Overview
The essential biography of America's godmother of rock 'n' roll whose exuberant singning and guitar playing captivated audiences and inspired generations of musicians from the 40s to today. The essential biography of America's godmother of rock 'n' roll whose exuberant singing and guitar playing captivated audiences and inspired generations of musicians from the 40s to today When Shout, Sister, Shout! was first published in 2007, Sister Rosetta Tharpe was resting in an unmarked grave in a Philadelphia cemetery. That lack of a headstone symbolized so much of what was egregiously wrong about so many stories of American music, particularly the genre we call rock or rock-and-roll. It's a genre that wouldn't exist without Tharpe, though her contribution was forgotten for many years. The biography finally tells the story of the queer, Black trailblazer who defied categorization and influenced scores of popular musicians, from Elvis Presley and Little Richard to Bonnie Raitt, The Alabama Shakes, and Lizzo. The author draws on memories from more than 150 people who knew Tharpe, as well as scraps of information gleaned from newspapers, archives, and memorabilia, to piece together a story that forever alters our understanding of women in rock and of US popular music.
Full Product Details
Author: Gayle Wald
Publisher: Beacon Press
Imprint: Beacon Press
Dimensions:
Width: 15.20cm
, Height: 2.00cm
, Length: 22.90cm
Weight: 0.431kg
ISBN: 9780807011843
ISBN 10: 0807011843
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 31 January 2023
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: To order
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.
Reviews
Rosetta Tharpe was one of my first influences, one of the first people I heard sing. I'm glad Gayle Wald has done a book on her, because people need to know.--Isaac Hayes Shout, Sister, Shout is a revelation, an important document and fascinating story. Praise to Gayle Wald for digging deep into the roots of rock. --David Ritz, author, Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye Before Mahalia Jackson's name was known and before Edwin Hawkins was born, Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a gospel super star. Her unique style of singing, playing guitar and emoting was packaged by Little Richard and the Rolling Stones and led to Rock and Roll. Wald tells 'Sister's' story with understanding, passion and tremendous knowledge of the music and the people. Finally, 'Sister' can rest in peace! --Horace Clarence Boyer, author of The Golden Age of Gospel
I talk about Sister Rosetta Tharpe all the time. She was black and queer and big and invented rock and roll. -Lizzo Wald will give you the story, from small-town Arkansas to the biggest stages in the country. -David Remnick, The New Yorker [Tharpe] has long been deserving of wider recognition and a place of honor in the field of music history. -Bonnie Raitt Mixing tireless reporting with nuanced and cultural insights, Wald's Shout, Sister, Shout! is about as good as musical reparations get. -Tony Green, Vibe Rosetta Tharpe was one of my first influences, one of the first people I heard sing. I'm glad Gayle Wald has done a book on her because people need to know. -Isaac Hayes Wald makes a good case that Tharpe's R&B spirituals played a key role in inventing rock. -Entertainment Weekly Seeing Sister Rosetta . . . really gave me a sense that this was a birthright of mine. -Celisse Henderson
Author Information
Gayle Wald teaches American Studies at the George Washington University. Her books include Shout, Sister, Shout!, It's Been Beautiful, and Crossing the Line. Her essays on music and culture have appeared in numerous publications. She lives in Washington, DC. Follow her on Twitter @gaylewald and at ShoutSisterShout.net.
