On Saturday night, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame officially welcomed their 2018 induction class at a lavish ceremony at Cleveland’s Public Hall. As always, the night was filled with star-studded performances celebrating the evening’s guests of honor.
This year, in addition to regular inductees Bon Jovi, Dire Straits, The Moody Blues, The Cars, and Nina Simone, the Rock Hall gave a special “Early Influence” nod to Sister Rosetta Tharpe, whose finger-picking guitar technique influenced everyone from Chuck Berry to Elvis Presley. A gospel star in the early 20th century, Tharpe is now widely recognized as an important rock & roll guitar influencer, particularly following a surge in interest in her work and legacy over the last decade.
One particular modern artist who has noted Tharpe’s influence is the Alabama Shakes guitarist and frontwoman Brittany Howard. In an interview with Rolling Stone earlier this year, Howard explained. “It is a huge honor to induct Sister Rosetta Tharpe to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She has been such an inspiration. I hope this spotlight helps people discover what so many of us already know. She is one of the greatest artists of all time.”
At the induction ceremony, Howard got the chance to display her reverence for Tharpe the way she does best, joining forces with Questlove, Paul Shaffer, Felicia Collins, and several other talented artists for a rousing performance of “That’s All” in her honor. You can watch Howard channel the late Sister Rosetta Tharpe for her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction below:
Brittany Howard w/ Questlove & More – “That’s All” (Sister Rosetta Tharpe Cover)
[Video: MarchofTheRashbaum]
[H/T – Pitchfork]