How Sister Rosetta Tharpe Became the First Female Rock Star: ‘A True Godmother of Rock’

When you think about the early days of rock ’n’ roll, musicians like Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and Little Richard likely come to mind, but there’s one figure whose name should be at the top of that list: Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The trailblazing musician was one of the most prominent female artists at a time when the then-new rock genre was dominated by men, and her achievements as a performer are truly inspiring. Read on for a look at Tharpe’s legendary life and work.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s early life

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was born Rosetta Nubin in small-town Arkansas in 1915. She had a humble working-class upbringing, but her parents possessed musical talents and recognized her gifts as a performer from an early age. She was just 4 years old when she first picked up a guitar, and by 6 she was performing alongside her mother with a traveling evangelist troupe in the South.

In the ’20s Tharpe and her mom, a mandolin player, moved to Chicago, where they joined the Church of God in Christ. As a member of the church, Tharpe was immersed in gospel music, and was encouraged to perform. The singer and guitarist was also influenced by the blues and jazz of the era, and as a teenager she performed regularly, winning over audiences with her charismatic stage presence and virtuoso guitar-playing.

Becoming the Godmother of Rock ’n’ Roll

Tharpe began recording her music in 1938, and her first single, the gospel song “Rock Me,” won acclaim thanks to her passionate performance. She released her debut album in 1941, and topped the R&B charts throughout the decade with songs like “Strange Things Happening Every Day,” “Up Above My Head, I Hear Music in the Air,” “Precious Memories” and “Silent Night“.

“Strange Things Happening Every Day” proved to be pivotal for Tharpe, as the 1944 track was the first gospel song to become a top 10 R&B hit, and some musical scholars have even argued that it could be considered one of the first rock songs.

Tharpe’s music became particularly popular with Black soldiers during World War II, and while she sadly faced racism touring in segregated cities during the ’40s, she never let this negativity interfere with her creative output, and was unapologetic in being one of the few visible Black women in popular music at the time.

Tharpe continued playing into the ’50s and ’60s, but as rock music began taking off and white singers like Elvis captivated the country, her soulful gospel receded into the background—an ironic situation, considering that she influenced Elvis, but one that’s been far too common for Black performers throughout musical history.

After many years of musical innovation, Tharpe passed away following a stroke at age 58 in 1973.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s lasting legacy

Sister Rosetta Tharpe boasts one of the most powerful musical legacies, and decades after her death, she’s been rightly rediscovered and won much acclaim. In 2018, Tharpe was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and musicians from Little Richard to Johnny Cash to Aretha Franklin to Tina Turner to Keith Richards have all cited her as an influence over the years.

Tharpe was ahead of her time both musically and in her personal life. While she was married twice, she also had relationships with women and didn’t keep her sexuality a secret. As a queer Black woman guitarist, Tharpe was truly a radical presence, and it’s no exaggeration to say that the nascent world of rock music had never seen a performer like her before.

Over 80 years after she made her debut, Sister Rosetta Tharpe is more iconic than ever, and her story of breaking boundaries and creating foundational music is just as touching and potent as her gorgeous gospel anthems.