WRFG’s Route 66 celebrates a time when blues, jazz, and R&B were on the same
page and, often, in the same song. Our primary focus is on the music of the
Jump Blues Era of the 1940s which blended into the early Rock & Roll Era
of the 1950s, and follow on how those styles and artists have evolved over
the years. We also bring you jazz from the era along with the occasional page
from the Great American Songbook.
Listen to Route 66 Sunday from 7:00 to 9:00 A.M. Eastern (U.S.) on
Atlanta’s WRFG 89.3FM. Your independent community radio station is
streaming worldwide over our free mobile app and WRFG.ORG.
Become a WRFG Route 66 Supporter
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Subscribe to our weekly podcast @ MixCloud.Com
You’ll find the one for this week at the bottom of this post.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe is today’s featured artist. Born Rosetta Nubin in Cotton Plant, Arkansas on March 20, 1915, Tharpe gained popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with
her gospel recordings, characterized by a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and electric guitar. She was the first great recording star of gospel music, and was among the first gospel musicians to appeal to rhythm and blues and rock and roll audiences, later
being referred to as “the original soul sister” and “the Godmother of rock and roll”.
SISTER ROSETTA THARPE RESOURCES
Biography @ wikipedia.org
Discography @ discogs.org
American Women’s History Museum
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Profile @ The Guardian
WRFG ROUTE 66 PLAYLIST FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2026
Song
Artist
Original Album or Label & Date
Hot Rod Illinois Jacquet King Jacquet 1950
Rock Me
Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra feat. Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Decca Records 1938
I Want a Tall Skinny Papa
Marcia Ball
Shout, Sister, Shout! – A Tribute To Sister Rosetta Tharpe 2013
Ridin’ on the L & N Lionel Hampton Decca Records 2019
I Took The Front Door In Eddie Vinson Mercury Records 1947
Since I Fell For You Ruth Brown Black Is Brown & Brown Is Beautiful 1969
New Orleans Blues Charles Brown So Goes Love 1995
Blue Turning Grey Over You Louis Armstrong Satch Plays Fats 1955
That’s All
Sister Rosetta Tharpe & Sims-Wheeler Vintage Jazz Band
Antibes Jazz Festival 1960
He’s All I Need
Catherine Russell
Strictly Romancin’ 2007
Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens Louis Jordan Decca Records 1946
Long John Blues Dinah Washington Mercury Records 1949
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
The Christian McBride Big Band w/ Dianne Reeves
Without Further Ado, Vol 1 2025
Down By The Riverside
Chris Barber’s Jazz Band feat. Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Performance 1957
Shout, Sister, Shout!
Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra feat. Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Decca Records 1941
Up Above My Head
Rhiannon Giddens
Tomorrow Is My Turn 2015
I Don’t Hurt Anymore Lisa Mann’s Northwestern All-Stars …Women In Blues 2025
Deacon’s Hop Big Jay McNeely Surfin’ 1963
Pink Champagne Joe Liggins & The Honeydrippers Specialty Records 1950
The Lonesome Road
Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra feat. Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Decca Records 1938
One O’Clock Boogie Count Basie & His Orchestra RCA Victor 1947
Drown in My Own Tears Ray Charles In Person 1959
Didn’t It Rain
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Blues and Gospel Tour (for Grenada TV) 1964
Strange Things Happening
Kid Ramos w/ Brian Templeton
Strange Things Happening 2025
This Train
Chris Barber’s Jazz Band feat. Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Performance 1957
(sign off)
Tag (You’re It) Little Charlie & The Nightcats Nine Lives 2005
WRFG Route 66 