
Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The Woman Who Invented Rock & Roll (featuring Lynnée Denise and Reagan Gomez)
Drapetomaniax: Unshackled HistoryShow Notes
Who really invented rock n roll? The facts are clear—it was Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Black queer gospel-influenced rock and roll Beyoncé of the 1930s and ‘40s. Music legends like Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash stole her musical style without proper acknowledgement or credit. In a renaissance of sound, celebrity and high drama we salute the legend Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Drapetomaniax is created by Michael Harriot in collaboration between OtherTone, Sony Music Entertainment and Queer Media.
This episode features:
Lynnée Lynnée Denise
Honey Reagan Gomez
Special thanks to our voice actors:
Juju Noleca Radway
Devon Danielle Solomon
Ballroom Commentator Ronie Rieves
Executive Producers Pharrell Williams, Scott Vener, Noleca Radway, and Moses Soyoola
Senior Producer Janicia Francis
Managing Producer JoAnn DeLuna
Production Coordinator Homero Radway
Production Assistant Gilianne Roberts-Atkinson
Writers Silas Miami, Dallas Rico, Roderick Morrow, Danielle Solomon and Randolph Terrence
Audio Engineer Marcellino van Callias
Fact checker LaPorsche Thomas
Music Supervisor Patricia Kihoro
Theme Song Freedom by Pharell Williams
Music featured in this episode includes:
My Man and I - Sister Rosetta Tharp
This Train - Sister Rosetta Tharp
Plays Rock Me Growl - Sister Rosetta Tharp
Didn’t it Rain - Sister Rosetta Tharp
Tall Skinny Papa - Sister Rosetta Tharp
Strange Things Happening Every Day
Don’t Be Cruel -Elvis Presley
Getaway Rock - Elliot Holmes
Coconut Rock - Speedy The Spider
Almost Like Falling In Love - Kayla
NYFW - Blue Steel
Vogue - Blue Steel
Agents - Alex Dovo
Order the book Why Willie Mae Thornton Matters by Lynnée Denise
https://utpress.utexas.edu/9781477321188/
For more information about the book and Lynnée Denise’s recent projects please visit https://linktr.ee/lynneedenise
And for general information about DJ Scholarship visit www.djlynneedenise.com
Twitter: @lynneedenise
Instagram: @lynneedenise
Radio Show The Black Atlantic/Black Fantastic https://1btn.fm/dj/the-black-atlantic-black-fantastic/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More from Drapetomaniax: Unshackled History
Arguably, best investigative journalist of her time, 19th-century trailblazer, anti lynching champion and a force to be reckoned with. From her days in the Deep South to her fearless exposés, we’re bringing you into the battle rap ring with the one and only Ida B. Wells!
In this episode before the season finalé… Join Michael as he goes behind the scenes to meet the people who make the Drapetomaniax: Unshackled History podcast at the cast’s wrap party.
Can you name the 19th century Black woman entrepreneur who funded hundreds of Black people to flee from slavery? Mary Ellen Pleasant reported in 1875 a net worth of 30 million US dollars. Which today would be worth just shy of one billion dollars. Join the students at Drapetomaniax Agricultural and Technical State University School as they learn all about this self-made millionaire abolitionist.
Have you heard about Boley, Oklahoma - the town that wished a motherfucker would? Boley was a thriving, black town founded by Abigail McCormick who had inherited the land where Boley was founded from her grandfather, a Creek Freedmen. This episode tells the story of how, in 1932, the entire town came together when a gang of white men decided to rob the bank because they thought it’d be easy. But they were in for a big surprise.
In this special behind the scenes episode, Drapetomaniax producers Gillianne, Janicia and Noleca answer some of our biggest listener questions, and discuss the politics behind making this groundbreaking Black History concept show.