There are some pieces of history that unfortunately fall through the cracks of time, but we can't let them go unnoticed. That's where we come in. In this series, you’re going to be learning about underrated people, movements, and places that need to be talked about more. Introducing: Your Mini Dose of Underrated History..
Female guitarists weren't widely accepted in the 1930s. This is probably why Elvis is a household name* while Rosetta isn't, but I digress. Tharpe was arguably one of the first guitarists to use electric guitar distortion intentionally. A true innovator! And her range? Impeccable. Rosetta refused to be boxed in by her sound, making her a trailblazer in the music world. You can clearly hear her talent in her breakout hit,*History loves remembering white men..
Rosetta saw Marie Knight performing at Golden Gate Auditorium, and as a result, a talented, exquisite relationship blossomed. Marie and Rosetta toured and went on to write"Up Above My Head" together. In the late ’40s, there were rumors of a romanic relationship between them, deemed “radical” for the time. However,Charlotte Gomez / BuzzFeedWhy did America seemingly forget Rosetta? Well, the answer can be summarized in two words: fresh meat.
Sadly, Rosetta's health declined in 1970. One of her legs was amputated due to diabetes complications, and in 1973, she died of a stroke. But her legacy lives on. Though, in my opinion, this recognition took a while. In 2007, she was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, and in 2018, she was formerly inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.Hopefully you've learned a little about why Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a pioneer of rock 'n' roll music as we know it.
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