Inductee Insights: Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Sister Rosetta Tharpe astounded audiences with her guitar pyrotechnics and powerful soprano. America’s first gospel rock star, she paved the way for rock & roll to grip new audiences. Her heartfelt folksiness gave way to her roaring mastery of her trusted Gibson SG, which she wielded on a level that rivaled the best of her contemporaries.
Dive into our latest PNC Inductee Insights episode and coast through the history of The Godmother of Rock. More stories on rockhall.com.

[@vsmith6109]

According to a lot of resources she brought the electric guitar to being the lead instrument when big band was popular. So she's the original rock guitarist. Way overdue to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

[@chris55top]

yes yes

[@KartiacKID]

I just learned about her last year and I have been fan of blues along with rock n roll for 30yrs. What an amazing person with a powerfully strong voice with her own style of fantastic guitar skills to play along side those electrifying vocals. Here I was thinking about Chuck Berry and Bo Diddle going back and forth on who was the original father of Rack and Roll, Elvis as the King, Janice Joplin as the Queen... and then I decided to look up who was the mother of rock n roll which resulted in finding the grandmother of rock n roll... what a lovely 😊 surprise I found at the end of that rabbit hole... All I just wanted to do was decorate my wall with 4 vinyl record covers next to my guitar 🎸 painting honoring Rock n Roll as with two of my favorite bands as well as the mother and father of Rock and Roll. One cover from The Rolling Stones, another cover from The early Beatles, a cover of Chuck Berry to honor the father of rock and roll well researching who was considered mother of rock and roll only to settle with needing to find or reprint a vinyl record cover of the Grandmother of rock n roll playing those familiar sounding solo rifts that launched Chuck Berry to stardom well performing his famous duck walk which was still able to do at the age of 86 as I watched him perform at end of the 2012 Rock Hall's Chuck Berry American Music Masters tribute at Playhouse Square downtown in Cleveland.

[@KartiacKID]

I just learned about her last year and I have been fan of blues along with rock n roll for 30yrs. What an amazing person with a powerfully strong voice with her own style of fantastic guitar skills to play along side those electrifying vocals. Here I was thinking about Chuck Berry and Bo Diddle going back and forth on who was the original father of Rack and Roll, Elvis as the King, Janice Joplin as the Queen... and then I decided to look up who was the mother of rock n roll which resulted in finding the grandmother of rock n roll... what a lovely 😊 surprise I found at the end of that rabbit hole... All I just wanted to do was decorate my wall with 4 vinyl record covers next to my guitar 🎸 painting honoring Rock n Roll as with two of my favorite bands as well as the mother and father of Rock and Roll. One cover from The Rolling Stones, another cover from The early Beatles, a cover of Chuck Berry to honor the father of rock and roll well researching who was considered mother of rock and roll only to settle with needing to find or reprint a vinyl record cover of the Grandmother of rock n roll playing those familiar sounding solo rifts that launched Chuck Berry to stardom well performing his famous duck walk which was still able to do at the age of 86 as I watched him perform at end of the 2012 Rock Hall's Chuck Berry American Music Masters tribute at Playhouse Square downtown in Cleveland.

[@Krusty-kl5ej]

This announcement tells everyone how benign the RRHF really is. She is the monarch, and her music was always there. Celebrities and celebrity markets have always been greedy pigs, and that includes all of the groveling artists, including the Stones, Presley, Berry, Zeppelin, and anyone who copied her.

[@marcocastillo368]

100% agree with you!

[@LayDiva-in-the-Zone]

I'm crying because she deserves so much recognition. You can hear her in the Stones, Zepplin, Stray Cats, etc. That bluesy rockabilly sound is woven through rock music. She had a truly God given talent.

[@whyjnot420]

Thanks in large part to my dad, I've had an eclectic taste in music for as long as I've had a taste in music. More than that, I have always loved all the info and stories that come with music and musicians and I know a lot. Yet it wasn't until I was in my 30s around a decade ago, that I ever heard of her. My initial response was something like "how in the did I never hear this?" Something that is literally foundational to a huge portion of the music I love. (and damn good in its own right) I still kick myself in the ass for this omission every now and then.

[@MarkZook]

It’s not possible to hear Sister Rosetta’s original music without realizing her genius. Yes, Sister Rosetta discovered Rock and Roll and was the greatest.

[@kimberlyespinoza280]

It's a man's world but rock n roll wouldn't be nothing without sister Rosetta Tharpe.

[@p.b.palaciosalmafuerte3463]

No, beatles inveinted all.

[@blackflagsnroses6013]

@@p.b.palaciosalmafuerte3463 lol

[@UFACIL]

@@p.b.palaciosalmafuerte3463 This is why you don't do meth.

[@Broyale26]

@@UFACIL I smoke crack rock and even I'm embarrassed by his comment!

[@katsii1]

@@p.b.palaciosalmafuerte3463 hahahahahaha

[@lorihoop3831]

I cried when I saw that she was finally inducted. My church had electric guitars, drums, sax, and we can thank her for crossing the threshold for church music. My church ROCKED. It was what kept me going back, and I got saved, too.😀😀😀

[@DS-yo8dx]

Praise Jesus!

[@maceymc.7612]

The real truth of rock and roll, and now she can't be denied..... Sister Rosetta Thorpe!

[@maceymc.7612]

Sister Rosetta Tharpe 💖💖💖

[@linlongtin6404]

Finally....

[@girlinvt]

She started playing at 4 and performed with her mother by 6. Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Kieth Richards, Jeff Beck, and Eric Clapton all referenced her influence in how they played or sang. A performer who was instrumental in the growth of guitars and her singing style.

[@Karin_Allen]

I've only just learned abut this amazing artist. What a crime that she's been eclipsed by so many of the acts she influenced.

[@anuncolonizedmind6296]

I love her! She's one of the reasons, that I finally decided to learn guitar. I have always felt guitar down in my soul & now at 41 I'm finally learning.

[@donaldmccall3968]

Gosh, she was so phenomenal. They should do movie bout her

[@livingglutenfree4815]

I wish they would..but who to play her

[@neetrab]

@@livingglutenfree4815 Queen Latifah

[@livingglutenfree4815]

@@neetrab 👌👌

[@no1nestandsalone387]

She will actually be mentioned in the new elvis movie coming up

[@Krusty-kl5ej]

@@livingglutenfree4815 Brittany Howard....no question about it...

[@MrChoirDirector87]

Ladies and Gentlemen, The MOTHER of Rock n’ Roll Sister Rosetta Tharpe

[@dr.bombbay2125]

SHES NOT THE GOD MOTHER OF ROCK AND ROLL. SHE INVENTED ROCK AND ROLL!!!!!

[@monkeydtron]

dr. bombbay chill out dude

[@taylordupree6065]

monkeydhugo nah if we don't tell our narratives then you can expect it to be told wrong

[@hippieandersen]

Spot on dr. Bombay

[@Nada07able]

She's both.

[@ohsomiso]

She is a musician and with spirit flying pushing some boundaries and that is what makes it, as new. Sound emotion

[@pj9731]

A true pioneer of Rock & Roll! 👍🎸

[@kristinekjaer6630]

😻😻😻😻

[@ecmoraes86]

Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Little Richard are the proof that rock didn't came from a conjunction of blues and country, but instead came from black gospel music

[@janetpitts7302]

So happy shes finally in Hall of Fame!! She deserves it alot more than some already in there!!!

[@diegolarreola]

It was about time, 'Strange thing happen every day' is one of the first true rock and roll songs

[@leatherandtactel]

No it´s not, it´s R&B with a gospel flavour.

[@Elwrt455]

She INVENTED Rock n' Roll

[@summit6077]

Jimmy Durex lol why? You think elvis did probably right??

[@MrChoirDirector87]

Exactly!! Those that came LONG after her just imitated her. They reason they succeeded, was because they were white and she was black. Period!

[@Krusty-kl5ej]

@@MrChoirDirector87 Black artists copied her too without crediting her.

[@spwicks1980]

@@Krusty-kl5ej You can definitely hear her licks in a lot of Chuck's playing. Its interesting that Chuck says he got his double stop licks from copying R&B pianists but you can hear Rosetta playing those same double stop licks with lead. Chuck might have got some stuff from his pianist but he got a lot from her. Speed her playing up a bit and put a boogie rythym under her playing and its Chuck Berry. Sly old sod got his career from her from the sounds of things.

[@ddrebrne3336]

The Blueprint indeed.

[@flyspith7686]

In my opinion Sister Rosetta should have been the FOUNDATION of the RnR hall..the first person then start from there..

[@chocodiledundee1]

Sister Rosetta Tharpe is the one the real deal , the one and only # 1 in Rock’n’Roll history !

[@chris55top]

It's very clear to me that all the historical Rock &' Roll documentary films and Rock & Roll history books need to be rewritten or amended to state out right that Sister Rosetta Tharpe is the God Mother and Inventor of Rock &' Roll. They also need to cite she was erased from Rock & Roll history because during her time mainstream culture wouldn't accept a powerful black, bi-sexual, women. It took until 2018 to inducted her into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame but this isn't good enough because they only named her as an Early Influence. She is clearly not just an Early Influence she is the creator. Yes, she did influence a lot of young artist but, it wasn't like they where taking bits and pieces from different genres and artist themselves no they were literally copying her techniques, style and showmanship or should I say show-woman-ship. It was her life journey that created her style as she started to encounter different genres and artist she would allow them to influence her. This new style she created with in her life time was named Rock & Roll but the music industry tried to distance her away form Rock & Roll and tried to pigeonhole her as just a Gospel, Blues, and Rhythm and Blues singer. But guess what when you mix them all up just right you get Rock & Roll. Also, I'm aware many of the younger artist that followed her were also looking at many of Sister Rosetta's contemporaries especially blues artist and taking some of these amazing guitar riffs and ideas to create their own secret sauce.

[@benja1378]

💯💯💯

[@maroonfist9831]

I cried like a baby....No mention of her...Greatest...Living legend. Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

[@terrancecharles8107]

Thanks for sharing . Honestly I didn't know about this gifted sister and it blow my mind. Why don't they teach this lost history to our young generation ? Now I know where BB King got his sound ..

[@nomotrouble123]

She is Rock, and she is Roll.

[@bethlehemeisenhour8352]

The people should be alive when you do this..

[@simmiewilliams5970]

My mother introduced me to Sister Tharpe when I was ten,..and years later I attempted to write a play about her life. I never understood why black artist past and present never gave her props in the industry..shame on you Chuck Berry and Little Richard etc., Hey, Women Rock🎸🎸

[@pugnacious1]

Please do, but make it a screenplay.

[@anuncolonizedmind6296]

Yes... We do rock! I'm finally learning to play, I hope I can be half as good.. as sister Tharpe

[@AnimalsmusicFGC]

Little Richard spoke about her in his book, she gave him his big break. They gave props that she influenced them heavily.

[@Tania-rg7jp]

And shame on Elvis

[@RStevenPage]

All our Black elite do is complain how racist Hollywood is. They make no effort to unearth and preserve through film cultural icons such as her. They probably don't read much or have a broad cultural curiosity.

[@konzn7927]

Creator of Rock and Roll.

[@KissMyBiscuits]

Mind blown!!!! Thank you, Whoopi Goldberg, for mentioning this woman on your show. I am shocked that I never heard of her before now!

[@neetrab]

I had no clue whoopi even had a show. What did she say about Rosetta?

[@thecrystallibrarian]

Worthy! +May her memory be eternal. Thank you Sr. Rosetta ... pray for us all!

[@mosesreza510]

Pray for Youurself she is some place we don't know. She did all her praying for herself she needed

[@angelmatos9143]

Mount Rushmore of Rock & Roll. 1 person and everyone else underneath. Sister Rosetta Tharpe

[@siriuslee9615]

Love love love Sister Rosetta and a Alabama Shakes ❤️

[@jeffking291]

I’ve been a fan of hers for a few years as some of her stuff popped up on my KZbin videos one day. Did not know she was finally inducted. Very Cool‼️ 📻🙂

[@russmartin4189]

I'm 71. I discovered Sister Rosetta last year on KZbin. I was amazed. She has become my music heroine. Rock On Sister Rosetta, wherever you are. (Probably up there rockin ST. Peter, and God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost!

[@almanull3931]

Way ahead of her time. I’m sure she is leading the Angel choir in heaven 🎸🎸🎸🎸rip Sister Rosetta

[@MaryMartinez-ob2mk]

👋 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Hi there, Sister Rosetta Tharpe is on that train smiling down when she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. It's about time, way way pass overdue, like they all say, what have they been thinking!😤 🙆Congratulations Sister Rosetta Tharpe.🙆 We all are so proud of you and what you brought to the music industry with your talent.😇🌺🙇🌸R.I.P. SISTER ROSETTA THARPE.😇🌸🙏🌺

[@britturk123]

I found about this brilliant woman too late but for over 5 years have been moaning that she should be recognized, FINALLY!!!.

[@marcusflowers9218]

She is ROCK N ROLL!!!

[@rohannarangoda1305]

God created rock&roll through sister Rosetta Tharpe

[@msmegs93]

I saw this in 2018, Brittany Howard was the perfect choice to induct SRT, and sing one of her signature songs, "That's All"- What a great rendition! Enjoyed every minute of this.

[@3v3ryBaddi3sGotAStory]

Okay, nice to see she WAS inducted; it should've been while she was alive🙄. CONGRATULATIONS 🎊 👏🏽 to this Gospel sangin', steel guitar playin', harmonica blowin', piano keys rollin', song writin', traditional/unorthodox rebel of a womaaaaaaan!!! Hats off to this pioneer path pavin' Queen/King👸🏽🤴🏾. God, I relate to you so much😌✊🏾💪🏾💚🙏🏽💚.

[@1987whitez]

What a beautifully talented guitar player. I love Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

[@satonareed238]

Now I'm not saying this for attention. But, my cousin who was around in those days told me old stories one of them stories that she was a relative. My folks come from the south and midwest. Them older folks don't lie! When i checked to see from other family members and the family tree it was the truth. This is too a history in my family tree! Very honored to know this. Wayy before my time! But I'm happy. Side bar: i love playing the 🎸 by far!

[@bryana297]

Right on 👍 I play too and I hear where Chuck Berry got it from. Surprised I never looked into her more than I should have. My parents moved north with the migration and i ended up living back down here. What comes around...

[@mariohower4501]

It's about time that she got into the Hall of Fame hopefully she got equal gospel recognition

[@dlewis895]

1935 ROSETTA THORPE THE MOTHER OF R&B+ GOSPEL LONG BEFORE EVERYBODY!!

[@demeeder7]

Someone comment that she is the Real Deal. Those are the words I was looking for. I just heard her for the first time in my life just the other and I'm 61 year old. As a person that loves classic rock as well as rock and rock and roll.... I was/am ASTONISHED. She brought it! I love her.

[@Magdalenamusica]

She is The best, se is The Queen of Rock and Roll

[@leatherandtactel]

How could that be? She did not play rock n roll.

[@janelightning73]

Rock Icon!!! Also adorable!!!

[@bransonjallim2620]

This needs more views

[@bzb500]

It's never too late to be recognized. She was full of heart and soul. it is expressed through her music.

[@redrumloa]

Sister Rosetta Tharpe is insanely good. Shame it took so long for me to find her.

[@gerardog2663]

I hope that one day the whole world knows that rock music was initiated by her, an african american woman. She's the queen, the mother of rock music.

[@danilo16410]

Yes but thanx to God.

[@easye9091]

I want to see more, just love this

[@dashcan8479]

They always hold back the best. Good to see her get the credit due to her. Long time coming.

[@kidohchi]

That's my gal!- I lůV this woman ~

[@wildcolonialman]

Fabulous lass, and young with Mum, touring Churches and performing, a truly remarkable woman, very very special.

[@MrJasilva33]

¡Qué genio era esta mujer! Maravillosa.

[@vincentvega7359]

The Queen!

[@simpleuser0001]

Overlooked yet legendary and inspirational through the rock ages. I like her guitar solos as they were not obnoxious or loud, rather unique, easy to dance to and well blended to her music.

[@larrymclarnon-pd8xf]

What an absolute legend was she.

[@miscsilliness]

Wow..! She's so great!

[@theboat2328]

She’s a deity of rock

[@IamJean-Miguel]

This screams for a film!@Rock & Roll of Fame

[@no59do56]

Maybe it was just several different rockers but certainly Rosetta deserves all the credit in Rock n Roll

[@garycarlson6859]

Best performances all time...no doubt about it...she had the IT Factor times a million!

[@JRUSS80]

The MOTHER of rock n roll

[@jakebarratt5652]

About time sister

[@joselhaluziaribeiro1126]

Amo está cantora

[@echoesoffloyd5000]

Wow! I'd love me this Sistah !

[@umachan9286]

This woman was rocking before Rock & Roll was even a thing. Took way too long before the hall of fame inducted her. She should have been there at the very start.

[@kingbee1500]

AT LAST...Sister Rosetta is finally IN the Hall Of Fame! Next, let's get The Andantes and Tower of Power in!!

[@perspellman]

It's all about how music like we know it came about. Imagine if also Rolling Stone magazine could get a grip and lend Sister Rosetta a place in their 100 greatest guitarists list. I don't care who'd have to leave their place to her, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen or John Lennon, they all probably would be honored to do so, as most of the famous people on that list just wouldn't be the same without her.

[@Krusty-kl5ej]

They could drop Nelson or Lennon or Presley, and many others. Those guys weren't guitar pioneers.

[@richtintera5524]

@@Krusty-kl5ej Is Elvis really on a 100 Greatest Guitarists list?

[@avelixcueto8839]

One of the videos I watched said that her mother was a great guitarist too. I wonder if her mom was actually playing rock n roll already.

[@erichnussbaum]

No, she did not. She only played gospel music. Rosetta was the first that played Rock n Roll. Watch the whole story here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHyukHiHadWdb6M

[@davespears2241]

Sister Rosetta was and still is better than all of her contemporaries.

[@drghdrgh1140]

Rock me ..always gives me chills

[@W4LuV]

The woman who invented herself as the God Mother of Gospel ROCK N ROLL, RHYTHM & BLUES! And that couldn't have been an easy task back in those days. Knowledge breeds proper recognition to know who was a leader for so many Artists to hold in honor of her gifts and extended talent. RIP God Mother of RNR I solute you as true inspiration.

[@Clutchpearls]

I love sister rosetta, I feel her spirit, I'm similar, a little Jesus, a little rock n roll!

[@jedicid]

Man, I got goosebumps watching this video.

[@ajcbng8289]

Ahead of her time. Please, yes and thank you.

[@Kongkingkeng]

The blueprint 💙

[@martmofo8353]

The Queen 👸 of ROCK and roll 🎸 So she invented it. Oh boy🐕‍🦺

[@YourLoyalDeserter]

Staple Singers

[@kmodancer]

..... how did y'all manage to not credit the women performing... lol. PLEASE FIX THAT.

[@ldevon2318]

Brittany Howard

[@hrwatchinpuff6551]

About time.

[@terryhanley8579]

The VERY 1ST inductee to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame should've been rock&roll's founder, Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The fact that ABBA was inducted before her is laughable. The RRHF induction committee is a joke !!! Looking forward to the new Elvis movie coming out featuring Yola as Sister Rosetta.

[@TheSnoopindaweb]

About time. Yup! G-G 🤔🕐⌚⏰⏱👀👍👌

[@DarkEliteEric]

Damn really!!!

[@williamboone5267]

I have heard Chuck Berry heard her as a boy. And styled his guitar playing after hers.

[@vampylolita]

Even if you see her more, some moves of Elvis are from her

[@no1nestandsalone387]

Y_EvilRegal_Snape elvis’ moves aren’t from anyone they were out of nervousness, wanting to move to the music.... and stuff.

[@erichnussbaum]

Chuck Berry was not even sixteen, when he first heard Sister Rosetta on the Radio.

[@peteturner6165]

Would have loved to have met her

[@7550375503]

Let's all get busy digging on the here & now.

[@cheyennesewell3945]

The Mother of Rock

[@66pst]

Umbelivable!

[@googlegilbertlevinmars322]

God saved rock and roll, planted angels along the way.

[@cindydufala7646]

Bravo ⚘

[@bluehappyscrap]

Very rare! Awesome !!!!!!!😀🎈😀🎈😀🎈😀🎈😀🎈😀🎈😀🎈😀

[@jerseyanimall]

It's Nobody's Fault but Mine was First written, recorded and first released by Blind Willie Johnson (December 3, 1927 / 1928). Sister Rosetta Tharpe rerecorded the song in 1942. It's NOT her song. Although she DID CREATE rock and roll.... Before Little Richard and before Chuck Berry.

[@imari2305]

Yessss!!!

[@dnate697]

Wayyyyy the hell overdue. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was full of crap on this one!

[@Kongkingkeng]

Long overdue

[@fire1777]

Oh Yeah!!!

[@williamlinington9166]

It is disgusting, that it took so long for her induction into the Rock and Roll HOF.

[@donaldmccall3968]

Phenomenal icon that know how play guitar like a men on stage, she the God mother of pop music out to mainstream. And the first artist thats sole out area