Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Sister Rosetta Tharpe, born in Arkansas in 1915, was a groundbreaking gospel singer known for blending spiritual music with the blues and swing. With her flamboyant style and controversial leap into the secular market, Tharpe helped pioneer pop-gospel by performing in nightclubs and theaters, pushing spiritual music into the mainstream. Signing with Decca in 1938, she became a sensation with hits like "Rock Me" and "This Train," appealing to both her core audience with traditional gospel songs and to a wider audience with rearranged, uptempo spirituals.

During World War II, Tharpe's popularity soared, and she recorded for American soldiers overseas while touring with acts like the Dixie Hummingbirds. Despite some controversy over her brief venture into blues music in the early '50s, Tharpe made a steady comeback and continued performing until her death in 1973, leaving behind a lasting legacy as a pioneering force in gospel and pop music.