Sister Rosetta Tharpe (March 20, 1915 – October 9, 1973) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and recording artist. A pioneer of twentieth-century music, Tharpe attained great popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with her gospel recordings that were a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and rhythmic/early rock accompaniment. She became gospel musics first crossover artist and its first great recording star, referred to later as the original soul sister. She was an early influence on figures such as Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis. Tharpes 1944 hit Down By The Riverside was selected for the American Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2004, with the citation 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.[7] Her 1945 hit Strange Things Happening Every Day, recorded in late 1944, featured Tharpes vocals and electric guitar, with Sammy Price (piano), bass and drums. It was the first gospel record to cross over, hitting no. 2 on the Billboard race records chart, the term then used for what later became the R&B chart, in April 1945. The recording has been cited as an important precursor of rock and roll. Tharpe has been called the Godmother of Rock n Roll.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 03:00:28 +0000
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