Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Sister Rosetta Tharpe  (March 20, 1915 – October 9, 1973)  was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and recording artist.  A pioneer of twentieth-century music, Tharpe attained popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with her gospel recordings that were a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and rhythmic/early rock accompaniment.  She became gospel music’s first crossover artist and its first great recording star, referred to later as “the original soul sister” and “the godmother of rock and roll”.  She was an early influence on figures such as Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis.  Tharpe’s 1944 hit “Down By The Riverside” was selected for the American Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2004, with the citation stating that it captured her “spirited guitar playing” and “unique vocal style”, which were an influence on early rhythm and blues performers, as well as gospel, jazz, and rock artists.  (More from Wikipedia)