#rosetta tharpe

[queerasfact]

Rosetta Tharpe, the godmother of rock and roll (seated) and her partner Maria Knight.

Rosetta had her first hit in 1938 and continued to perform almost up until her death in 1973. She brought the music of her black, working-class gospel church to the world, and was cited as an influence by men like like Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Chuck Berry.

For a long time Rosetta went unrecognised. She was buried in an unmarked grave, and wasn’t until 2008 that her biographer Gayle Wald started raising funds for a gravestone, leading to a concert featuring many of Rosetta’s friends, including Marie.

The day of that concert - January 11th - is now celebrated as Rosetta Tharpe day, honouring her enourmous contribution to the development of rock-and-roll and modern music as we know it. Her gravestone reads ‘Gospel Music Legend’.

Check out our podcast episode on Rosetta’s life!

[nosimpincurly]

[ometochtli2rabbit]

Rosetta Tharpe

[legendarytragedynacho]

Sister Rosetta Tharpe circa 1944.

📷 Hulton Archive/Getty Images via

[cozyaliensuperstar7]

Deante Kyle 👑

Talking about the real creators of rock n roll, grunge, punk rock and house music.

Black History 365: Music

Rosetta Tharpe

Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915–1973) was a trailblazing American singer, songwriter, and guitarist widely hailed as the "Godmother of Rock and Roll". She was the first great recording star of gospel music and a pioneer of the electric guitar, using heavy distortion and virtuoso solos that predated and directly influenced the founding fathers of rock.

Chuck Berry

Charles Edward Anderson Berry (1926–2017), widely known as the "Father of Rock and Roll," was a foundational American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is credited with refining rhythm and blues into the distinct elements of rock and roll, including pioneering guitar solos and showmanship like his signature "duck walk".

Tina Bell

Tina Bell (1957–2012) was an American singer and songwriter widely recognized as the "Godmother of Grunge" for her role in pioneering the Seattle rock scene in the early 1980s. As the frontwoman of the band Bam Bam, she helped create the foundational "Seattle sound" nearly a decade before it achieved global mainstream success.

Hackney Brothers: Death

The Hackney brothers—David, Bobby, and Dannis—were the founding members of the seminal 1970s Detroit band Death. Widely credited as the world's first Black punk band, they pioneered a raw, fast sound years before the genre's official explosion.

Frankie Knuckles

Frankie Knuckles (1955–2014) was an American DJ, record producer, and remixer widely revered as the "Godfather of House Music". He played a pivotal role in developing and popularizing the genre, transforming it from an underground Chicago club sound into a global cultural phenomenon.

(TikTok credit: @deante_kyle)

[jasoncanty01]

And they used to call Blues, Jazz and Rock'n'Roll "The Devils" music so "good god fearing Christians" would be shamed into not listing/loving music created by Black Folk. Little Richard, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Lead Belly, Bo Diddley and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

[allthedesiredusernamesaretaken]

... sound of rebellion ...

Sister Rosetta Tharpe vibes with this 1961 Gibson SG Custom

Rosetta Tharpe was shredding an electric guitar and electrifying crowds in the 1930s and 1940s while most people had never even heard the term rock and roll yet. Her gospel fire, rhythm, and guitar style directly influenced artists like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry ... let's put some respect on her name — Rosetta Tharpe is the true founder of rock and roll.

[chantssecrets]

'Blues and Gospel Train' – Sister Rosetta Tharpe – 1964