As seen in
Guitar Girl Magazine Debut Issue – January 2018
Although published over a decade ago, Shout, Sister, Shout! The Untold Story of Rock-and-Roll Trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe still remains relevant today, especially with Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s post-humous induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Blues is alive, and Tharpe gets credit as one of its “trailblazers.”
Author Gayle Wald interviewed over 150 people who knew or worked with Tharpe in her research for this biography. The book is laid out in 12 chronological chapters with two “Bridges” in between the chapters – how clever. There’s a great index at the end, which I found very useful.
Tharpe was such an accomplished guitarist and is known for her Gibson guitars. She influenced artists across all genres of music and blazed a trail for future female guitarists through her strong spirit and incredible talent. Wald did a good job taking her research and bringing the story of the beloved Sister Rosetta Tharpe to life. Through this book, she’s opening up a new generation to the life and music of Sister Rosetta Tharpe and giving her the recognition she so deserves.
About the Author: Gayle F. Wald is a professor of English at George Washington University at the author of Crossing the Line: Racial Passing in Twentieth-Century US. Literature and Culture. Walk also wrote the liner notes for a critically acclaimed 2003 Rosetta Tharpe tribute album. She lives in Washington, D.C.
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Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The Godmother of Rock & Roll and Gibson Guitars
~ Updated February 26, 2024