Gospel singer,
songwriter, guitarist Sister Rosetta Thorpe was the
first great star of a Black Gospel music lyric,
surfacing on the pop music charts in 1938. She remained
popular through the 1940s, continuing to hit the charts
and drawing tens of thousands of fans to see her perform
live in venues across the United States. She lost the
support of some of her church fans, now and then, when
she performed in secular venues as well, as when she
recorded songs not recognized as 'Christian'. The fans
she lost were somewhat forgiving, as she remained true
to her faith, for the most part, throughout her
recording career which spanned the remainder of her life
with a
free
Gospel music lyrics writer.