Also American

Person · 1915–1973

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

The "Godmother of rock and roll," who fused gospel with virtuoso electric guitar.

The godmother of rock, root of [[black-music]].

Sister Rosetta Tharpe's thunderous guitar and gospel fervor directly inspired Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and Elvis — rock and roll before the name existed.

On the timeline

  1. 1944
    Sister Rosetta Tharpe's gospel-rock crossover

    "Strange Things Happening Every Day" becomes a proto-rock-and-roll landmark — gospel electrified.

Resources

The web

Connections to other moments, systems, and investigations — the links rarely drawn together.

  • inspired·Thread
    Black Music

    Her electric gospel guitar lit the fuse for rock and roll.