Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Lonesome Road (1941) | Soundie

Sister Rosetta Tharpe does an inspired big band version of her 1938 single, “The Lonesome Road (from Showboat)’ in this short film produced for the Soundies Corporation in 1941. Sister Rosetta Tharpe (March 20, 1915 – October 9, 1973) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and recording artist. She attained popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with her gospel recordings, characterized by a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and rhythmic accompaniment that was a precursor of rock and roll. She was the first great recording star of gospel music and among the first gospel musicians to appeal to rhythm-and-blues and rock-and-roll audiences, later being referred to as “the original soul sister“ and “the Godmother of rock and roll“. She influenced early rock-and-roll musicians, including Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis. On October 31, 1938, aged 23, Tharpe recorded for the first time – four sides for Decca R