Before Elvis. Before Chuck Berry. Before rock and roll even had a name. There was Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a Black woman from Arkansas who was shredding electric guitar solos in the late 1930s and creating the blueprint for an entire genre.
In this episode, we explore the extraordinary life and legacy of the godmother of rock and roll: a virtuoso guitarist who pioneered electric distortion, filled a 20,000-person stadium in 1951, and influenced everyone from Little Richard to Jimi Hendrix. Her 1944 recording "Strange Things Happening Every Day" is considered by many music historians as one of the first rock and roll records ever made.
Yet for decades after her death in 1973, her grave remained unmarked and her name was systematically excluded from rock history. We examine the intersecting forces of racism, sexism, and homophobia that erased her contributions, and why 2025 is finally bringing her the recognition she deserves.
With Lizzo set to portray her in an upcoming Amazon MGM Studios biopic, multiple West End theatrical productions celebrating her legacy, and viral social media moments introducing her to millions of new fans, Sister Rosetta Tharpe is experiencing an unprecedented cultural renaissance.
This isn't just a music history lesson, it's a story about innovation, erasure, and the radical act of remembering those who history tried to forget. Discover how one woman's refusal to be confined by convention created the sound that would change the world.
Read more: https://theurb.co/rosetta-tharpe