(photo credit: photo taken by Charles Peterson. Courtesy Don Peterson)
The 27th season of PBS’s American Masters series kicks off this Friday with Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The Godmother of Rock & Roll. The premiere is at 9PM (check your local listings) and will be available to stream online thereafter at pbs.org/americanmasters.
The documentary tells
the story of African-American gospel singer and guitar virtuoso Sister Rosetta Tharpe (March 20, 1915 – October 9, 1973). One of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Tharpe may not be a household name today, but the flamboyant superstar, with her spectacular playing on the newly electrified guitar, played a pivotal role in the creation of rock ’n’ roll.
Moreover:
Southern-born, Chicago-raised and New York-made, Sister Rosetta rose from poverty to become one of the world’s most popular gospel singers and the first to cross over successfully into mainstream popular music. She introduced the spiritual passion of gospel into the secular world of rock ’n’ roll, inspiring some of its greatest stars, including Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard. A natural-born performer and a rebel, “She could play the guitar like nobody else … nobody!” says Lottie Henry, a member of Tharpe’s back-up vocal group The Rosettes. “Elvis loved Rosetta Tharpe,” attests Gordon Stoker of The Jordanaires, who performed with both Sister Rosetta and Elvis. “Not only did he dig her guitar playing but he dug her singing too.”
Here’s a preview clip:
Watch Trailer: The Godmother of Rock & Roll on PBS. See more from American Masters.
Additional link:
