Shout, Sister, Shout! Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Born Rosetta Nubin in 1915, Sister Rosetta Tharpe is an artist that rarely comes up in debates about the true founding father of rock ‘n’ roll. She fronted her own band, she was one of the first artists of note to play the iconic ‘61 Les Paul SG Custom electric guitar, she was a headlining, black female artist who toured through the segregated Jim Crow South, and she has been largely overlooked as a seminal figure in the creation of rock music. As it turns out, the founding father of rock ‘n’ roll wasn’t a father at all – that distinction belongs to Sister Rosetta. A gospel-trained force of nature that broke barriers, stereotypes, and norms with astonishing regularity, her electrifying music predates the work of like-minded guitar legends including Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, and Elvis. Sister Rosetta Tharpe unequivocally remains the textbook definition of an iconoclast – The Godmother of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Gibson’s educational tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe, featuring Celisse and Amythyst Kiah, takes viewers on a journey of Sister Rosetta’s monumental impact on music. For more on Celisse and Amythyst Kiah check out their websites: #gibson #sisterrosettatharpe #1961lespaulsg Creative Director of Campaign: Celisse @CelisseMusic Special Thanks to Gayle Wald, author of Shout, Sister, Shout!: The Untold Story of Rock-and-Roll Trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe For more information on her book, visit: GETTY IMAGE CREDITS Bettmann | Bettmann David Redfern | Redferns Images Press | Archive Photos Bill Tompkins | Michael Ochs Archives Jim Steinfeldt | Micheal Ochs Archives Afro Newspaper/Gado | Archive Photos Central Press | Hulton Archive Chris Ware | Hulton Archive Charles Peterson | Archive Photos Edward Miller | Hulton Archives TV Times | TV Times Metronome | Archive Photos Tony Evans/Timelapse Library Ltd | Hulton Archive CONNECT WITH GIBSON SHOP GIBSON BRANDS ABOUT GIBSON BRANDS Gibson, the leading iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across genres for 127 years. Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, Gibson Brands has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships, and progressive product evolution that is unrivaled among musical instrument companies. The Gibson Brands portfolio includes Gibson, the leading guitar brand, as well as many of the most beloved and recognizable music brands, including Epiphone, which has been on every stage since 1873, Kramer, the original MADE TO ROCK HARD guitar brand, MESA/Boogie, the home of tone, and KRK, behind great music for over 30 years, and Maestro, the founder of effect pedals. Gibson Brands is dedicated to quality, innovation, and sound excellence so that music lovers for generations to come will continue to experience music shaped by Gibson Brands. Learn more at and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Gibson TV, and Instagram.