The name and music of Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Mar 20, 1915 – Oct 9, 1973) has been making the rounds in this centennial year of her birth. The American Master hailed as the Godmother of Rock n’ Roll is paid tribute in current tour of Rhiannon Giddens (lead singer and violinist with The Carolina Chocolate Drops). Giddens’ Tomorrow is My Turn tour serves as an Americana music lesson, according to The Pitch review, and she has been performing Tharpe’s “Lonesome Road” and “Up Above My Head” as her encores.
In the video below, Giddens describes how she discovered the music of Tharpe — an Arkansas native and crossover Gospel musician — in Edinburgh, Scotland of all places.
On her website Giddens writes, “Sister Rosetta Tharpe holds an important role in the evolution of American music; a great innovator, she not only unapologetically bridged the seemingly enormous chasm between secular and church music, she also helped pioneer the unique sound of rock-n-roll guitar. Her infectious spirit, impeccable musicality, and sheer joy in her faith are obvious in every recording and are a source of great inspiration.”
Another musician spreading word of Tharpe’s musical prowess is Roseanne Cash. In her October interview with Parade Magazine, Cash singles out Sister Rosetta Tharpe as a songwriter that her father Johnny Cash introduced her to as an example of excellence.
In honor of her centennial year, Tharpe is celebrated in her home state this Friday, October 16 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Public television station AETN partners with Arkansas Sounds to present a Sister Rosetta Tharpe Tribute — a free screening of American Masters – Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The Godmother of Rock n’ Roll and concert of Tharpe’s music at CALS Ron Robinson Theater.
See the full film American Masters – Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The Godmother of Rock n’ Roll here on American Masters and learn more about her life and music in additional features, including a timeline, playlist, photo gallery, filmmaker interview, and more.
