On April, 14, 2018 Sister Rosetta Tharpe received a long overdue induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as an early influence. Tharpe’s groundbreaking mixture of traditional gospel with distorted electric guitar and powerhouse rhythm and blue vocal delivery was an important part of the DNA of rock music. She started to perform rock & roll before anyone knew what it was.
One of her signature tunes, “That’s All” (first recorded in 1938), is a plea for love and equality. It also provides poignant commentary on how conflict is often caused by commercial greed. In the times that we live in, Tharpe’s music is needed more than ever.