calsfoundation@cals.org
December 23, 1938
Singer “Sister Rosetta” Tharpe was included in John Hammond’s black music extravaganza From Spirituals to Swing, held at Carnegie Hall in New York City. After this well-publicized event, Tharpe went on a concert tour throughout the Northeast. Tharpe was one of gospel music’s first superstars, the first gospel performer to record for a major record label (Decca), and an early crossover from gospel to secular music.