Sister Rosetta Tharpe
1915 – 1973

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

American gospel musician (1915–1973)

gospel singerjazz guitaristguitaristmusiciansinger
Born
1915-03-20, Cotton Plant
Died
1973-10-09
Birthplace state
Arkansas

Biography

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas in 1915 and died in 1973. A singer, songwriter, and guitarist rooted in pentecostal faith, she gained popularity during the 1930s and 1940s with gospel recordings that combined spiritual lyrics with electric guitar. She became the first great recording star of gospel music and among the first gospel musicians to reach rhythm and blues and rock and roll audiences. Her work influenced early rock-and-roll musicians including Tina Turner, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Occupation

Sister Rosetta Tharpe is recorded as a gospel singer, a jazz guitarist, a guitarist, a musician and a singer, born in Arkansas (1915–1973).

Connections to Arkansas

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas in 1915. Explore other notable figures from Arkansas, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Arkansas›Arkansashistory ›Historic sites in Arkansas›
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Everything a full report reveals about Cotton Plant

Sister Rosetta Tharpe came from Cotton Plant. A full Aubrey report on Cotton Plant pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from Arkansas

Other historical figures born in Arkansas, ranked by historical prominence.

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President of the United States from 1993 to 2001 (born 1946)
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
American country singer (1932–2003)
Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
United States Army general in WWI, WWII and Korea (1880–1964)
Tommy Lister Jr.
Tommy Lister Jr.
American actor and wrestler (1958–2020)
Alan Ladd
Alan Ladd
American actor (1913–1964)
Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell
American musician (1936–2017)
Joe Jackson
Joe Jackson
American music manager, father of the Jackson family (1928–2018)

Frequently asked about Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Who was Sister Rosetta Tharpe?
Sister Rosetta Tharpe was American gospel musician (1915–1973), born in Arkansas (1915 – 1973).
When and where was Sister Rosetta Tharpe born?
Sister Rosetta Tharpe was born on 1915-03-20 in Cotton Plant.
When did Sister Rosetta Tharpe die?
Sister died on 1973-10-09.
What was Sister Rosetta Tharpe known for?
Sister Rosetta Tharpe is recorded as a gospel singer, a jazz guitarist, a guitarist, a musician and a singer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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