One of the most significant performers in the history of gospel music, Sister Rosetta Tharpe attracted more than a little controversy in her day. She was willing to perform her sanctified sounds in the dark and disreputable venues of nightclubs and bars, and her own flamboyant performing style was considered shocking to some. Tharpe got her start in music touring as a gospel duo with her mother as a child. Her explorations into jazz, rock 'n' roll, and R&B remain fiery and crackling to this day—but the foundation of her sound remains pure gospel.