Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The First Female Rock Stars Inspiring Legacy [Video]

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.

…