Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Up Above My Head

[StopTheInsanity100]

@JustintheAsianest Same here!! xD

[quietdiscofork]

that's the grimmest gospel choir i have ever seen

[Sunnyman2012]

That's from her Elvis got the rhythm

[hylozoik]

!!! =) Jimi's Sister! ^^

[parisianUK]

She is actually such a good guitarist

[neetrab]

@parisianUK - of course she is!

[420gma]

Wow first just found out about her ! Truly the Mother of rock a and roll !She's amazing !

[JustintheAsianest]

Steven Tyler's "Does the Noise in my Head Bother You?" brought me here :D

[gsgracie]

@JustintheAsianest Same here! :D I do as he says! (:

[Inki288]

@JustintheAsianest

Mee too :o)

[analogic10]

Hell yeah! her greatness is speaking to me!!

The best inspiration I know for a woman to grab her guitar and get up there on the stage!

Love,

Ana

[neetrab]

Dang, I can't stop listening to this..lol

[VinceNphilly]

@yanis  That is Johnny Otis ready to play Hand Jive. You can go to "johnny Otis Hand Jive" and he is wearing the same suit.

[neetrab]

people.... stop asking for "thumbs up"... you look pathetic doing that..lol

[neetrab]

Can someone tell me what Steven Tyler said in his book????? I see he's written about her. I don't listen to Steven Tyler but I see he told some of you peeps to come here and listen to Rosetta Tharpe?? She's great, isn't she??

[sueellen360]

1st, SHE'S GREAT! I really enjoyed it, i must say I didn't expect that.

2nd, thanks Steven Tyler for introduced us to this great woman

[glambertgleek]

oohhh good ol steven tyler... the man is a genius.

[sueellen360]

@glambertgleek oh yeah! he is

[jvcc300495]

Everybody here from Steven Tyler haha, another one here haha

[TubeAntonioYou]

cheguei aqui por causa do steven tyler (brasil) :D

[TreetrunkKurt]

featured in Amélie as well.

[imdrinker]

just learned guitar chords of this song today.

[luizleomil]

Steven Tyler asked me to search for her too

[nitay10]

I'm here from steven tyler too =D

[Motleycruelover88]

I'm here from Steven Tyler :D

[DesireeThunderbottom]

Why do the choir behind her look so fed up? Check out the two guys at 1.06 to 1.22, their expressions look like kids who just ran into their maths teacher at the cinema!

[luvureally]

@DesireeThunderbottom A lot of "good" church folk didn't care for Sister Tharpe because of her forays into secular music throughout her career.

[DesireeThunderbottom]

@luvureally Oh, that's interesting, I didn't know that. I think those guys seriously disapproved!!!

[avatarstore]

THANKS TO bOBBY pICKETT FOR GUIDING ME TO THIS GREAT ARTIST

[bgaineshunter]

Listen to it at: bgaineshunter.typepad.com "Roll 'em Pete"

[bgaineshunter]

Big Joe Turner, "Roll 'em Pete" December 30, 1938. That was the first rock 'n roll song.

[baconbag]

I'm searching for the birth of rock and roll. What are your opinions? Is this the spark? Or someone else?

[praizequeen]

@baconbag You are right on it. Sister Rosetta Tharpe was the architect of Rock and Roll. Before Elvis, Chuck Berry or the Beatles Sister Tharpe was rocking out. Watch the 3 part documentary about her life and then decide on Youtube listed as "Sister Rosetta Tharpe Documentary" and read Shout, Sister, Shout!: The Untold Story of Rock-and-Roll Trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe by Gayle Wald.

[chazpres514]

@baconbag I think there were multiple sparks. Sister Rosetta was certainly one of the first. Youtube her live version of "That's All" with Albert Ammons at Carnegie Hall. Listen to the boogie rhythms and her guitar riffs and tell me that's not Chuck Berryesque. It was recorded 12/23/1938 although she was playing that way long before that. Also search for "Rock Me" from the same concert.

[landed1n74]

WOW! Eat your heart out Suzie Quatro! :-D

[iougodall]

simply great!!!

[Berylashman]

thumbs up if you came here cos of Brian Fallons blog...

[RavenReisinger]

Thumbs up if you are here from reading Steven Tylers' book.

[mishoedrew]

It's a crying shame that she's not even talked about in the same esteem as other guitarist but then that's America for you!

[tbuck501]

That is probably the only time I've seen video of a lady of that age standing up and rockin' an electric guitar. Rock On!

[30DaysRain]

omg could it really be !! those 3 females standing directly behind sister look suspiciously like the supremes and the one in the middle looks like a very young Diana Ross !!! the little guy behind her looks a lot like zab judah. possibly his grandfather

[TheDEES3]

She was 1 bad rocker! Off tha chain!

[XxMotleyfuckinCruexX]

Thumbs if Steven Tyler brought you here :)

[ivwhy1217]

Nonie momma told me about her. I use to listen to these songs but I didn't know who was singing them and I thought that someone was playing for her. Take a listen this woman is awsome on thit guitar.....lol

[metafis]

She's doing all the rock guitarist moves years before they did. :)



[ZiraStarfollower]

@metafis

And then, off camera, she gets on her knees and sets the guitar on fire. X3

[metafis]

@ZiraStarfollower

lol yes.. I also noticed at 1:46 - 1:47 she does the move Jimi used near the end of his live version of 'Johnny be good'.

[mhdenpente]

amazing

[mvies77]

So true and so right and so talented!

[ZiraStarfollower]

Why have I never heard of this woman? SHE'S AMAZING.

[mishoedrew]

@ZiraStarfollower because that how America is and that's unfortunately a sad fact.

[Bonehead74100]

Why does my vdeo play a few seconds and then quit.I t never plays all the way through.I have Verizon Wireless VZaccess Manager for internet?

[jensantana61]

amazing she didn't get more traction = she was a national treasure

[Lorenzo84no]

the lady with two souls...

[DominoNews]

Elle a un tel talent qu'elle va finir par convaincre le vieil athée que je suis !!!!

[Nostalgico80]

1:44 Pete Townshend, go hide yourself :P .

[macinau]

And I thought Suzi Quatro was the best female guitarist - no more!!

[gilgamess]

@macinau Tharpe was one of the greats! She was one of the best Gospel Guitarists, female or otherwise. I would also like to draw your attention to the following, "Memphis Minnie", Elizabeth Cotton who, like Albert King the guitar upside down and backwards and also, believe it or not, Charo. Charo's accent and persona overshadow the fact that she is an incredible musician.

[Corai12]

Thumbs up if Amelie brought you here

[FretZeroGuitar]

#Hendrix in a dress? @FretZeroMusic

[jjkcharlie]

They used to get mad at her cause she sing these sons on bars. she said, they ain't coming to church, soi gotta go to them.

[speakwhnspkn2]

@jjkcharlie This shows the hypocrisy of church folks. God is not nearly as petty as mankind has deduced him to be. People in the clubs need to know about the goodness of the lord just like those in the church. Jesus said he came not to save the saved, but the lost in so many words.

[pillaisachin]

I learnt of her by watching The film "amelie'. merci mr. jeunet

[ironmaiden947]

@pillaisachin Same here.

[7000ironman]

she could rock that gibson..you can tell she was a rock n roll guitarist

[tamilapp]

I love this!!

[mushroomscouser]

Don't know bought me here but I am glad I came!

[georgee895]

This Lady could certainly express a song. I asked Denbighshire County Council Library for a book called "Shout Sister Shout" by Gayle F Wald. They didn't have it but actually bought a copy to stock in the library. I thought that was great. She was certainly a part of R&R history and shouldn't be overlooked.

[disccentury]

CLICK ON: disccentury, GOSPEL MUSIC, NEVER SEEN

[brennaleighh]

where elvis got his sound.. all the way.

[MTCazador]

Sing it SISTA!!! Lovely.

[flayshon]

Well...Paul Gilbert brought me here.

[evgrussell]

WOW!!! She is awesome!!! One question, besides clapping what was the purpose of the choir???

[Snowhill3]

@evgrussell

lol...same thing i asked whn i 1st saw this clip, but this was a tv show called "TV Gospel Time" and it featured soloists, quartets, groups, and church choirs...this was jus one of the episodes where Sis. Tharpe was featured along with this choir...they actually sang, but only whn it was their turn 2 sing

[speakwhnspkn2]

@evgrussell Lol. Apparently for clapping. This is probably one of those cheap productions where they didn't have time to wait between tapings and the choir perhaps didn't have time to get off stage before Rosetta came on.

[tinusp]

thumbs up if your mothers vagina brought you here

[jlhyz2]

could someone please give me the chord progression to this song?

[MRTEENYRULES]

thumbs up if ott brought you here

[SilasMercier]

The coolest woman ever lived on this earth. In my opinion!

[Aislanzito]

Muito louca Sister Roseta! e tem gente que acha a Pitty Rockeira!

[renangoncalvesflores]

@Aislanzito Acho que existe espaço pra todo mundo. A Pitty tem bastante bagagem, mas se ela fosse tocar isso provavelmente não seria conhecida como hoje. Ela soube balancear o comercial à arte.

Mas se você disser que a irmã Rosetta dá de 10 a 0 nela eu te dou um 'joinha'. ;-D

[reynard61]

Wow! This may be an Apples-to-Oranges comparison, but I bet that she could have given Jimi Hendrix a run for the money! Rock on, Sister!!!

[BlueTrickle]

This is in Amelie , in the casset . isn't it ?

[hocuspokus1]

Jools Holland got me here today.

[guitashamilele]

thumbs up if you are sick of people asking for "thumbs up" because they once read a book

[shaftsbury94]

bet that guitar is worth summit now,

[burnezyfall]

Steven Tyler DID bring ME here. That was excellent. I was so surprised when she kicked out that solo... Why haven't I heard of this woman until now?

[cattycakes64]

Who were the 29 twats that didn't like this song?

[jamaoker]

Steven Tyler didn't bring me here. Big mommas house did....

[greatsantini7]

steve did get me here and she is great



[thezenmind44]

This woman saved my life... if I make it to heaven I hope she is there to say welcome home...

[BrokenneckYgor]

This song is about Mo Hameed Jones and Jim (Shyackster) Jones, the Black Wright Bros. who built aznd flew a biplane in Alab ama in 1902, before the Wrights, but was shot down by then Klan

[MissyMagical]

Thumbs up if you brought yourself here.

[52barney]

@MissyMagical Nina Hagen brought me here

[frenchjava313]

FUCKING BADASS!

[keo774]

thubs up if you came here just because she's great.

[lineii17]

Thumps up if Sophie Hunger brought you here.

[TheSecretmuseum]

LAWD!!!!!!!!



[MovieMusicFun1]

fuck Steve Tyler, the amazing Sam Phillips turned me on to this groovy lady.

[redstratocaster1942]

Robert Plant brought me here :) loI couldn't imagine my grandma playing an electric guitar xD That woman was born in 1915 like my grandma!

[gutsnGORExgeous]

I guess ill be the first to say im not here because of steven tyler and this woman can fucking play

[neetrab]

@gutsnGORExgeous - "I guess ill be the first to say im not here because of steven tyler..." --- You're not the first one to say that...lol! I believe I commented last year and stated that I came here because I was doing a thesis that included her in it. I didn't know much about her and I'm GLAD I found out about her.

[satchitysatch]

I think quite a few people have a lot to thank this woman for................AWESOME.

[JamesBelsham]

If you appreciate Sister Rosetta’s musical talents, ergo her largely un-recognised contribution to rock music, please go and “like” her FaceBook page. No Strings, we are simply trying to build demonstrable awareness of SRT and her story so we can get the film of her life on broadcast television around the world. Be sure and pass the word now – there are few great Rock & Roll stories left to tell... Thanks.

[TheOtherBillieJean]

Not gonna lie, only here because of Steven Tyler. XD <3 She's really good though!

[MotoHavoc]

Great song and Sister Rosetta Tharpe was an amazing guitarist!!

[renovatio1988]

1:46 back up! oh we not done yet!

[cells76]

AWESOME!

I want this Gibson SG!!!

[balthebat1962]

You can see how she influenced Elvis. Amazing

[lilly637]

isn't there a little part of this in the movie Amélie?

[Pantherboy2]

@lilly637 Yes, it is. 

[1aerosmith5426]

Steven Tyler brought me here... I love you Steven I'm only 12 but I still love you and I'm reading your book it's freaking amazing I don't care if it's about sex and drugs n all that other crap I'm gonna finish it because I love you(: Ooh I'd do anything to see Aerosmith or Steven Tyler live :( Oh and by the way this is actually really good quality ! I didn't expect it to because of how old this is.. Love the song too(:

[chcha22x]

@1aerosmith5426 OMG!!! i am 12 too and i read his book in one week and i NEVER read!! i really dont care if all he talkes about is sex and drugs i just love steven tyler<3 and yes he did bring me hear...but i kinda like this singer ( not as much as steven tyler) but yes we should talk sometime :D u dont find alot of 12 year old steven tyler fans around :)

[powningking0]

@chcha22x .....Bet you didn't hear about him until after american idol....

[chcha22x]

@powningking0 i knew aerosmith wayyy b4 american idol.....i didnt personaly know steven tyler but i loved aerosmiths music alot....i grew up with classic rock. so i still love steven tyler but american idol just made me love him like alot more.

[powningking0]

@chcha22x I was just saying because whenever Aerosmith comes up and someone says im only 12 and I like them; it's usually Idol that got them into them. It's good that you knew about them before he went on the show, it says a lot about their music; but we should stop talking about Steven and his book, and just enjoy our Sister =)....

[1aerosmith5426]

@chcha22x Ahhh that's so amazing !!!! Hahaha I swear we are like twins seperated at birth(: I frickin love Steven Tyler no matter what people say.... Yaay I'm not alone here !!(: <3

[Gallywomack]

The woman on the far left from about 1:22 on.

I think I'd feel the same way.

[ahumansheart]

Female Guitare Hero

[britturk123]

REST IN PIECE SISTER ROSETTA, Now my sister will not get 20 million hits like gaga or rebecca black because she is so pure and true that only the faithfull can apreciate her its like the ones who will go to heaven and the ones that will go to hell, its written that the chosen will be much much fewer than the ones who will end up in hell, Now me im not saying im gonna make it but at least i know what it takes to get there. Love and peace to all who appreciate the beautifull talent that is S R P.

[randomvideos211]

best song for fallout right?

[30dayshardrain]

omg !! those 3 females standing directly behind her are the supremes !!! omg !!!

[StevenTylersGurl]

Hallelujah Steven! Thanks man...good to know the roots of what pumps through my veins!!!

[edslides1]

"lets do dat agin......"

rock on sister.

[MarionCap]

Holy moly. If she'd been a man, she'd be world-famous. Glorious talent!

[rosiedog32]

Amelie brought me here. Sister Rosetta Tharpe was pure raw divine talent.

[theyneverdie]

Thank you Steven ;)

[CCRockit]

Thats one badass female blues chick. :)

[tidepoolbay]

So very cooool! 

[VORFAS]

LOVE it

[MsSage1000]

Steven Tyler brought me here. Great sound! Fabulous.

[Duganrox]

They's got'd rithm



[klepetar]

how come we didn't hear from her before youtube.. damn she has everything here to be known as a major rock pionneer...there's even some overdrive in the guitar sound.. great chops !!

[iodax]

Been looking for the original of this for ages after seeing a short clip on a blues documentary - thanks so much for uploading! I think Sister Rosetta Tharpe is one of the unsung influences on so much blues and rock - especially on artists like King and Hendrix - in fact if you mix Tharpe with T-Bone Walker you get 80% of Hendrix's stage moves! :o)

[craftwar10]

projectmayhem2012?

[D4gI3]

@craftwar10 what is the info you have gathered so far?

[craftwar10]

@D4gI3 Destroy all. Leave no one. We were told to expect them. They. Are. Leigon.

[Katichic]

Well hellfire save matches fuck a duck and see what hatches......lol Steven Tyler's book brought me here, Thanks Steven :D

[skeeziks59]

This sista can rock the house!!!!!!!

[FlyingPudding]

Damn, Steven Tyler brought me here~

[rasdennis]

BRAVO!!!!!!! Is all I can say

[IzettaFang]

What!? I love it! I love the guitar solo with the choir.

[lilstephx]

can't turn down a dare from steven ;)

[printscreen000]

It's easy to overlook the fact that she was doing this sort of stuff in the 1940's!

So whoever said that she's like Elvis, just remember that he emerged AFTER Sister Rosetta. The comparisons should be the other way round.

[neetrab]

@printscreen000 - "It's easy to overlook the fact that she was doing this sort of stuff in the 1940's! So whoever said that she's like Elvis, just remember that he emerged AFTER Sister Rosetta. The comparisons should be the other way round." -- That is SOOO true.

[mattpcm509]

Yup, Steven Tyler brought me here too!

[SilverGunCinnamon]

Dude, Steven Tyler brought me here!!!

[mpsarg95]

Thumbs up if "Does the Noise in My Head Bother You" brought you here..

[undertowmusic]

amazing!

[Araido1968]

HOLY SH1T this ol' lady can flat JAM ! I was just reading about her in an edition of premier guitar.. she was and does seem to be the first to do true electric guitar soloing... RIP sister Rosetta

[Mikala727]

That was badass.

[Annaa97]

Thumbs up if Chris Walla brought you here.

[uctuba9013]

this is the definition, to me, of authentic gospel music. what a performer!

[playingforbritain]

0:35 she's plugged into the choir!

[auto4union]

Wow ! Just heard about her in a guitar mag` ! 50 myears of Gibson SGs ! She was like in the top ten ! Well glad i checked this out !! Peace Ye`all !!

[jbtwilightparamore]

LOL Thank you Mr. Tyler -3

[iDeathCA]

Thumbs up if Steven Tyler brought you here

[Chapstick817]

@iDeathCA yup steven !!!

[ahumansheart]

@iDeathCA

Who didnt read his book?!?!?!

[iDeathCA]

@ahumansheart

True. But I didn't read all Of it. After like 50 pages my mom took the book cause it talked about his drugs and sex stuff, (which I already knew about, plus I'm 16 so it's nOthing new) but nether the less, I couldn't read the whole book sadly.

[ahumansheart]

@iDeathCA

Thirty pages in and u described it perfectly. I read the 1st page at the book store and i knew i had to get it. i wish i could help u finsih it but thx for the heads up. ill be sure to keep it in my gym bag!

[The313juggalo]

@iDeathCA lmao yep

[tinktastic1324]

@iDeathCA im reading his book now and i just got to her name and i could not help myself

[MelinaTerrie]

Challenge accepted, Steven (: <3

[WARRIORWARELLC]

If there's a Rock & Roll Heaven, you know they have one helluva band! Love the noise in you're head Steven!!  Dream on!!!

[therockguitarist96]

Lol steven tyler sent everyone here

[aaron99man]

Yeah, Steven sent me here too!! :)

[renee2461]

This is a fantastic piece of film, but you also need to look at Sister Rosetta Tharpe, France 1960 uploaded by "Dusting shelves" because it is also brilliant and hasn't many views so is hard to find. Apart form the 28 people who dislike this and can go to H*ll

[annandtylerful]

You gotta love real music baby! he is right thought - she's alot like elvis - the guitar more than singing

[bri4623]

Thanks ST, she is awesome!

[TheDJGrandPa]

If this isn't Rock and Roll, I don't know what is...

[lidorigan]

yes, Steven Tyler sent me here!! ;D

[Wuuhey]

Priceless!

[SaraToTheMoon123]

Like this if Steven Tyler sent you here! <3