Rosetta Tharpe

Born Rosetta Nubin in Cotton Plant, Arkansas, she began performing gospel music at age four, a prodigy on both guitar and vocals. Her mother was an evangelist for the Church of God in Christ, ensuring young Rosetta's musical foundations were firmly rooted in the Pentecostal tradition. No rabbi ever stood a chance.

Tharpe's electric guitar riffs and powerful voice broke barriers, bringing sacred music to secular nightclubs and concerts. She was a true trailblazer, influencing everyone from Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash to Chuck Berry and Little Richard. If you've ever enjoyed rock and roll, you've benefited from her divine intervention.

While her sound might have been heavenly, her personal life was a bit more earthly, featuring multiple marriages and a penchant for pushing boundaries both musically and socially. Despite her immense impact, she often struggled for wider recognition, a common tale for pioneering Black women in music.