Sister Rosetta Tharpe (b. 1915 in Cotton Plant, AR) was a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who later became known as “the Godmother of rock and roll”. She became popular in the 30s and 40s with her gospel recordings, characterized by a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and rhythmic accompaniment that was a precursor to rock and roll. She influenced many early rock-and-roll musicians, including Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, and Elvis Presley. She was among the first popular recording artsists to use guitar distortion, and her playing technique had a profound influence on the development of electric blues. Tharpe pushed spiritual music into the mainstream and helped pioneer the rise of pop-gospel, straddling the line between sacred and secular music. Her nightclub performances, in which she would sometimes sing gospel songs amid scantily clad showgirls, caused her to be shunned by some in the gospel community. Her song "Strange Things Happening Every Day", recorded in 1944, has been called the first rock and roll record, and showcased her virtuosity as a guitarist and her witty lyrics and delivery. ——————————— The Pocket Queen @thepocketqueen (aka Taylor Gordon) is a drummer and producer based in Los Angeles. She has performed with major artists including Beyoncé, Fifth Harmony, Daya, Musiq Soulchild, Robert Glasper, Tye Tribbett, Michelle Williams and Stevie Wonder. She also musically directed performances for American Idol Winner Candice Glover, recording artist Ravaughn, and television personality Wayne Brady, and sat in for a week-long stint with the 8G band on Late Night With Seth Meyers. Here she is playing Outkast’s “Ghetto Musick” and her own debut single “We Came To Move”!