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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZTHARPE, Sister Rosetta(b Rosetta Nubin, '15, Cotton Plant AR; d 9 Oct. '73, Philadelphia PA) Singer, and guitarist whose licks anticipated those of Chuck Berry, other rockers. Daughter of Kate Nubin Bell, travelling gospel- bringer, old-time shouter, pianist and mandolinist; raised in Chicago, trad. of Holiness Church; played acoustic guitar, switched to electric; became vocalist with Cab Calloway Revue, recorded 'Pickin' The Cabbage' '40; more fame with Lucky Millinder '41--2: 'Rock Me', 'Trouble In Mind', 'I Want A Tall Skinny Papa', 'Rock Daniel', 'Shout Sister Shout', tour-de- force 'That's All', with guitar solo years ahead of its time. Solo career in cabaret, appeared at chic Cafe Society; resumed pure gospel career '44: classics of genre on Decca incl. duets with Marie Knight 'Didn't It Rain', 'Up Above My Head' (latter covered by Frankie Laine and Johnnie Ray '57; duet hit in UK). Her accompaniment often incl. Sammy Price on piano, Pops Foster on bass, Kenny Clarke on drums. Originally married to a pastor named Thorpe in '34 (changed spelling), she married Russell Morrison (ex-Ink Spots manager) '51: they had an outdoor wedding with 25,000 paying guests. She upstaged Rev. Jimmy Cleveland at the Apollo '60, stormed Newport Jazz Festival '67, made LPs for Savoy, gained Grammy nomination; suffered stroke during European tour '70: speech impaired and leg eventually amputated, but toured again '72 on crutches. Planned first LP in four years for Savoy, but had final stroke on day of proposed first session. Tracks in Millinder compilations; LPs on Savoy, MCA, Bandstand, Rosetta etc; CDs incl. Gospel And Negro Spirituals on Tuxedo, Live At The Hot Club de France on Milan, Live In 1960 on Southland, In Concert on Nesak. |