Sister Rosetta Tharpe: Music Icon

ARTICLE – MINI BIOGRAPHY – MUSIC

I discovered Sister Rosetta Tharpe by accident. I was working on my novel and let my Blues playlist play on. I found myself stuck between my prose and the music. It’s one of my favorite places while I’m writing. I found myself lost in an ole’ blues standard. However, the more I listened, the more I realized the tune was different. I stopped and looked at the artist’s name. It was Sister Rosetta Tharpe. I wasn’t familiar with the name, but her sound was familiar.

As I investigated her music, I realized why her sound was so familiar. I remember hearing her music playing in the kitchen of my grandmother. My grandmother would clap, dance, and sing along with her music while she prepared different meals.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a pioneering figure in the history of American music. With her distinctive blend of gospel, blues, and rock and roll, Tharpe had a far-reaching impact that continues to be felt to this day. Her unique sound and style were not just revolutionary in terms of music, but also in terms of the societal norms of her time, adding another layer to her legacy.

Born on March 20, 1915, in Cotton Plant, Arkansas, Tharpe displayed musical talent from a very young age. She was raised in a family where religious music was a fundamental part of life, and this early exposure set the stage for her eventual career. She began performing at church services when she was just four years old, accompanied by her mother on guitar. By the age of six, Tharpe was a featured performer in a traveling evangelical troupe, demonstrating her prodigious talent and the power of her voice.

As a teenager, Tharpe moved to Chicago, a city known for its vibrant music scene. She quickly became a sensation in the city’s thriving gospel scene. Her powerful voice and unique guitar playing style set her apart from other artists, and she was soon performing to packed houses throughout the city. This was just the beginning of an illustrious career that would see her reach phenomenal heights.

In 1938, Tharpe took another major step in her career when she moved to New York City and signed with Decca Records. Her first record was an instant success, and she quickly became one of the most popular gospel artists in the country. Tharpe’s style was unique and groundbreaking; she combined the raw emotion of gospel with the driving rhythms of blues and rock and roll, creating entirely her own sound.

Even though Tharpe was a gospel artist, her music transcended the genre and appealed widely. She performed at nightclubs and theaters, breaking down barriers between sacred and secular music. Tharpe was a trailblazer in many ways – she was one of the first black women to perform with a white orchestra, and she was also one of the first artists to use heavy distortion on her electric guitar. This technique would later become a staple in rock music.

Tharpe’s influence extended far beyond her own career. She was a major influence on artists like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Johnny Cash. Her distinctive guitar-playing style paved the way for the development of rock and roll, and her powerful voice continues to inspire singers to this day. It is a testament to her talent and impact that she influenced such iconic figures in music.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe passed away on October 9, 1973, but her legacy remains. She was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, a fitting tribute to a woman who did so much to shape the course of American music. Her impact is not only seen in the music of those who came after her, but also in the way she broke down racial and gender barriers in her lifetime. Her life and career serve as an inspiring example of the power of music and the strength of individuality.