Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a pioneering gospel singer, songwriter, and recording artist. She took gospel music into the mainstream with her unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and early rock accompaniment. She became the first great recording star of gospel music, first surfacing on the pop charts with her 1938 original composition "This Train." As she crossed the line between sacred and secular, her witty, idiosyncratic style ... left a lasting mark on more conventional gospel artists, such as Ira Tucker Sr., of the Dixie Hummingbirds. Sister Rosetta Tharpe's soprano singing voice, masterful guitar playing, and commanding stage presence influenced an entire generation of musicians-most notably, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Isaac Hayes, and Etta James.