Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915-1973) - the progenitor of rock-n-roll. Tharpe (1915-1973) is known for her signature musical style which fused the worlds of gospel and secular music with a sprinkling of her electric guitar.  This fusion carved a new genre of music, influenced some of the greatest artists in history, and cemented her legacy as the godmother of rock-n-roll.

Rosetta was born Rosetta Nubin Atkins in Cotton Plant, Arkansas in 1915 to Katie Harper Atkins and Willis Atkins.Her mother was a singer, mandolin player, deaconess, and woman evangelist for the Church of God in Christ (COGIC). Her father sang, played the guitar and harmonica, and was very religious. Rosetta grew up singing in church. At age four (4) she started playing the guitar  and was considered a musical prodigy. By age six (6) she was performing under the name Little Rosetta Nubin, alongside her mother, with a traveling evangelical troupe, touring throughout the Southern part of the United States. In the mid 1920s, Rosetta’s parents separated and she and her mother settled in Chicago where they continued to tour and perform, primarily at COGIC related events.