Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1,507 views)

[BAZanine]

Rosetta Nubin (20 March 1915 - 9 October 1973)
Years Active: 1919 - 1973
Vocal Range: C3 - G5

Significant High Notes:

G5 ("How Far from God", "Just Keep Still")
F♯5 ("Joy in This Land", "Take a New Look (Into That Old Bible)", "There's a Hand Leading Me")
F5 ("As You Sow, So Shall You Reap", "Everything to Me", "Faith", "Faith in God", "God is Wonderful", "I Want a Tall Skinny Papa", "Joy in This Land", "That's All" original version, "Woman")
E5 ("Beams of Heaven" original version, "Blow Ye the Trumpet of Zion", "Cain't No Grave Hold My Body Down" original version, "Can't Do Wrong and Get By", "Don't Take Everybody to Be Your Friend", "God Leads Us Along", "How About You", "How Far from God", "I Look Down the Road and I Wonder", "I Shall Know Him" Singing in My Soul version, "I Will Trust in the Lord", "It's Me", "Jesus Remembers", "Just Keep Still", "Nobody Knows, Nobody Cares", "Oh the Joy That Came to Me", "Ring Those Golden Bells", "Saviour Don't Pass Me By", "Shout, Sister, Shout!", "So High, So Low", "Stretch Out", "This Train", "What Are They Doing" Gospels in Rhythm version, "When I Move to the Sky")
E♭5 ("99 ½ Won't Do", "All Alone", "Bring Back Those Happy Days", "Claiming Jesus", "Didn't It Rain", "Faith in God", "God is Wonderful", "God's Mighty Hand", "He'll Understand & Say Well Done", "I Believe", "I Claim Jesus First", "I Shall Know Him" Singing in My Soul version, "In the Garden", "Jesus Is Here to Stay", "Jonah", "Joy in This Land", "The Lonesome Road", "Look in the Good Book Brother", "My Journey to the Sky", "On My Way", "Shine for Jesus", "Strange Things Happening Every Day", "Take a New Look (Into That Old Bible)", "There's a Hand Leading Me", "Things I Used to Do (And I Don't Do No More)", "This Is a Mean Old World to Live In", "Trouble in Mind", "Walk All Over God's Heaven", "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", "With His Great Love", "Woman")
D5 ("All Over This World", "Amazing Grace", "Beams of Heaven", "Bless This House", "Cain't No Grave Hold My Body Down" original version, "The Devil Has Thrown Him Down", "Down by the Riverside", "Faith", "Fly Away", "Forgive Me Lord and Try Me One More Time", "God Don't Like It", "I Believe", "I Claim Jesus First", "I Heard My Mother Call My Name", "I Looked Down the Line", "I Want a Tall Skinny Papa", "I Want Jesus to Walk Around My Bedside", "I Want to Live So God Can Use Me", "If I Can Help Somebody", "Jesus Remembers", "Just a Closer Walk With Thee", "Let That Liar Alone", "Light a Candle", "My Man and I", "Nobody's Fault but Mine", "Pure Religion", "Rock Daniel", "Rock Me", "Saviour Don't Pass Me By", "Shine for Jesus", "Singing in My Soul", "Sit Down", "Sleep on Darling Mother", "Somebody Needs Jesus", "Stand by Me", "Steal Away", "Strange Things Are Happening", "Stretch Out", "That's All" original version, "This Is a Mean Old World to Live In", "Up Above My Head I Hear Music in the Air", "What Are They Doing", "What He Done for Me", "What Is the Soul of Man", "What's the News?", "When the Gates Swing Open", "When They Ring the Golden Bell")
C♯5 ("Amazing Grace", "As You Sow, So Shall You Reap", "Blessed Assurance", "Everybody's Gonna Have a Wonderful Time Up There", "Everything to Me", "God Leads Us Along", "I Shall Know Him", "If You Believe", "I'm Gonna Take a Trip on That Old Ship", "In the Garden", "Jericho", "Let It Shine", "Let's Be Happy", "Look in the Good Book Brother", "Oh the Joy That Came to Me", "Twelve Gates", "With His Great Love")
C5 ("99 ½ Won't Do", "All Alone", "Beams of Heaven", "Blow Ye the Trumpet of Zion", "Bring Back Those Happy Days", "Cain't No Grave Hold My Body Down", "Can't Do Wrong and Get By", "Claiming Jesus", "Come by Here", "Didn't It Rain", "Don't Take Everybody to Be Your Friend", "Family Prayer", "Go Get the Water", "God Is Worried With Your Wicked Ways", "God's Mighty Hand", "He", "He'll Understand & Say Well Done", "How About You", "I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray", "I Have Good News to Bring", "I Heard My Mother Call My Name", "I Look Down the Road and I Wonder", "I Saw the Light", "I Want to Live So God Can Use Me", "I Will Trust in the Lord", "If You Believe", "It's Me", "Jesus Is Here to Stay", "Jesus Taught Me How to Smile", "Jonah", "Just a Closer Walk With Thee", "Last Mile of the Way", "Let the Lower Lights Be Burning", "Lily of the Valley", "The Lord's Prayer", "My Journey to the Sky", "My Soul Is Singing", "No Room in the Church for Liars", "Nobody Knows, Nobody Cares", "On My Way", "One Morning Soon", "Peace in the Valley", "Precious Lord, Take My Hand", "Precious Memories", "Ring Those Golden Bells", "Rock Daniel", "Rock of Ages", "Seeking for Me", "Shout, Sister, Shout!", "Singing in My Soul", "Sleep on Darling Mother", "So High, So Low", "Somebody Needs Jesus", "Somebody's Child", "Steal Away", "Strange Things Are Happening", "Strange Things Happening Every Day", "Take My Hand Precious Lord", "That's All", "There's a Fountain Filled With Blood", "Things I Used to Do (And I Don't Do No More)", "This Train", "Throw Out the Life Line", "Trouble in Mind", "Two Little Fishes, Five Loaves of Bread", "Walk All Over God's Heaven", "Walking Up the King's Highway", "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", "What Are They Doing", "What's the News?", "When I Move to the Sky", "When the Gates Swing Open", "When the Saints Go Marching In", "Without Him")
B4 ("I Do, Don't You", "The Lonesome Road", "My Man and I", "Never Alone", "Stand by Me", "Walking Up the King's Highway")
B♭4 ("All Over This World", "Bless This House", "Blessed Assurance", "Cain't No Grave Hold My Body Down", "The Devil Has Thrown Him Down", "Down by the Riverside", "Everybody's Gonna Have a Wonderful Time Up There", "Everything to Me", "Fly Away", "Forgive Me Lord and Try Me One More Time", "God Don't Like It", "Honor", "I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray", "I Looked Down the Line", "I Shall Know Him", "I Want Jesus to Walk Around My Bedside", "If I Can Help Somebody", "I'm Gonna Take a Trip on That Old Ship", "Jericho", "Jesus Taught Me How to Smile", "Last Mile of the Way", "Let It Shine", "Let That Liar Alone", "Let's Be Happy", "Light a Candle", "The Lord's Prayer", "Never Alone", "No Room in the Church for Liars", "Peace in the Valley", "Precious Lord, Take My Hand", "Precious Memories", "Pure Religion", "Rock Me", "Sit Down", "Take My Hand Precious Lord", "That's All", "Twelve Gates", "Two Little Fishes, Five Loaves of Bread", "Up Above My Head I Hear Music in the Air", "What He Done for Me", "What Is the Soul of Man", "When the Saints Go Marching In", "When They Ring the Golden Bell")

Significant Low Notes:

B♭3 ("Amazing Grace", "Bless This House", "Blessed Assurance", "The Devil Has Thrown Him Down", "Down by the Riverside", "Everything to Me", "Faith in God", "Fly Away", "God Don't Like It", "God Leads Us Along", "Honor", "I Shall Know Him", "I Want a Tall Skinny Papa", "I Want Jesus to Walk Around My Bedside", "If I Can Help Somebody", "I'm Gonna Take a Trip on That Old Ship", "Jericho", "Jesus Taught Me How to Smile", "Jonah", "Let It Shine", "Light a Candle", "The Lord's Prayer", "My Journey to the Sky", "Nobody's Fault but Mine", "Oh the Joy That Came to Me", "Pure Religion", "Singing in My Soul", "Sit Down", "Up Above My Head I Hear Music in the Air", "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", "What He Done for Me", "What Is the Soul of Man", "What's the News?", "When the Gates Swing Open", "When They Ring the Golden Bell")
A3 ("99 ½ Won't Do", "All Alone", "Amazing Grace", "Beams of Heaven", "Blow Ye the Trumpet of Zion", "Claiming Jesus", "Come by Here", "Didn't It Rain", "Don't Take Everybody to Be Your Friend", "Family Prayer", "He", "He'll Understand & Say Well Done", "How About You", "I Claim Jesus First", "I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray", "I Have Good News to Bring", "I Heard My Mother Call My Name", "I Look Down the Road and I Wonder", "I Will Trust in the Lord", "It's Me", "Jesus Remembers", "Just Keep Still", "Last Mile of the Way", "My Soul Is Singing", "No Room in the Church for Liars", "Nobody Knows, Nobody Cares", "O Little Town of Bethlehem", "On My Way", "Peace in the Valley", "Precious Memories", "Ring Those Golden Bells", "Saviour Don't Pass Me By", "Seeking for Me", "Somebody's Child", "Steal Away", "Take My Hand Precious Lord", "That's All", "Throw Out the Life Line", "Walking Up the King's Highway", "What Are They Doing", "What He Done for Me", "When I Move to the Sky", "When the Saints Go Marching In", "Without Him")
G♯3 ("As You Sow, So Shall You Reap", "God Don't Like It", "God Leads Us Along", "I Looked Down the Line", "I'm Gonna Take a Trip on That Old Ship", "Jericho", "Honor", "Let It Shine", "Let That Liar Alone", "Let's Be Happy", "The Lonesome Road", "Look in the Good Book Brother", "My Man and I", "Never Alone", "Rock of Ages", "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", "With His Great Love")
G3 ("All Over This World", "Beams of Heaven", "Blow Ye the Trumpet of Zion", "Cain't No Grave Hold My Body Down", "Claiming Jesus", "The Devil Has Thrown Him Down", "Don't Take Everybody to Be Your Friend", "Everybody's Gonna Have a Wonderful Time Up There", "Family Prayer", "Forgive Me Lord and Try Me One More Time", "God Is Worried With Your Wicked Ways", "He'll Understand & Say Well Done", "How About You", "How Far from God", "I Believe", "I Claim Jesus First", "I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray", "I Have Good News to Bring", "I Look Down the Road and I Wonder", "I Want to Live So God Can Use Me", "I Will Trust in the Lord", "If I Can Help Somebody", "Jesus Taught Me How to Smile", "Just a Closer Walk With Thee", "Just Keep Still", "Last Mile of the Way", "My Soul Is Singing", "Nobody Knows, Nobody Cares", "O Little Town of Bethlehem", "Precious Lord, Take My Hand", "Precious Memories", "Ring Those Golden Bells", "Rock Daniel", "Rock Me", "Saviour Don't Pass Me By", "Seeking for Me", "Sleep on Darling Mother", "Somebody's Child", "Strange Things Are Happening", "Stretch Out", "Take My Hand Precious Lord", "This Is a Mean Old World to Live In", "This Train", "Throw Out the Life Line", "Trouble in Mind", "Two Little Fishes, Five Loaves of Bread", "Up Above My Head I Hear Music in the Air", "Walking Up the King's Highway", "What Are They Doing", "What Is the Soul of Man", "When the Saints Go Marching In")
F♯3 ("In the Garden", "Rock Me", "Stand by Me", "With His Great Love")
F3 ("All Over This World", "Bless This House", "Blessed Assurance", "Down by the Riverside", "Fly Away", "Forgive Me Lord and Try Me One More Time", "He", "I Believe", "I Looked Down the Line", "I Shall Know Him", "I Want Jesus to Walk Around My Bedside", "I Want to Live So God Can Use Me", "Just a Closer Walk With Thee", "Let That Liar Alone", "Let's Be Happy", "Never Alone", "Pure Religion", "Rock Daniel", "Singing in My Soul", "Sit Down", "Sleep on Darling Mother", "Strange Things Are Happening", "Two Little Fishes, Five Loaves of Bread", "When They Ring the Golden Bell")
E3 ("Home in the Sky", "How Far from God", "I Do, Don't You", "Precious Lord, Take My Hand")
E♭3 ("Nobody Knows, Nobody Cares")
D3 ("Home in the Sky", "I Do, Don't You", "Nothing Between")
C3 ("Nothing Between")

………………………………………………………………...
Italics mark non-melodic notes.
Boldface marks notes that are considered impressive in relation to the person's vocal capabilities.
Underlines mark notes obscured in the mix of the song.

A terribly overlooked precursor to early rock 'n' roll artists, gospel singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe has been noted by artists from Chuck Berry to Little Richard to Elvis Presley as a source of inspiration. Both a singer and guitarist, her music generally reflects that of an early blues style. Vocally, Tharpe made good use of her belts, being comfortable up to about E5. She also had a strong lower register that kept resonance down to about D3. As she aged, her vocals became a bit rougher and grittier, a trait which helped her convey the passion of the gospel pieces she sang. That said, her range seemed to have stayed more or less intact throughout her 35 year adult career. When listening to her music, it becomes easy to see how influential she was to much larger names that came after her. For that, she is a very important figure in music history.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Notewatched Discography}The Lonesome Road (1941) - Unavailable
Blessed Assurance (1951) (F3 - E5)
Wedding Ceremony of Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Russell Morrison (1951) - Unavailable
Gospel Train (1956) (D3 - E5)
Famous Negro Spirituals and Gospel Songs (1957) - Unavailable
Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1959) - Unavailable
Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1960) (F3 - F5)
Gospels in Rhythm (1960) (C3 - E5)
The Gospel Truth With the Sally Jenkins Singers (1961) (G3 - E5)
Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1961) - Unavailable
Sister on Tour (1961) (F♯3 - G5)
The Gospel Truth: All New! Her Greatest Gospel Hits (1962) (E♭3 - E5)
Negro Gospel Sister Rosetta Tharpe and the Hot Gospel Tabernacle Choir and Players (1967) - Unavailable
Precious Memories (1968) (E3 - E5)
Singing in My Soul (1969) (F3 - E5)

Unfortunately a lot of Sister Rosetta Tharpe's discography is unavailable and/or missing. If you have access to any of the albums noted as unavailable, please contact me and I will then notewatch them. As it stands, I have notewatched any of the original studio albums as well as any '30s/'40s recordings that I could find in listenable quality.