Play And Tumble

thereconstructionists:

When 23-year-old Sister Rosetta Tharpe first walked into the recording studio in 1938, she likely didn’t dare imagine that she would one day be celebrated as gospel music’s first superstar. The godmother of rock and roll. “The original soul sister.” But that’s precisely what the talented singer and electric guitarist went on to become, bridging the spiritual lyricism of gospel with the secular allure of rock and roll arrangements.

With her unique singing style and electrifying stage presence, Sister Rosetta has influenced a range of beloved musicians, including Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bonnie Raitt, and The Noisettes.

In 1998, the United States Postal Service honored Tharpe with a commemorative stamp. In 2003, a dozen contemporary musicians recorded the tribute album Shout, Sister, Shout!. In 2007, Tharpe was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

Learn more: Wikipedia  |  NPR  |  Literary Jukebox

This is a perfect summation of a complicated man.

thecurvature:

He was an incredibly awkward host. A fascinatingly terrible interviewer.

Horribly, I’ve just had the second hard shock of learning, he was also a domestic batterer.

And he was a genius, a visionary, a legend, who created and maintained one of the absolute greatest things.

He will be sorely missed. So sorely, sorely missed.

(via fuckyeahfeminists)

The news of Don Cornelius’ sad passing came this morning. It got me thinking about Soul Train, and about how style went hand-in-hand with sound on that show.

In 2010 Paper Magazine captured that style.

RIP Don. Thank you for the music, and the magic.