Sister Rosetta Tharpe: A Pioneer & Phenomenon

When you’re influencing big names like these, it’s easy to see why she’s considered “the Godmother of Rock and Roll’ and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as an ‘early influencer.’ From the 1940s through to the 1960s, her legacy clearly played a huge part in the creation of the genre and absolutely reason enough to give attention to this musical phenomenon.

Taking her musical stock from Gospel music, the church played a big part of Tharpe’s life and the genre was big part of her musical DNA throughout her career. Heck, from the age of six, Tharpe was a regular performer in a traveling evangelical troupe alongside her mother, described as a "singing and guitar playing miracle.” She accompanied her mother in performances that were part sermon and part gospel concert before audiences across the southern states. It’s safe to say she earned her stripes as a performer early in her musical roots.

In her early rise during the 1930s, female guitarists were an assuredly rare breed, let alone a musician who followed both religious and secular connotations. Tharpe was both and in fact, caused some fears among the Gospel community due to these factors. She was also a young Black women, living in a time when institutionalised racism was still very much enduring in the USA and another obstacle she faced throughout her life as a performer. When performing on tours to mixed race audiences in the 1940s, she would sometimes be refused entry to hotels and restaurants despite her growing fame.

However, you don’t help give birth to a decade defining genre without taking risks and Sister Rosetta — young and innovative — stuck to her guns and experimented with her individual sound. Her persistence and grit paid off, and in 1938, she had recorded her first single by the age of 23, as well as playing along side the likes of Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway at New York’s famous Cotton Club. When compared to her male guitarist counterpoints of the time, she famously said “can’t no man play like me. I play better than a man.” That confidence clearly shone through, as few had the charismatic stage presence that Tharpe presented alongside her undeniable talent.

Although she certainly would deliver super authentic and moving vocal worship music all her life, she developed her own style of playing and singing her own music also; with delightfully a creative and rhythmic guitar style. In fact, she was a pioneer of using a distorted guitar sound, arguably foreshadowing its popularity, particularly with regard to Electric Blues music. The likes of Clapton, Jeff Beck and Keith Richards have all stated Sister Rosetta as an influence, shining a light also on her influence within British Blues. Her influence on 20th century guitarists was ever-present on both sides of the pond, with Chuck Berry being quoted as saying his entire career was “one long Sister Rosetta Tharpe impersonation.”

Tharpe’s thumb pick and finger-style guitar technique employed a highly rhythmic feel, with great use of chromaticism, an obvious influence from the likes of Jazz and Bebop music. Though, she fused those Jazz like harmony elements with a more raw and Blues & Roots feel; introducing bends and double-stops. This synergy, coupled with her pioneering tones, made her style instantly recognisable; jumping out during a time where the Electric Guitar had been far more reserved.

Check out this clip from the early 1960s on the show TV ‘Gospel Time,’ performing her self-penned track “Up Above My Head.” It showcases perfectly what was so special about Sister Rosetta Sharp: the voice, the innovate and engaging guitar style and that larger than life charisma. Truly seeming to channel an essence of a higher spiritual power in her execution.

Playing to the rather rudimentary accompaniment of piano and a choir of claps, Tharpe demonstrates the perfect marriage of her signature guitar style with her powerful, soulful vocals. For me, what is so amazing about this performance, is how confidently ‘in the pocket’ her time feel is. I’m sure if the accompaniment wasn't there that she would deliver the same intensity and timing consistency that she does with, flaunting the fact that for some, it's simply ‘in the blood.’

In spring 1964, Sister Rosetta toured Europe as part of a group that included likes of the legendary Muddy Waters. Check out this iconic clip from that tour, filmed at a disused railway station in Manchester UK. Again, this clip displays the sheer larger than life prowess that Tharpe embodied, seeing her saunter to the platform-come-stage after a horse and cart chaperone; before launching into some of the greatest worship music you’re bound to hear.

Unfortunately, she began to suffer from health issues and passed away at the age of 58 not 10 years after this unbelievably moving performance. With that, the very world of the guitar driven music that she gave birth to, went on to overshadow her legacy in the short term; seeing the male guitarists she influenced reach levels of revere she simply didn’t see during her lifetime and for some time after. However, her legacy is now being given the credit and attention it so rightly deserves.

Sister Rosetta’s style and music is super unique and inspiring, so what are you waiting for? Go and discover the music of “the godmother of Rock & Roll” today, you’re bound to learn a thing or too!