Rosetta Tharpe - Guitar Solos in Motion Picture

A collection of inspiring Rosetta Tharpe (later known as Sister Rosetta Tharpe) guitar solos from the archives!

See the world famous gospel guitar player setting the dance floor alight, with soul-stirring guitar solos within some of her most heralded songs.

More from Rosetta Tharpe:

#RosettaTharpe #GuitarSolos

[blawb]

When you think of the fact that both Little Richard and Johnny Cash stated her as their greatest influence and Chuck Berry said his career was just "One Long Rosetta impersonation" it's hard to believe that she is hardly known in popular culture.

[masonkanterbury]

Often imitated, always forgotten. This is the Queen of Rock.

[kathycreative]

So agree. Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, etc. all learned from Sister Rosetts Tharpe. She is unquestionably buried in the annals of rock and roll. She deserves to be recognized as THE ROOT of Rock and Roll.

[TaliyahCole-lc]

This stuff still kicks ass after 60 years. What a great artist. Often imitated, always forgotten. This is the Queen of Rock..

[basilbcf]

We've had movies about Tina Turner, Chuck Barry, Buddy Holly, Elvis, etc...Someone needs to make a movie of this lady's life. I'd pay to see it!

[armandovillanueva]

God I wish she had been able to record her sound with the kind of sound technology they have today. Those crisp guitar riffs are bad ass. She's been long gone but Sister Rosetta Tharpe needs to have the recognition she deserves.

[JesusBehindtheWheel]

Today I discovered the Mother of Rock n Roll and damnit if I didn't shed a tear at the realization that she has not been given the credit she rightfully deserves.
Amazing woman.

[Trippledna]

Sister Rosetta was a friend of my great great grandmother❤️

[kensurrency]

so far ahead of her time she transcends comprehension. she’s not forgotten: it’s only just started. it takes us time to catch up to the greats.

[wayreal]

Before Jimi Hendrix.... We had Sister Rosetta creating all kind of RIFs that NO ONE had done before....RIP Sister Tharpe.

[lancesmith]

I thought I knew a little about rock...I didn't know squat. Why don't we know more about her. She is a treasure. An american treasure. A true artist.

[AaronKaiMCDNLD]

I love how the contrast of Rock and Roll's origins, you got Robert Johnson's deal with the Devil, and sister tharpe's heavenly gospel riffs.

[twainjones]

as a metal musician, i can't believe i've only discovered this now. for metal comes from rock 'n roll and, apparently, all rock n' roll came from sister rosetta 🤟😄 that's just insanely, insanely awesome. such soloing technique in the 1940's!!! astonishing. thanks so much for the upload!

[kdg.]

She deserves her flowers, matter of fact the entire garden. As a black woman who love rock, alternative and all that, seeing a gospel singing woman like her (black woman) start rock! You can't tell me nothin'! This woman is a QUEEN!!!

[soccermommyNPC]

3:16 wow, I wouldn’t be surprised if Hendrix studied this all the time. Incredible.

[stevehurl]

Sister Rosetta was doing a version of that guitar style in the late 1930s on an archtop acoustic. So yeah, she predates Chuck Berry with her ripping, sliding double stop figures. She was an American treasure, always connected to her church roots, much appreciated in Europe as a folk star. Thanks much for this awesome compilation.

[KevyNova]

Remember that she was probably using 12 or 13 gauge strings (the norm for the times), had no pedals and plugged straight into a simple amp with no gain knob or reverb or delay. I’d love to see a modern day shredder make a sound using her gear!

[kingfish]

A woman who sings gospel and plays an electric guitar. Damn right I want to go to heaven. I can listen to this for eternity.

[honeycombsound]

There's a story in Rosetta's bio about she was playing on a river cruise in Philly and was so great nobody realized the boat never left the dock!

[melodied]

My guess she never had a guitar lesson. She is simply one with her guitar and expresses herself from the inner depths of her soul. Beyond great.