Sister Rosetta Tharpe

[Soot and Stars]

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

I was reading Steven Tylers Autobiography and saw him name drop this artist as being a very influential precursor to Elvis's sound. She's definitely Rock N' Roll but I love how she does Blues and guitar but is essentially a Gospel singer. I'm a big fan of Gospel with a rock element. She's a great energetic guitarist and vocalist that deserves a spot here within the walls of the forum!

Up Above My Head


Didn't It Rain

 

[Jet]

You can certainly see and hear why she influenced people.

Trouble In My Mind~Sister Rosetta Tharpe

 

[Soot and Stars]

You can certainly see and hear why she influenced people.

Trouble In My Mind~Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Another good one Jet! She just has this authentic enthusiasm that's infectious!

 

[Jet]

It's amazing to see the young people in the crowd clapping along with her! Authentic is the right word for her.

 

[Phil B.]

Great thread, I am surprised there wasn't one before.

The first "Soul Sister" of pop music. Her mastery of the guitar is sweet and she demanded respect, even though the fundamental churches objected to her activities. She was quite taboo in the south.

A few favorites would probably be the first two I ever heard by her,

This Train



Down By The Riverside



Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down was a favorite of mine only because my "Nana' used to play it in the old days when we lived in Mississippi. A Nana was a babysitter of sorts, but a neighbor as well. I was from a military family and the neighborhood we lived in was primarily black. My third grade class had three white kids in it (including me). Anyways, this type of music was often played by the more relaxed Baptists and Pentecostals, but the hard core Baptists denied the value of it.



and one for the road...

The Lonesome Road

 

[Soot and Stars]

Good material Phil! You are seriously the go to man when i first discover these vintage artist!

 

[Jet]

She sure did know how to play and sing. It's too bad that some churches found her to be too "enthusiastic, and it's an outright shame that the "First Church Of The Uptighty People" found her music to be of no value. If we had music like that in more churches today, I think more young people would look forward to church. I think there is a reason for everything, and I think God was pleased with her, and I think she influenced a lot of people.

 

[Jet]

I was looking for something else when I found this.

Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen~Sister Rosetta Tharpe

 

[Soot and Stars]

Great doc! Damn she can play!

 

[Jet]

Done with part one and about four minutes into part two. It's very good. She played at the Cotton Club! Sounds like her husband was an early version of Ike Turner.