Question 1

What is Shout, Sister, Shout! by Gayle Wald about?

Accepted Answer

Shout, Sister, Shout! is a groundbreaking biography chronicling Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a queer Black woman who pioneered rock-and-roll music decades before it became mainstream. Published in 2007, Gayle Wald's book reveals how Tharpe "went electric" in the late 1930s, blending gospel, blues, and guitar virtuosity to influence legends like Elvis Presley, Little Richard, and Bonnie Raitt, forever changing American popular music history despite being largely forgotten after her death.

Question 2

Who is Gayle Wald and why did she write Shout, Sister, Shout!?

Accepted Answer

Gayle Wald is a professor of American Studies at George Washington University and a Guggenheim Fellow specializing in African American culture and popular music. Wald wrote Shout, Sister, Shout! to rescue Sister Rosetta Tharpe's story from obscurity, drawing on interviews with over 150 people who knew Tharpe. Her meticulously researched biography addresses the erasure of Black women's contributions to rock music and challenges conventional narratives about the genre's origins.

Question 3

Who should read Shout, Sister, Shout! by Gayle Wald?

Accepted Answer

Shout, Sister, Shout! is essential reading for music historians, rock enthusiasts, and anyone interested in uncovering hidden stories of African American and LGBTQ+ cultural pioneers. The book appeals to readers seeking to understand how racism and sexism shaped music history, fans of gospel and early rock-and-roll, and those passionate about women's contributions to popular culture. Gayle Wald's accessible yet scholarly approach makes it suitable for both academic and general audiences.

Question 4

Is Shout, Sister, Shout! worth reading?

Accepted Answer

Shout, Sister, Shout! is absolutely worth reading as it fundamentally reshapes understanding of rock-and-roll's origins and women's roles in music history. Gayle Wald's biography has inspired documentaries, stage musicals, and Tharpe's 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. The book offers compelling storytelling backed by rigorous research, revealing how a Black queer woman's genius was systematically erased, making it both historically significant and deeply engaging.

Question 5

What makes Sister Rosetta Tharpe a rock-and-roll trailblazer according to Shout, Sister, Shout!?

Accepted Answer

Sister Rosetta Tharpe became rock-and-roll's godmother by "going electric" with her guitar in the late 1930s—years before Chuck Berry or Elvis Presley. Shout, Sister, Shout! details how Tharpe's electrifying guitar solos, crossover appeal between gospel and secular music, and charismatic stage presence created the blueprint for rock performance. She defied categorization, captivating white and Black audiences across the U.S. and internationally while maintaining her spiritual roots.

Question 6

How did Sister Rosetta Tharpe navigate racism in her career?

Accepted Answer

Shout, Sister, Shout! reveals Sister Rosetta Tharpe's strategic approach to combating segregation-era racism through business savvy and dignified resistance. She purchased her own tour bus to avoid the humiliation of whites-only restaurants and hotels. Gayle Wald portrays Tharpe as maintaining a "loving smile" publicly while using economic independence and musical excellence to circumvent systemic barriers, demonstrating resilience without compromising her artistic integrity or faith.

Question 7

What sources did Gayle Wald use to write Shout, Sister, Shout!?

Accepted Answer

Gayle Wald constructed Shout, Sister, Shout! through oral histories from over 150 people who knew or worked with Sister Rosetta Tharpe, supplemented by newspaper archives, memorabilia, and fragmented records. This methodology was necessary because Tharpe's life was poorly documented in conventional terms. Wald transparently handles information gaps and conflicting testimonies, acknowledging where sources disagree while piecing together the most coherent narrative possible from available evidence.

Question 8

Why was Sister Rosetta Tharpe forgotten after her death?

Accepted Answer

Shout, Sister, Shout! explains that Sister Rosetta Tharpe died in 1973 and rested in an unmarked grave in Philadelphia until 2007, symbolizing how Black women's contributions to rock music were systematically erased. Gayle Wald argues that Tharpe's exclusion from rock history stems from intersecting factors: racism, sexism, homophobia, and the genre's preference for crediting white male musicians. Her gospel roots and defiance of musical categorization also complicated mainstream rock narratives.

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