Shout, Sister, Shout!
The Untold Story of Rock-and-Roll Trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe
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Shout, Sister, Shout!
Narrated by:
Leslie Uggams, Shawn T. Andrew, Anthony Heilbut
Buy Now for £15.99
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Narrated by:
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Leslie Uggams
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Shawn T. Andrew
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Anthony Heilbut
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By:
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Gayle Wald
About this listen
Long before “women in rock” became a media catchphrase, African American guitar virtuoso Rosetta Tharpe proved in spectacular fashion that women could rock. Born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas, in 1915, Tharpe was gospel’s first superstar and the preeminent crossover figure of its golden age (1945–1965).
Shout, Sister, Shout! is the first biography of this trailblazing performer who influenced scores of popular musicians, from Elvis Presley and Little Richard to Eric Clapton and Etta James. Tharpe was raised in the Pentecostal Church, steeped in the gospel tradition, but she produced music that crossed boundaries, defied classification, and disregarded the social and cultural norms of the age; incorporating elements of gospel, blues, jazz, popular ballads, folk, country, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll. Tharpe went electric early on, captivating both white and black audiences in the North and South, in the US and internationally, with her charisma and skill. People who saw her perform claimed she made that guitar talk. Ambitious, flamboyant, and relentlessly public, Tharpe even staged her own wedding as a gospel concert-in a stadium holding 20,000 people!
Wald’s eye-opening biography, which draws on the memories of more than a hundred people who knew or worked with Tharpe, introduces us to this vibrant, essential, yet nearly forgotten musical heavyweight whose long career helped define gospel, r&b, and rock music. A performer who resisted categorization at many levels—as a gospel musician, a woman, and an African American—Tharpe demands that we rethink our most basic notions of music history and American culture. Her story forever alters our understanding of both women in rock and US popular music.
Audiobook Credits
Read by Leslie Uggams, Shawn T. Andrew, and Anthony Heilbut
Produced and directed by Elizabeth Healy
Recorded at CDM Studios in New York City by Michael Bognar, Brian Ramcharan, Cathleen Conte, and Charles D. Montebello
Post production by Heather Scott and Ted Scott of 50 Nugget Wash Productions
Music
“Didn’t It Rain”
by Marie Knight and Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Regent Music Corporation (BMI)
Recording: Sister Rosetta Tharpe with The Sammy Price Trio
(P) 1947 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Courtesy of Universal Music Enterprises
Recording: Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Courtesy of GHB Jazz Foundation
“I Looked Down The Line (And I Wondered)”
Recording: Sister Rosetta Tharpe
(P) 1939 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Courtesy of Universal Music Enterprises
“Rock Me”
by Thomas A. Dorsey
Unichappell Music, Inc. (BMI)
Recording: Sister Rosetta Tharpe
(P) 1938 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Courtesy of Geffen Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises
“There Will Be Peace In The Valley For Me”
by Thomas A. Dorsey
Warner – Tamerlane Publishing Corporation (BMI)
Recording: Sister Rosetta Tharpe
(P) 1952 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Courtesy of Universal Music Enterprises
“Up Above My Head I Hear Music In The Air”
Words and Music by Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Copyright © 1947 Princess Music Publishing Corporation (ASCAP)
Copyright Renewed
All rights Reserved. Used by Permission
Reproduced by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC
Recording: Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Recording courtesy of Historic Films
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Critic reviews
Rosetta Tharpe was one of my first influences, one of the first people I heard sing. I'm glad Gayle Wald has done a book on her, because people need to know.--Isaac Hayes
"Shout, Sister, Shout is a revelation, an important document and fascinating story. Praise to Gayle Wald for digging deep into the roots of rock."--David Ritz, author, Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye
"Before Mahalia Jackson's name was known and before Edwin Hawkins was born, Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a gospel super star. Her unique style of singing, playing guitar and emoting was packaged by Little Richard and the Rolling Stones and led to Rock and Roll. Wald tells 'Sister's' story with understanding, passion and tremendous knowledge of the music and the people. Finally, 'Sister' can rest in peace!"--Horace Clarence Boyer, author of The Golden Age of Gospel
"Shout, Sister, Shout is a revelation, an important document and fascinating story. Praise to Gayle Wald for digging deep into the roots of rock."--David Ritz, author, Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye
"Before Mahalia Jackson's name was known and before Edwin Hawkins was born, Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a gospel super star. Her unique style of singing, playing guitar and emoting was packaged by Little Richard and the Rolling Stones and led to Rock and Roll. Wald tells 'Sister's' story with understanding, passion and tremendous knowledge of the music and the people. Finally, 'Sister' can rest in peace!"--Horace Clarence Boyer, author of The Golden Age of Gospel
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