A few years ago, I watched an amazing documentary called Rejoice & Shout, a history of gospel music. It featured great performances by such artists as the Staple Singers, the Dixie Hummingbirds, and the Swan Silvertones. All incredible, but I was completely knocked out by Sister Rosetta Tharpe. I had never heard of her. She was singing Down by the Riverside and playing an electric guitar that was all raw and distorted, and she had a presence that was truly awesome.
So, I searched for more of her music and found a video from that same performance that floored me even more. It's called Up Above My Head and it is really something. It begins with Sister Rosetta Tharpe singing and playing her guitar, accompanied by piano. I love her various expressions, at times serious, serene, joyful, just mesmerizing. At 0:21, she is joined behind her by a choir, who clap in time to the rhythm. At 1:24 she begins to solo, and I'm hearing Chuck Berry and classic blues guitarists in there. At 1:38 she says let's do that again, and whoa! check out that Jimi Hendrix-like move she makes at 1:46, one hand bending the strings, the other hand tossing off an aside. Brilliant.
She has been cited as an influence by Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, and Aretha Franklin. Johnny Cash said she was his favorite singer when he was a child. She has been referred to as the Godmother of Rock n Roll. I am so glad I found out about her, better late than never!
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