Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a pioneering American singer and guitarist who gained immense popularity in the 1930s and 1940s for her unique blend of gospel music and electric guitar playing.
Born Rosetta Nubin on March 20, 1915, Tharpe was the first great recording star of gospel music and a trailblazer in her genre. She was one of the first gospel musicians to appeal to rhythm-and-blues and rock-and-roll audiences, earning her the nickname "the original soul sister" and "the Godmother of rock and roll".
Tharpe's guitar playing technique was revolutionary for her time, and she is credited with being among the first popular recording artists to use heavy distortion on her electric guitar. This technique had a profound influence on the development of British blues in the 1960s, with prominent guitarists such as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Keith Richards citing her as an inspiration.
Tharpe's music was not limited to traditional gospel settings, as she was willing to perform in nightclubs and concert halls with big bands behind her. This willingness to cross the line between sacred and secular music helped to push spiritual music into the mainstream and paved the way for the rise of pop-gospel.
Her unique sound and style left a lasting mark on more conventional gospel artists, including Ira Tucker, Sr., of the Dixie Hummingbirds. While some conservative churchgoers were offended by her forays into the pop world, Tharpe never strayed far from her gospel roots.
Tharpe's 1944 release "Down by the Riverside" was selected for the National Recording Registry of the U.S. Library of Congress in 2004, which noted her influence on early rhythm-and-blues performers and many gospel, jazz, and rock artists. Her 1945 hit "Strange Things Happening Every Day" was the first gospel record to cross over, hitting no. 2 on the Billboard "race records" chart, and has been cited as a precursor of rock and roll.
In recognition of her significant contributions to the development of rock and roll, Tharpe was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an Early Influence in May 2018.
