Issue #875 Today In Black History, Monday, June 23, 2025
Throughout June, “Black Music Month,” we are highlighting Black musicians.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe, often dubbed the "Godmother of Rock 'n' Roll," was born on March 20, 1915, in Cotton Plant, Arkansas, as Rosetta Nubin. She was immersed in music from a young age through the influence of her mother, who was a singer, mandolin player, and evangelist in the Church of God in Christ. This rich musical and spiritual upbringing played a pivotal role in shaping Rosetta's unique style, powerful voice, and charismatic stage presence, which blended gospel music with rhythm and blues. This fusion would ultimately lay the groundwork for rock 'n' roll.
By the time she moved to Chicago with her mother in the 1920s, she was already performing in church concerts and conventions. In 1934, at age 19, she married Thomas Thorpe, a COGIC preacher, who accompanied her and her mother on many of their tours. The marriage lasted only a few years, but she decided to adopt a version of her husband's surname as her stage name, Sister Rosetta Tharpe. In 1938, she left her husband and moved with her mother to New York City.
Her big break came in 1938 when she was signed to Decca Records, leading to her first recordings.
Her hit songs like "Rock Me," "This Train," and "Strange Things Happening Every Day" were not only chart-toppers but also trailblazers that bridged the gap between sacred and secular music. Her music inspired a generation of musicians who would go on to record covers of her songs and thus define the rock and roll era, including legends like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Little Richard.
As a Black woman performing secular music with religious overtones, she faced criticism from traditional gospel communities. However, her undeniable talent and magnetic performances brought wider acceptance and a diverse audience, proving that music could transcend boundaries.
One of her most iconic moments was her 1964 concert at an unused railway station in Manchester, England. Amidst a rainy day, her performance, broadcast on television, was a testament to her enduring appeal and skill.
Tharpe's performances were curtailed by a stroke in 1970, after which one of her legs was amputated as a result of complications from diabetes. On October 9, 1973, the eve of a scheduled recording session, she died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a result of another stroke. She was buried at Northwood Cemetery in Philadelphia.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, a recognition long overdue for her pivotal role in shaping the genre.
Today In Black History
In 1888, Frederick Douglass became the first African American nominated for U.S. Vice President.
In 1919, Marcus Garvey incorporated the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).
In 1958, a U.S. Federal judge ruled that the use of racial separation would end within 2.5 years in Little Rock, Arkansas.
In 1970, Charles Rangel defeated Democratic Rep. Adam Clayton Powell in the primary election in Harlem, NY.
In 1963, the Detroit March to Freedom, led by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., occurred with approximately 125,000 participants. It was the largest civil rights demonstration in the United States up to that point. I was there—my Dad took me! It was an amazing experience.
In 1976, the United States vetoed Angola’s application for membership in the United Nations Security Council.
In 1982, the Honorable Coleman Alexander Young, the first Black mayor of Detroit, was elected president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
In 1993, the United Nations authorized a worldwide oil embargo against Haiti.
In 2007, Anthony Reed became the first Black person to complete a 26.2-mile marathon on all seven continents, including Antarctica.
In 2018, the name of “Little House on the Prairie” author Laura Ingalls Wilder was removed from a book award by the U.S. Association of Library Service to Children due to her racist views and language.
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Here is a link to the start of the Manchester performance:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5SoZG4yDaJA&pp=ygUgc2lzdGVyIHJvc2V0dGEgdGhhcnBlIHRoaXMgdHJhaW4%3D
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