31. The Gaymother of Rock n' Roll, O.G. Electric Lady Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Holy crap, y’all! It’s already AUGUST. Somehow this year has
simultaneously lasted forever and also gone by way too quickly.
We’re back in your podcatchers today with a new episode, this
time introducing you all to the Godmother (or Gaymother, if you
will) of Rock n’ Roll, the original stadium rockstar, and badass
Black woman guitar virtuoso, Sister Rosetta Tharpe! Think Elvis
Presley and Chuck Berry invented rock n’ roll? Think again!
Sister Rosetta was shredding on guitar way before them, and it’s
time she gets the credit she is due. She broke boundaries
wherever she went, straddling the line between worldly and
chaste, secular and gospel, and loved both men and women.


Our wonderful guest host for today’s episode is Aubree Calvin-
writer, professor, and podcast host! You can learn more about
Aubree and her freelance writing at her website 
www.aubreecalvin.com, and check out her brand new podcast
Southern Queeries, all about LGBTQ life in the South!


0:00 – Introduction
3:49 – Main Topic: Sister Rosetta Tharpe
6:12 – Socio-Historical Context
12:44: – Who were they? Bio Time.
37:46 – An Aside: Rosetta's Guitar & Singing Style
1:05:40 – Why do we think they're gay? 
1:17:15 – Word of the Week
1:22:33 – Main Takeaways and Final Conclusions
1:25:06 – How Gay were They?
1:26:55 – Closing and Where to Find us Online


Want to help us continue to make the show? Support us on Patreon
and get awesome goodies, behind-the-scenes access, special
minisodes, and more! You can get super cool merch in our store!
Shirts, hoodies, totes, and other neat things.


Currently, all proceeds from Patreon and our store that aren't
being put towards production costs are going to The Okra Project,
a collective that provides free, healthy meals to Black trans
people wherever they can reach them. 


If you’d like to help us transcribe the show for our d/Deaf and
hard of hearing fans, please head on over to
www.historyisgaypodcast.com/transcribe to join the team of
volunteers!


Find our full list of sources and bonus content at
www.historyisgaypodcast.com. Get at us on twitter
@historyisgaypod, tumblr at historyisgaypodcast, and subscribe
wherever you get your podcasts! Don't forget to rate and review
so more folks can see the show!