Being a history geek (or any other kind of geek for that matter), we are constantly enamored by the small bits that we find in our searches. Sometimes it's just small fragments that illuminate a larger picture. Other times, we find things that have been out there but WE have not found it ourselves. Take Sister Rosetta Tharpe for instance. I had never heard of her until just a few months ago. It's not like her story has changed over the last 50 years either, but as opposed to her contemporary Mahalia Jackson, she has been largely forgotten. That's a shame, but looking at her body of work we see that she should rank in the same strata as those pre-rock performers who were a mighty force in rock's development.
She made her name in gospel, and she never left the music or the faith that inspired it. However, during the 50's she experimented with "secular" music and was criticized by many in the church who were against playing in clubs AND churches. Overall however, the style and message of the music never changed. She took her gospel music message wherever she went. She was never quite a popular again as she was in the 40's.
Secondly, and maybe more importantly, she was a guitar player, and a very good one as well. She was a pioneer of the electric guitar, and correctly or incorrectly I believe that she has not been given her due as a forerunner to Rock and Roll. I am not one to crusade about anything openly, however it seems as time and the R&R Hall of Fame has overlooked Sister Rosetta
Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Isaac Hayes, Aretha Franklin, Little Richard and Johnny and Roseanne Cash have all cited Sister Rosetta as a major or direct influence. A pretty impressive list, and as you will see in the next few videos, Chuck Berry could also list her as well. The first two of these were taken from the early/mid 60's when her career was making a bit of a comeback, especially in Europe. Notice not only the smoking guitar work, but her showmanship. On "Down By The Riverside" (my favorite You Tube video ever), you see moves that not only Chuck Berry developed, but many guitarists have used over the decades. The third is a clip from 1941, and even then you can see that her scope musically was going far beyond the confines of what we now consider gospel music. A true musical pioneer.
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