Sister Rosetta Tharpe:  American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and recording artist. She was referred to as “the original soul sister” and “the Godmother of rock and roll”. A black woman who played rock n roll on her guitar….and I didn’t learn about her until I was into my thirties.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was born on March 20, 1915 as Rosetta Nubin. She began singing and playing the guitar at the age of four. She belonged to a traveling evangelical group with her mother, where, at the age of six, she performed in gospel concerts across the South. She recorded several albums and appeared with several great entertainers, including Cab Calloway. In 1973 she passed away, the result of a stroke, at the age of 58. 

Being a guitarist and songwriter myself, I wish I had learned about Sister Rosetta much sooner. She is another figure on the long list of Black personalities I was never taught about while I was in school. In fact, I learned of her existence by accident. I was working at an academic library, and someone returned a copy of Shout, Sister, Shout! The Untold Story of Rock-and-roll Trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe, by Gayle Wald. Upon seeing Sister Rosetta on the cover, wielding that electric guitar, I knew this was a book I needed to read. In 2018 Sister Rosetta was posthumously inducted  into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And who better to perform a tribute to her, that Brittany Howard of the Alabama Shakes.

Before learning about Sister Rosetta, I hadn’t spent much time with either of my electric guitars. When I read about her, I found myself playing more often, and improving the quality of my playing. 

If you’ve never heard of Sister Rosetta, I encourage you to read about her. Gayle Wald’s book is a wonderful resource.