Shame on me, but I have to admit I'd never heard of Rosetta Tharpe before I read the linked article. Her influence was apparently incredibly profound, playing a part in the careers of artists ranging from Little Richard and Chuck Berry to Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan. 

And there's more - Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, the list goes on and on. Pretty amazing for someone people like me never knew about before today. (You can hear samples of her work here.)

Rock and Roll Starts With Sister Rosetta Tharpe