Sister Rosetta Tharpe: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Sister Rosetta Tharpe carried the Church of God in Christ's shouting Pentecostal worship onto nightclub stages and into the electric age, bending gospel conviction around a Gibson SG's distortion. This mix traces the sanctified pianists and street evangelists behind her, the swing bandleaders who put her in front of white audiences, and the rock and rollers who copied her licks without always naming her.

The Kynda mix for Sister Rosetta Tharpe

• Key Influence · Take My Hand, Precious Lord by Thomas A. Dorsey (1938). Dorsey, the Chicago bluesman turned church composer, invented the gospel song form Tharpe grew up performing — blues phrasing and secular swing wedded to sacred text, sold as sheet music out of Pilgrim Baptist Church. Tharpe recorded Dorsey material including 'Hide Me in Thy Bosom,' which she cut for Decca in 1938 as 'Rock Me,' a title that tells you exactly how porous the line between pew and dance floor already was.
• Influencia Obscura · My Soul Is a Witness for the Lord by Arizona Dranes (1926). A blind COGIC pianist from Texas, Dranes made the first recordings of sanctified church music for OKeh, hammering barrelhouse and ragtime figures under holy text. Her records circulated through the exact Pentecostal network Tharpe's family belonged to, and she established the rhythmic attack — percussive, danceable, unmistakably secular in feel — that Tharpe would later transfer from keyboard to guitar.
• Local Roots · Key to the Highway by Big Bill Broonzy (1941). Broonzy, like Tharpe, came out of rural Arkansas and remade himself in Chicago's South Side music economy of the 1930s. Both appeared in John Hammond's 'From Spirituals to Swing' concerts at Carnegie Hall, which framed gospel and blues as branches of one American tradition. The Chicago of storefront churches and rent parties fed both careers, and both toured Europe to audiences that treated them as living history.
• Beyond the Medium · Minnie the Moocher by Cab Calloway (1931). Tharpe's 1938 arrival in New York put her onstage at Calloway's Cotton Club revue, scandalizing church audiences who considered the booking apostasy. Calloway's model — call-and-response with the crowd, comic showmanship, a bandleader as entertainer-preacher — directly shaped how Tharpe worked a secular room, and the big-band stagecraft she absorbed there never left her gospel performances.
• Peer · Precious Lord by Clara Ward (1950s). Ward and her Ward Singers were Tharpe's closest rivals for gospel stardom in the 1950s, matching her in sequins, showmanship and willingness to play Las Vegas and Disneyland — the same crossover gamble that earned Tharpe condemnation from purists. Both women proved gospel could be glamorous mass entertainment, and both paid in reputation among the churches that raised them.
• From the Canon · Strange Things Happening Every Day by Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1944). Cut with Sammy Price's boogie-woogie trio, this is the record most often named as a first rock and roll single: shuffling eight-to-the-bar piano, Tharpe's single-string electric guitar breaks, and a lyric that scolds hypocrites with a grin. It crossed onto Billboard's race records chart in 1945, proving gospel could sell to jukebox audiences and establishing the sound every Memphis teenager would later rediscover.
• Key Collaborator · Gospel Train by Marie Knight (1950s). Knight was Tharpe's duet partner from 1946, recruited after Tharpe heard her singing on a Mahalia Jackson program; the two toured and recorded together for years in the most commercially successful partnership of either career. Knight's contralto anchored Tharpe's soaring lines, and her own solo sides — before she moved toward R&B — show the vocal gravity that made the pairing work.
• Legacy · Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry (1958). Berry repeatedly described his career as an attempt to play like Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and the lineage is audible: the single-string lead lines, the showman's grin, the guitar as the instrument that tells the story rather than accompanies it. Tharpe's duck-walking across stages and soloing while singing in the 1940s was the blueprint for the figure Berry made the center of rock and roll.

What influenced Sister Rosetta Tharpe

• Minnie the Moocher by Cab Calloway. Minnie the Moocher (Cab Calloway) — culture for Sister Rosetta Tharpe “Tharpe's appearances with Cab Calloway at Harlem's Cotton Club in October 1938 and in John Hammond's "Spirituals to Swing" concert at Carnegie Hall on December 23, 1938, gained her more fame, along with notoriety.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Denomination Blues by Washington Phillips (1927). Denomination Blues (Washington Phillips) — ghost for Sister Rosetta Tharpe “His songs have been covered by a variety of artists: Sister Rosetta Tharpe recorded "That's All" in 1938 (Decca 2503B): it is "Denomination Blues" with altered words and with a different title, taken from the refrain Ry Cooder recorded P…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Me and My Chauffeur Blues by Memphis Minnie (1941). Me and My Chauffeur Blues (Memphis Minnie) — titan for Sister Rosetta Tharpe (musicbrainz.org)
• Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman (1937). Sing, Sing, Sing (Benny Goodman) — culture for Sister Rosetta Tharpe (musicbrainz.org)
• Ninety-Nine and a Half Won't Do by Katie Bell Nubin (1960). Ninety-Nine and a Half Won't Do (Katie Bell Nubin) — ghost for Sister Rosetta Tharpe “== Childhood == Tharpe was born on March 20, 1915, as Rosetta Nubin in Cotton Plant, Arkansas, to Katie Bell Nubin and Willis Atkins, who were cotton pickers.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• My Soul Is a Witness for the Lord by Arizona Dranes (1926). My Soul Is a Witness for the Lord (Arizona Dranes) — ghost for Sister Rosetta Tharpe “Later gospel artists, such as Roberta Martin and Clara Ward, were heavily influenced by her piano playing; Dranes' nasal singing style also influenced artists such as Sister Rosetta Tharpe.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground by Blind Willie Johnson (1927). Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground (Blind Willie Johnson) — titan for Sister Rosetta Tharpe (musicbrainz.org)
• Take My Hand, Precious Lord by Thomas A. Dorsey (1938). Take My Hand, Precious Lord (Thomas A. Dorsey) — titan for Sister Rosetta Tharpe
• The Green Pastures by Marc Connelly and William Keighley (1936). The Green Pastures (Marc Connelly and William Keighley) — culture for Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Peers and kindred spirits

• Marie Knight. Tharpe and Knight toured and recorded together. (also via Gospel Train) “Well, the people gathered because they wanted to see this team. This is one of the greatest teams that ever was. I was at the ball every night. They’d come to see what was going on because Rosetta was music within herself.” (guitarwoman.substack.com)
• Lucky Millinder (1910). Tharpe joined and toured with Millinder's band. (also via Shorty's Got to Go) “Rosetta signs a contract to sing with the Lucky Millinder Orchestra, a popular swing band. They travel widely, and she scores hits with songs like “The Lonesome Road” and the distinctly secular “(I Want a) Tall Skinny Papa.”” (pbs.org)
• Sammy Price. Tharpe recorded the song with Price. (also via Boogin' with Big Sid) “Rosetta begins a productive recording relationship with Sammy Price, leader of Decca’s house band. They release “Strange Things Happening Every Day,” which climbs to number two on the “race” chart.” (pbs.org)
• The Dixie Hummingbirds. The Dixie Hummingbirds backed Tharpe on tour. (also via Peace in the Valley) “Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight (accompanied by the Sam Price Trio) release the hit song, “Didn’t It Rain.” The two women tour widely, often with other gospel acts, including the Dixie Hummingbirds, and are greeted warmly by enthusiastic…” (shoutsistershout.net)
• The Harmonizing Four. Tharpe recorded an album with the Harmonizing Four. “Rosetta records her last songs for Decca, including “I’ve Done Wrong,” a light, lively jubilee song, accompanied by Richmond’s Harmonizing Four quartet.” (pbs.org)
• Sonny Terry. Tharpe and Terry toured together. “British tour with the American Folk, Blues, and Gospel Caravan organized by U.S. promoter George Wein. The lineup includes Muddy Waters, Chess pianist Otis Spann, and the duo Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.” (pbs.org)
• Otis Spann. Tharpe and Spann toured together. “British tour with the American Folk, Blues, and Gospel Caravan organized by U.S. promoter George Wein. The lineup includes Muddy Waters, Chess pianist Otis Spann, and the duo Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.” (pbs.org)
• Ransom Knowling. Tharpe and Knowling toured together. “A 20 page program for the 1964 UK concert tour A Blues and Gospel Caravan, autographed on the back cover by Muddy Waters, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Cousin Joe Pleasant, Brownie McGhee, and Muddy Waters’ bassist Ransom Knowling and drummer W…” (recordmecca.com)
• Brittany Howard. Jenkins describes Howard’s Rock Hall tribute to Tharpe and its rendition of “That’s All.” (also via Stay High) “When Sister Rosetta Tharpe was belatedly inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, Alabama Shakes singer and guitarist Brittany Howard led the tribute, effortlessly mimicking the molten emotion of the 1938 Decca Records singl…” (vulture.com)
• Reverend Gary Davis. Tharpe and Davis toured together. “Acts listed include: Reverend Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry, Cousin Joe Pleasant, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Muddy Waters, Otis Spann, Ransom Knowling and Willie Smith.” (concertposterauction.com)
• Red Foley. Tharpe and Foley recorded a duet. “Rosetta records a duet in Nashville with white country music star Red Foley. “Have a Little Talk with Jesus” fades into obscurity, but the collaboration is historic.” (pbs.org)
• Cab Calloway (1907). Tharpe appeared with Calloway. (also via Minnie the Moocher) “Tharpe's appearances with Cab Calloway at Harlem 's Cotton Club in October 1938 and in John Hammond 's "Spirituals to Swing" concert at Carnegie Hall on December 23, 1938, gained her more fame, along with notoriety.” (Wikipedia)
• Brownie McGhee. Tharpe and McGhee toured together. “British tour with the American Folk, Blues, and Gospel Caravan organized by U.S. promoter George Wein. The lineup includes Muddy Waters, Chess pianist Otis Spann, and the duo Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.” (pbs.org)
• Cousin Joe. Cousin Joe accompanied Tharpe on piano. “The brilliant sequence when she and Cousin Joe cakewalk along the rain-soaked station coupled with her stunning version of the song and outstanding guitar playing was one of the highlights of the concert.” (earlyblues.org)
• Little Willie Smith. Tharpe and Smith toured together. “A 20 page program for the 1964 UK concert tour A Blues and Gospel Caravan, autographed on the back cover by Muddy Waters, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Cousin Joe Pleasant, Brownie McGhee, and Muddy Waters’ bassist Ransom Knowling and drummer W…” (recordmecca.com)
• The Fairfield Four. Wald documents Tharpe appearing with the Fairfield Four at the Ryman Auditorium. “Rosetta appears at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, home of the Grand Ole Opry, with the Fairfield Four.” (pbs.org)
• Move On Up a Little Higher by Mahalia Jackson. Move On Up a Little Higher (Mahalia Jackson) — geography for Sister Rosetta Tharpe “In 1946, Tharpe saw Marie Knight perform at a Mahalia Jackson concert in New York City.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Muddy Waters. Tharpe toured Europe with Waters. “Her European tour with Muddy Waters in 1964, with a stop in Manchester on May 7, is cited as important by British guitarists such as Eric Clapton , Jeff Beck , and Keith Richards .” (Wikipedia)
• Valerie June. June recorded a rendition of Tharpe’s “Strange Things Happening Every Day.” “Indeed, American Songwriter is proud to premiere June’s latest work, a music video for June’s rendition of the Tharpe song, “Strange Things Happening Every Day,” which includes unreleased footage from the Grammy-nominated documentary Lit…” (americansongwriter.com)
• The Jordanaires. Tharpe performed with the Jordanaires. “Tharpe played on several occasions with the white singing group the Jordanaires .” (Wikipedia)
• Shorty's Got to Go by Lucky Millinder (1942). Shorty's Got to Go (Lucky Millinder) — collaborator for Sister Rosetta Tharpe “In 1942, music critic Maurie Orodenker, describing Tharpe's "Rock Me", wrote, "It's Sister Rosetta Tharpe for the rock and roll spiritual singing." She signed a 10-year contract with Lucky Millinder.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Boogin' with Big Sid by Sammy Price (1940). Boogin' with Big Sid (Sammy Price) — collaborator for Sister Rosetta Tharpe “("Down by the Riverside" was recorded by Tharpe on December 2, 1948, in New York City, and issued as Decca single #48106.) Her 1945 hit "Strange Things Happening Every Day", recorded in late 1944, featured Tharpe's vocals and guitar, wit…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Key to the Highway by Big Bill Broonzy (1941). Key to the Highway (Big Bill Broonzy) — geography for Sister Rosetta Tharpe (musicbrainz.org)
• Gospel Train by Marie Knight (1950). Gospel Train (Marie Knight) — collaborator for Sister Rosetta Tharpe “In 1946, Tharpe saw Marie Knight perform at a Mahalia Jackson concert in New York City.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• God Is Still on the Throne by Roberta Martin (1940). God Is Still on the Throne (Roberta Martin) — geography for Sister Rosetta Tharpe “The other women honored were Mahalia Jackson, Clara Ward, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Peace in the Valley by The Dixie Hummingbirds (1950). Peace in the Valley (The Dixie Hummingbirds) — peer for Sister Rosetta Tharpe “Her unique music left a lasting mark on more conventional gospel artists such as Ira Tucker, Sr., of the Dixie Hummingbirds.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Evil Gal Blues by Dinah Washington (1944). Evil Gal Blues (Dinah Washington) — peer for Sister Rosetta Tharpe
• Precious Lord by Clara Ward (1950). Precious Lord (Clara Ward) — peer for Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Who Sister Rosetta Tharpe influenced

• Chuck Berry. Hackel attributes a description of Berry’s career as an imitation of Tharpe to Berry. (also via That's All, Johnny B. Goode) “Chuck Berry once said his entire career was “one long Sister Rosetta Tharpe impersonation.”” (uDiscover Music)
• Little Richard (1932). Ilett identifies Tharpe’s recording of “Rock Me” as an influence on Little Richard. (also via Rock Me, Tutti Frutti) “It's with Rock Me , however, that we hear Tharpe's electric guitar for the first time and, significantly, this is the very record that had such a profound influence on future rock 'n' rollers such as Elvis, Little Richard and Jerry Lee L…” (guitarworld.com)
• Jerry Lee Lewis. Lewis identified Tharpe's performance as an influence. (also via Rock Me) “Other musicians, including Aretha Franklin , Jerry Lee Lewis , [ 7 ] and Isaac Hayes , have identified her singing, guitar playing, and showmanship as important influences on them.” (Wikipedia)
• Elvis Presley. The article identifies Presley as a musician Tharpe influenced. (also via Rock Me, That's All) ““She had a major impact on artists like Elvis Presley,” said Gayle Wald, a professor and Tharpe biographer. “When you see Elvis Presley singing songs early in his career, I think you [should] imagine, he is channeling Rosetta Tharpe.” (pbs.org)
• Keith Richards. Richards is named among guitarists for whom Tharpe's tour was important. “It was tours featuring the likes of Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Muddy Waters and, in 1957, Sister Rosetta Tharpe that had such a profound impact on young British musicians who are now household names such as Peter Gre…” (guitarworld.com)
• Johnny Cash. Jenkins reports that Cash identified Tharpe as a muse for his songwriting. “We know Sister Rosetta was a massive influence: In his autobiography, Man in Black , he remembered spontaneously, mid-bender, bringing his cab driver to one of her concerts, and weeping openly afterward.” (vulture.com)
• Eric Clapton. Clapton is named among guitarists for whom Tharpe's tour was important. “It was tours featuring the likes of Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Muddy Waters and, in 1957, Sister Rosetta Tharpe that had such a profound impact on young British musicians who are now household names such as Peter Gre…” (guitarworld.com)
• Aretha Franklin. Franklin identified Tharpe's performance as an influence. “Other musicians, including Aretha Franklin , Jerry Lee Lewis , [ 7 ] and Isaac Hayes , have identified her singing, guitar playing, and showmanship as important influences on them.” (Wikipedia)
• Mavis Staples. Staples said she wanted to model her guitar playing on Tharpe’s. “Mavis once petitioned her father for guitar lessons: “I want to pick it like you and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.”” (vulture.com)
• Tina Turner (1957). Bender reports that Turner cited Tharpe as an influence, without providing Turner’s own statement. “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.” (womansworld.com)
• Jeff Beck. Beck is named among guitarists for whom Tharpe's tour was important. “Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Muddy Waters and, in 1957, Sister Rosetta Tharpe that had such a profound impact on young British musicians who are now household names such as Peter Green, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Jimm…” (Guitar World)
• Tutti Frutti by Little Richard (1955). Tutti Frutti (Little Richard) — legacy for Sister Rosetta Tharpe “She influenced early rock-and-roll musicians, including Tina Turner, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Carl Perkins. The article identifies Perkins as a musician Tharpe influenced. “She influenced early rock-and-roll musicians, including Tina Turner , Little Richard , Chuck Berry , Johnny Cash , Carl Perkins , Elvis Presley , and Jerry Lee Lewis .” (Wikipedia)
• Bonnie Raitt. In liner-note remarks reproduced by MusicRadar, Raitt says Rosetta blazed a trail for women guitarists including herself. “Rosetta was one of the most beloved and influential artists ever in gospel music," she wrote. "She blazed a trail for the rest of us women guitarists with her indomitable spirit and accomplished, engaging style.” (musicradar.com)
• Stay High by Brittany Howard (2019). Stay High (Brittany Howard) — legacy for Sister Rosetta Tharpe “== Influences == Artists Howard has cited as influences include Led Zeppelin, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Prince, Curtis Mayfield, David Bowie, Mavis Staples, Tom Waits, Björk, Gil Scott-Heron, Freddie Mercury, and Tina Turner.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Isaac Hayes (1942). Hayes identified Tharpe's performance as an influence. “Other musicians, including Aretha Franklin , Jerry Lee Lewis , [ 7 ] and Isaac Hayes , have identified her singing, guitar playing, and showmanship as important influences on them.” (Wikipedia)
• Celisse. Celisse says she herself borrowed from Tharpe. “There's an endless list of artists that borrowed from Sister Rosetta - folks like Elvis, Johnny Cash, Led Zeppelin , Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry , even me!” (Guitar World)
• Yola. Moran describes Tharpe’s influence on Yola’s album Stand for Myself. “The UK artist’s Hollywood debut follows her 2021 album, Stand for Myself , which Yola will be the first to say has Tharpe’s impact laced throughout.” (papermag.com)
• Neil Sedaka. Sedaka attested to Tharpe's influence. “Such diverse performers as Meat Loaf , Neil Sedaka , and Karen Carpenter have attested to the influence of Tharpe in the rhythmic energy she emanated in her performances” (Wikipedia)
• Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry (1958). Johnny B. Goode (Chuck Berry) — legacy for Sister Rosetta Tharpe “She influenced early rock-and-roll musicians, including Tina Turner, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Ira Tucker, Sr.. Tharpe's music left a lasting mark on Tucker. “Her unique music left a lasting mark on more conventional gospel artists such as Ira Tucker, Sr., of the Dixie Hummingbirds .” (Wikipedia)
• Frank Turner. Turner wrote a song addressing Tharpe's influence. “In 2018, singer Frank Turner wrote and performed the song "Sister Rosetta" about her influence and how she deserved to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame .” (Wikipedia)
• Jimmy Page (1944). Ilett names Page among the British musicians affected by tours that included Tharpe. “Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Muddy Waters and, in 1957, Sister Rosetta Tharpe that had such a profound impact on young British musicians who are now household names such as Peter Green, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Jimm…” (Guitar World)
• Meat Loaf. Meat Loaf attested to Tharpe's influence. “Such diverse performers as Meat Loaf , Neil Sedaka , and Karen Carpenter have attested to the influence of Tharpe in the rhythmic energy she emanated in her performances” (Wikipedia)
• Karen Carpenter. Carpenter attested to Tharpe's influence. “Such diverse performers as Meat Loaf , Neil Sedaka , and Karen Carpenter have attested to the influence of Tharpe in the rhythmic energy she emanated in her performances” (Wikipedia)
• Big Mama Thornton. Strange Things Happening Every Day (Sister Rosetta Tharpe) — culture for Big Mama Thornton (via Strange Things Happening Every Day)