No chronicle of stone ‘ n rolling wave would be consummate withoutSister Rosetta Tharpe , the gospel vocaliser who picked up an electric guitar in the 1940s and aid carve a path later walked by the likes of Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry . When virtually no fair sex were fronting a guitar solo act , Tharpe was on the cutting edge .
To honor Tharpe , guitar maker Gibson is nowofferinga line of Tharpe product . In a press release , the fellowship enunciate it was partner with the belated artist ’s demesne for a “ limited - edition lifestyle and accessory collection , ” including T - shirts , a circuit jacket , pennon , and , naturally , aguitar — a 61st - anniversary edition of the Les Paul SG prefer by Tharpe that retails for $ 6700 .
Tharpe was born and raised in Arkansas , where she picked up guitar at a young age and begin appearing onstage along with her mother as a move around religious doctrine performer . As an adult , she scored track record deals and was an other adopter of the electric guitar . Her performances attracted religious followers as well as people intoxicated by her contemporary spin on music . Johnny Cash , Tina Turner , and a server of others have credit Tharpe as being an inspiration .
After becoming a prominent performing artist in the 1940s , Tharpe alienated some of her more devout followers with her iconoclastic , flashy style . She give way in 1973 at age 58 following a diagonal , and she was site in an umarked grave . That was decline in 2009 , when a welfare concert was arrange to raise money for a headstone .
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