Sister Rosetta Tharpe, likely née Rosie Etta Atkins, (born March 20, 1915, Cotton Plant, Arkansas, U.S. died October 9, 1973, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), American guitar player and gospel and blues singer who was popular in the 1930s and ’40s. She sang traditional gospel songs with contemporary jazz tempos that she played on her electric guitar. With these performances she introduced gospel into nightclubs and concert venues. Her work influenced early rock and rollers such as Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and Elvis Presley. Tharpe was the daughter of farm labourer Willis Atkins and singer, mandolin player, and evangelist Katie Harper