Sister Rosetta Tharpe: Gospel Music the Roots of Rock & Roll

Sister Rosetta Tharpe: Gospel Music the Roots of Rock & Roll

In honor of Black History Month and a genuine love of music, I would like to share an amazing artist ~ Sister Rosetta Tharpe. There is a wonderful documentary that can be found at pbs.org - definitely with a watch!

Sister Rosetta Tharpe (March 20, 1915 – October 9, 1973) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and recording artist. A one-of-a-kind pioneer of 20th-century music, Tharpe attained great popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with her gospel recordings that were a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and early rock and roll accompaniment. As the first recording artist to impact the music charts with her spiritual recordings, Tharpe became the first superstar of gospel music and also became known as "the original soul sister." She was a treasured early influence on iconic figures such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and Johnny Cash.^[2]
Willing to cross the line between sacred and secular by performing her inspirational music of 'light' in the 'darkness' of the nightclubs and concert halls with big bands behind her, Tharpe's witty, idiosyncratic style also left a lasting mark on more conventional gospel artists, such as Ira Tucker, Sr., of the Dixie Hummingbirds. While she offended some conservative churchgoers with her forays into the world of pop music, she never left gospel music.
Tharpe's 1944 hit "Down By The Riverside" was selected for the American Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2004, stating that it captured her "spirited guitar playing" and "unique vocal style" which were an influence on early rhythm and blues performers, as well as gospel, jazz and rock artists.^[3] Tharpe has been called the Godmother of Rock n' Roll.
 A number of musicians, ranging from Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis^[2] to Isaac Hayes and Aretha Franklin, have identified her singing, guitar playing and showmanship as an important influence on them. Little Richard referred to the stomping, shouting gospel music legend as his favorite singer when he was a child. Johnny Cash also referred to Tharpe as his favorite singer when he was a child when he gave his induction speech at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

It is important to remember that Rosetta's career took place during a time when Black Americans were segregated away from so many things that we take for granted - a bathroom, place to eat, education, work, and housing. This woman traveled by bus equipped with beds to perform. A true pioneer to be admired and respected by all.

Here is a link to her performance in England which was part of the PBS documentary. Rosetta was 49 years old at the time. http://youtu.be/SR2gR6SZC2M  Please take a moment to watch this incredible woman. It will become clear how we can call this the roots to Rock & Roll.