Sister Rosetta Tharpe obscured the difference between the concept of secular and sacred music. Sister Tharpe was a classic rock singer, recording artist and a guitarist of America. The significant time of her popularity was from the 1930s-40s as a gospel singer. Along with many other talents, she also recorded gospel lyrics in her early career. The innovative mind of Rosetta Tharpe invented the idea of classic rock.
Her stage appearance became a layout for many famous singers. Furthermore, her songs were a unique mix of rhythmic and spiritual lyrics and were an ancestor of rock n roll. She was the first-star gospel singer and was the one who appealed rock n roll and rhythm-and-blues audiences. She was also called Godmother of rock n roll and original soul sister. Rosetta Tharpe affected early musicians of rock n roll including Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, and many others.
The early life of Sister Rosetta Tharpe:
On 20 March 1915, Sister Rosetta Tharpe was born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas. Her birth name was Rosetta Nubin. Her parents Willis Atkins and Katie Bell Nubin were cotton pickers. The life of her father is unknown except that he was also a singer. Mother of Sister Tharpe, Katie Bell, was a mandolin player and also a singer. Moreover, she was an evangelist and a preacher who worked in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), founded in 1894. The founder of this church, a black Pentecostal bishop, Charles Harrison Mason encouraged rhythmic music. He supported women and allowed them to teach in church and sing. Rosetta Tharpe started to sing and play guitar as little Rosetta Nubin at a very young age of four and became a child genius of music.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe; settlement and early career:
In the mid of 1920, Tharpe and her mother settled in Chicago. They performed religious concerts at the COGIC church on 40th street. Moreover, they also performed at different churches occasionally, throughout the century. In 1921, at the age of six, Tharpe had already joined her mother and used to play with traveling religious troupe regularly. She joined her mother in different performances of the sermon. Tharpe also performed in many concerts as a gospel singer.
Tharpe achieved great success and fame in the era when prominent black female guitarists were rare. In 1934, at the age of 19, she married a church preacher named Thomas. Thomas also accompanied Rosetta Tharpe and her mother in many of their tours. Their marriage lasted for a few years, and then she moved to New York with her mother after leaving her husband.
Career and unique work:
Sister Tharpe was a talented singer of classic rock. In addition, she was a gospel singer and sang spiritual lyrics. Her style of rock n roll was unique and commonly known as Rosetta rock. Rosetta Tharpe transferred her talent to Europe after starting touring in 1957. While rising a new generation of fans, Rosetta Tharpe gave many iconic performances.
She sang to a huge crowd at a platform in Manchester. This performance was unique because she used different eye-catching ideas and strong spiritual lyrics. She mesmerized the audience by stepping down from a horse-drawn carriage. During this performance, she played a unique blend of gospel lyrics and blues rhythm. The concert was a merge of the engaging style of Rosetta rock to make fans crazy.
Achievements and award-winning factors:
Sister Rosetta Tharpe was the winner of Grammy Nomination in 1968. Meanwhile, in 1998 the Postal Services of United States issued a postage stamp of Rosetta Tharpe. She was also a member of Arkansas Entertainment Hall of Fame. In 2003, Sister Tharpe got a tribute in the form of a tribute album. In the year 2018, Rosetta Tharpe was appointed in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. On 1 January 2008, in Pennsylvania, the governor announced something significant. He made 11 January, Sister Rosetta Tharpe Day.
Personal Life of Sister Rosetta Tharpe:
Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a spiritual lyrics artist, as well as a rock singer. She performed well in the field of classic rock. Sister Tharpe got married three times. Thomas A. Thorpe was the man she first married in 1934. Their marriage lasted for only a few years, but she decided to adopt her husband’s surname as her stage name. He died after four years in 1938. The second person she married was Fork Allen in 1943, and he died in 1947. After two years in 1951, Rosetta Tharpe married her manager, Russell Morrison.
Illness and her death:
Sister Tharpe suffered illness and faced many difficulties. She faced challenges in speech, and her leg was also removed surgically due to diabetes. Sister Tharpe suffered all these health issues in 1970. Despite facing all these health problems, she continued to perform until her death. On 9th October 1973, this classic rock singer died in Philadelphia. Her death was a result of a stroke. The Tomb of Rosetta Tharpe is in Pennsylvania at Northwood Cemetery.
Tharpe was an explorer of her guitar technique. She was also among the famous recording artists of classic rock. Rosetta rock was known as a different type of rock n roll. The tours of Europe continued until her death. Sister Rosetta recorded for the last time in Copenhagen in 1970. Today, Sister Rosetta Tharpe is considered a great woman who surpassed every standard of music. The mesmerizing style of Rosetta rock was utterly different from other rock music.
End of the legendry artist:
She was the founder of Rosetta rock and was a shining star of the hall of fame. Her career in the classic rock was remarkable. She was a woman who traveled around the world and introduced Rosetta rock. She was a fearless artist who entered the rock n roll hall of fame and changed the standard of the rock world and classic rock. Her singing style, voice, and rock songs are unforgettable. The singing style of Tharpe influenced a generation of musicians including Chuck Berry, Aretha Franklin, and many others and was an unmatched artist.
