Shout, Sister, Shout!: The Untold Story of Rock-and-Roll Trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe

by Gayle Wald

Hardcover, 2007

Status

Available

Publication

Beacon Press (2007), Edition: 1, 264 pages

Description

New York Times Book Review Editor's Pick: The untold story of 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Sister Rosetta Tharpe, America's first rock guitar diva  Long before "women in rock" became a media catchphrase, African American guitar virtuoso Rosetta Tharpe proved in spectacular fashion that women could rock. Born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas, in 1915, Tharpe was gospel's first superstar and the preeminent crossover figure of its golden age (1945-1965). Shout, Sister, Shout! is the first biography of this trailblazing performer who influenced scores of popular musicians--from Elvis Presley and Little Richard to Eric Clapton and Etta James. Tharpe was raised in the Pentecostal Church, steeped in the gospel tradition, but she produced music that crossed boundaries, defied classification, and disregarded the social and cultural norms of the age. Blues singer, gospel singer, folk artist, and rock-and-roller, she "went electric" in the late 1930s, captivating both white and black audiences in the North and South, in the U.S. and internationally, with her charisma and skill. Ambitious and relentlessly public, Tharpe even staged her own wedding as a gospel concert in a stadium holding 20,000 people. Wald's eye-opening biography, which draws on the memories of over 150 people who knew or worked with Tharpe, introduces us to this intriguing and forgotten musical heavyweight who forever altered our understanding of both women in rock and U.S. popular music.… (more)

Rating

½ (8 ratings; 3.9)

User reviews

LibraryThing member nmele
I bought my first CD of Sister Rosetta Tharpe's recordings some time ago, impressed by her powerful voice and powerful guitar playing. This biography tells her life story and attempts, with only some success, to convey the power of her music. The only way I know to understand Sister Rosetta's
Show More
importance is to listen to her music. There are some filmed performances on YouTube.com, but the best thing to do is to download or purchase the Document or Savoy CDs of her work--wow! The spirit certainly moves in her music!
Show Less

Language

Original language

English

Physical description

264 p.; 9.3 inches

ISBN

0807009849 / 9780807009840
Page: 0.3264 seconds