Blues Artist of the Week - Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Rosetta Nubin, better known as Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915-1973), was born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas. Sister Rosetta is a Gospel and Blues Singer, songwriter, guitarist, and recording artist. Sister Rosetta is often referred to as the Original Soul Sister.
Sister Rosetta gained fame as a well-known church gospel singer, where she sang, played guitar and piano.
In the 1920’s she and her mother moved to Chicago. They were part of the significant African American mitigation to the North that brought Jazz from New Orleans and Blues from the Mississippi Delta.
Here is where her virtuoso guitar skills were on display. In the early 20th century, the guitar was a stereotypical sign of masculinity, and most professional guitarists were men; Sister Rosetta held her own artistically and technically on the guitar.
In the 1930’s she moved to NYC, which also signaled her move from Gospel to Jazz and the Blues. She continued to perform and make her mark in the Jazz and Blues scene.
She credited with significantly influencing the creation of Rock and Roll.
In 1957 Sister Rosetta was quoted in the London Daily Mirror as saying, “All this new stuff they call rock’ n’ roll, why, I’ve been playing that for years now”
She was a significant influence on:
• Little Richard
• Jonny Cash
• Carl Perkins
• Chuck Berry
• Elvis Presley
• Jerry Lee Lewis
Sister Rosetta Tharpe was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
Her albums include:
• Gospel Songs (Decca, 1947)
• Blessed Assurance (Decca, 1951)
• Gospel Train (Mercury, 1956)
• The Gospel Truth (Mercury, 1959)
• Sister Rosetta Tharpe (MGM, 1960)
• Spirituals in Rhythm (Promenade, 1960)
• Sister on Tour (Verve, 1961)
• The Gospel Truth (Verve, 1962)
• Precious Memories (Savoy, 1968)
• Gospel Keepsakes (MCA, 1983)
• Live in 1960 (Southland, 1991)
• Live at the Hot Club de France (BMG/Milan, 1991)
Start your listening exploration with her 1957 album Gospel Train, which is considered her best album.
