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Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The Woman Who Invented Rock & Roll (featuring LynnΓ©e Denise and Reagan Gomez)

πŸŽ™οΈ Drapetomaniax πŸ• June 7, 2026 at 9:57 PM

Who really invented rock n roll? The facts are clearβ€”it was Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Black queer gospel-influenced rock and roll BeyoncΓ© of the 1930s and β€˜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:

LynnΓ©e Β Β Β LynnΓ©e Denise

Honey Β Β Β Β Reagan Gomez

Special thanks to our voice actors:

Juju Β Β Β Β Noleca Radway

Devon Β Β Β Β Danielle Solomon

Ballroom Commentator Β Ronie Rieves

Executive Producers Pharrell Williams, Scott Vener, Noleca Radway, and Moses Soyoola

Senior Producer Β Janicia Francis

Managing Producer Β JoAnn DeLuna

Production Coordinator Β Homero Radway

Production Assistant Β Gilianne Roberts-Atkinson

Writers Β Silas Miami, Dallas Rico, Roderick Morrow, Danielle Solomon and Randolph Terrence

Audio Engineer Β Β Marcellino van Callias

Fact checker LaPorsche Thomas

Music Supervisor Β Patricia Kihoro

Theme Song Β 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 LynnΓ©e Denise

https://utpress.utexas.edu/9781477321188/

For more information about the Β book and LynnΓ©e Denise’s recent projects Β 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 Β https://1btn.fm/dj/the-black-atlantic-black-fantastic/

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