Until yesterday, I never heard of Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
I listened to the entire hour long documentary on PBS (while doing other things). Fascinating woman. They say she greatly “influenced” Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Chuck Berry … the so-called “fathers” of rock ‘n’ roll. That being the case, she is the grandmother of rock ‘n’ roll as she was rockin’ in the 1930s and ’40s while they were still in diapers.
I mean, just look at her. That’s rock, baby!! Ha!
Rock isn’t just about the music, man, it’s about the feeling. It’s about doing your own thing and making your own rules in a world that doesn’t understand you, and that’s exactly what Tharpe did. Even though she sang gospel music, the religious establishment didn’t understand her — but teenagers did, making her one of the first musical super stars …. and every single important rock band in history started out by appealing to teens.
For you A.D.D. somsabitchez, she starts playing the guitar at the 60 second mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SR2gR6SZC2M
And for you seriously A.D.D. afflicted somsabitchez, this clip is only 1 min 20 sec.
.PBS Documentary link — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_n0vkzc8PU
x
Nice!
great find Stuck ..being a old blues fan I’ll have to look more into the Sister’s soul.
You all need to go back farther if you want to find the true source of so called Rock and Roll.Where did the blues come from ?.Not as innocent as you think.
“The blues has deep roots in American history, particularly African-American history. The blues originated on Southern plantations in the 19th Century. Its inventors were slaves, ex-slaves and the descendants of slaves—African-American sharecroppers who sang as they toiled in the cotton and vegetable fields. It’s generally accepted that the music evolved from African spirituals, African chants, work songs, field hollers, rural fife and drum music, revivalist hymns, and country dance music. ”
“While blues lyrics often deal with personal adversity, the music itself goes far beyond self-pity. The blues is also about overcoming hard luck, saying what you feel, ridding yourself of frustration, letting your hair down, and simply having fun. The best blues is visceral, cathartic, and starkly emotional. From unbridled joy to deep sadness, no form of music communicates more genuine emotion.”
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/a-brief-history-of-the-blues-by-ed-kopp.php
Decadent rot from lowest common denominator. By rights teens should appreciate a bach chorale or a beethoven sonata or at least bolero. Tribal conspiracy to sell records and destroy western civ at same time.
OldeVirginian,
As a teenager, I was an intellectual snob and sneered at the other kids my age for not being able to “appreciate” Bach and Beethoven. I later came to realize that it was me that was missing out on a profound and moving life experience, and came to the view that even simple genres like folk music, the best of it, is poetry set to music, and moves the soul in a way that purely instrumental music never did for me. I still appreciate classical, but that doesn’t stop me from listening to all kinds of other music.
You go Stucky! That first clip was May1964. Amazing Grace as 1779 and Rock Around the Clock was 1954. She’s good and a music hero. Bluegrass is just as old and had a great effect too. Anybody remember Moms Mabley and Tim Moore (Amos’n Andy)?
Great find Stucky! I was much enriched. Now look at how the “founders” of rock and roll stood on Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s shoulders:
Chuck Berry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvKDr8AgvK8
Elvis Pressley
Little Richard
Johnny Cash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It7107ELQvY
And of course Marty McFly copying Chuck Berry in “Back to the Future” !!