama Thornton: https://youtu.be/0Cq6-N7e78A
Some voices change music forever, but not all of them receive the recognition they deserve. Big Mama Thornton helped shape the sound of blues, rhythm & blues, and early rock & roll. Her voice, strength, and originality influenced generations of musicians, yet her contributions were too often overshadowed, under-credited, and undervalued.
Erica Brown is determined to help change that.
Since 1998, Erica has been singing and living the blues. Throughout her career, her band has been voted Best Blues Band by Westword Magazine and Best Underground Blues Band by the Denver Post. She has performed alongside countless heavyweight blues musicians. Her commanding voice, authenticity, and deep respect for tradition have made her a cornerstone of the Colorado blues scene.
Working with producer Julian Peterson, this project will be a professionally produced album of Big Mama Thornton covers and reinterpretations. It is both a heartfelt tribute and an act of cultural preservation.
The album will be recorded in a professional studio with accomplished session musicians and engineers. Producer/guitarist Julian Peterson introduces an unusual electricity, maybe that of a lightning storm, with grooves as deep as a slow-rolling river and melodies like sweet meadow wind. Along with Brown’s moniker of the “Soul Electrifier,” they are the perfect combo to honor the raw power, grit, and emotional depth of Thornton’s music while introducing it to new audiences.
The goal is to create a high-quality, historically respectful recording that preserves the integrity of the original work while giving it new life.
This is not simply a cover album.
It is a cultural preservation project, created to honor a legend and keep her voice alive for generations to come.
Your support makes this project possible. Our ultimate goal to address all aspects of this project is $30,000.
Every donation helps honor Big Mama Thornton’s legacy, supports independent musicians, and preserves a vital piece of American music history.
Thank you for believing in this work, for sharing it, and for helping keep the blues alive.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-erica-brown-honor-big-mama-thorntons-legacy
RMPBS video interview on this project: https://youtu.be/0Cq6-N7e78A
Erica Brown Short Bio:
Erica Brown is an award-winning singer, songwriter, recording artist, actress, activist, and media personality based in Denver, Colorado.
Raised in Southeast Missouri during the Civil Rights era, Erica’s life and artistry have been deeply shaped by the cultural and musical legacy of the blues. Since launching her professional career, she has built a long and distinguished body of work as a blues vocalist, performing with many of the genre’s most respected figures in blues, jazz, and soul.
Her powerful voice and commanding stage presence have taken her to audiences across the United States and around the world.
Erica’s artistic reach extends beyond music into theater and film. She has contributed acting and vocal performances to playwright Jeff Campbell’s acclaimed productions Honorable Disorder (2018) and Jedidiah Blackstone (2025).
Her career honors include the Historic Five Points Jazz Festival Tribute Award for significant and lasting contributions to African American music in Colorado and nationally, as well as the Colorado Blues Society Lifetime Achievement Award. She is also featured in a full double-page photo spread in Smithsonian Magazine’s historic companion issue commemorating the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (2016).
All funds raised will be used exclusively to cover the costs of producing and releasing this album, including:
- Recording, editing, mixing, and mastering
- Guest artist fees, mechanical licensing, and royalty payments
- Video production
- Marketing, public relations, and release celebration expenses
- Physical product manufacturing (CDs and thumb drives)
- GoFundMe platform fees and content creation
- Rehearsal space
- Travel and transportation (as needed)
- Miscellaneous production and administrative expenses
Additional fees and project-related costs may arise. For questions or further details, please contact me directly.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-erica-brown-honor-big-mama-thorntons-legacy
Photo: Erica Brown BMT