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/

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