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Rock 'n' Roll Heretic: The Life and Times of Rory Tharpe
It’s the late 1970s, and ex-Pentecostal Black female electric guitarist Rory Tharpe navigates the cutthroat world of corporate rock, dive bars, dusk-to-dawn recording sessions, and shady contracts as she travels the nation in a dilapidated tour bus with her bickering, boozing all-male band. Much-imitated and little-credited, Rory is in a late career tailspin when she goes on tour with international superstar Jude Justis, a white woman blues-rock singer who has built a turbulent mega-platinum career out of stealing from Black musicians. Broke and frustrated by the racism, sexism, and ageism of the rock boys’ club, Rory warily joins forces with Jude. She then takes a detour through the painful past she shares with childhood nemesis Divinity Mason Mulvaney, a maverick pastor at the helm of the mega church enterprise Revivals, Inc.
A homage to pioneering guitarist Rosetta Tharpe, Rock ‘n’ Roll Heretic is a bracing look at the power politics, heartbreak, and hypocrisy confronting a queer Black woman visionary at the intersection of music and commerce, faith and heresy, in a segregated music industry that eats its Black artists.
"If you love fearless, bold, unapologetic strong leads, then Rock ‘n’ Roll Heretic is for you. Paying homage to the great trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe, this book is filled with twists and turns that will leave you rethinking rock music as you know it. Sikivu, you have created a masterpiece that will challenge history and entertain readers for years."
—Malina Moye, electric guitarist, international recording artist, and co-founder of the Drive Hope Foundation
A homage to pioneering guitarist Rosetta Tharpe, Rock ‘n’ Roll Heretic is a bracing look at the power politics, heartbreak, and hypocrisy confronting a queer Black woman visionary at the intersection of music and commerce, faith and heresy, in a segregated music industry that eats its Black artists.
"If you love fearless, bold, unapologetic strong leads, then Rock ‘n’ Roll Heretic is for you. Paying homage to the great trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe, this book is filled with twists and turns that will leave you rethinking rock music as you know it. Sikivu, you have created a masterpiece that will challenge history and entertain readers for years."
—Malina Moye, electric guitarist, international recording artist, and co-founder of the Drive Hope Foundation
- GenresFiction
338 pages, Paperback
First published March 10, 2021
About the author
Sikivu Hutchinson
10 books117 followersSikivu Hutchinson @sikivuhutch is an author and playwright. Her books include Imagining Transit: Race, Gender and Transportation Politics in Los Angeles; Moral Combat: Black Atheists, Gender Politics and the Values Wars; Godless Americana: Race and Religious Rebels and White Nights, Black Paradise.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 24, 2021
A holding investigation into the underside of the stone world through the encounters of a Black lady 'troubadour's forfeiting everything for her craft, respectability, and the privilege to self-decide. Intensely catches the "Breaking the Band" life of granulating little gigs, being come up short on, flying by the seat of the jeans and scratching for endurance in isolated America. Idyllic language, distinctive, outsized characters, and curved connections make this appalling book an absolute necessity read!!
Wild Heretic by Sikivu Hutchinson is a coarse, enthusiastic, and some of the time delicate story about an unprecedented lady, as she battles against one obstacle after another while searching for her place in a world that doesn't need her on her footing.
Rory Tharpe is a lady who is bound to have the world neutralize her. She's a Black, queer lady playing blues/rock guitar during the 1970s, working vigorously to acquire the regard because she was a music pioneer while attempting to beat her troublesome adolescence. Only one of those viewpoints would make life convoluted; however, notwithstanding everything, some way or another, Rory discovers the guts and assurance to continue to push forward. Rory is a youngster melodic wonder, getting started performing gospel music with her skilled, unusual mother, Katy. Abandoning the congregation for the universe of blues and rock n' roll and the relentless corporate industry that guidelines it, Rory has early achievement and assembles a small yet faithful fan base. Presently more established and world-fatigued, she's consigned to venturing to every part of the country as a honky-tonk vocalist with her ragtag all-male band, searching studio time with her last dime, and seeing her music being appropriated by white specialists. Adding a layer of intricacy to an all-around complex circumstance, Rory ends up snared with Sid, a gifted, harmed young lady, and quarreling with a youth rival, Pastor Divinity Mulvaney.
Wild Heretic by Sikivu Hutchinson is a coarse, enthusiastic, and some of the time delicate story about an unprecedented lady, as she battles against one obstacle after another while searching for her place in a world that doesn't need her on her footing.
Rory Tharpe is a lady who is bound to have the world neutralize her. She's a Black, queer lady playing blues/rock guitar during the 1970s, working vigorously to acquire the regard because she was a music pioneer while attempting to beat her troublesome adolescence. Only one of those viewpoints would make life convoluted; however, notwithstanding everything, some way or another, Rory discovers the guts and assurance to continue to push forward. Rory is a youngster melodic wonder, getting started performing gospel music with her skilled, unusual mother, Katy. Abandoning the congregation for the universe of blues and rock n' roll and the relentless corporate industry that guidelines it, Rory has early achievement and assembles a small yet faithful fan base. Presently more established and world-fatigued, she's consigned to venturing to every part of the country as a honky-tonk vocalist with her ragtag all-male band, searching studio time with her last dime, and seeing her music being appropriated by white specialists. Adding a layer of intricacy to an all-around complex circumstance, Rory ends up snared with Sid, a gifted, harmed young lady, and quarreling with a youth rival, Pastor Divinity Mulvaney.
June 5, 2021
An epic tale that packs a phenomenal blend of politics, religion, music and historical events into the turbulent life of an unsung working class heroine. Most novels on the music industry glamorize and mythicize their protagonists. Rock 'n' Roll Heretic brilliantly and unflinchingly breaks down the struggles older black women musicians endure to gain proper recognition for their art amidst racist/sexist and ageist exclusion and disdain. The novel's exploration of the pecking orders, insecurities, foiled dreams, and codependent relationships that make the politics of a working band is raw and bittersweet. I especially liked the way Rory's often ambivalent view of these men shaped her growth as an artist and human being striving to articulate her vision despite failure after failure. The poetic flashbacks to her past development as a pioneering guitarist under the thumb of her frustrated musician mother in a stiflingly religious community are also strongly woven. White women's appropriation of Black women's musical innovation is also skewered with the ribald character of Jude Justis (the marginally talented Janis Joplin) who throws a curveball into the story towards the end. Love them or hate them, virtually every major player in this book is complexly rendered, giving us food for thought about the joy/pain of creativity.
May 29, 2021
Rock ‘n’ Roll Heretic is unlike any novel I’ve ever read and it was such a refreshing and enlightening read.
It follows the protagonist, ex-Pentecostal Black female electric guitarist Rory Tharpe as she makes her way in the cutthroat and unforgiving world of rock.
The story pulled me in from page one and it was a fascinating and no-holds barred insight into a legendary time in music history and the harsh reality of trying to ‘make it’ in a lifestyle that was far from glamorous.
I hugely admired Rory who despite facing adversity, prejudice and hurdles at every corner, was relentless and unapologetic in the pursuit of her dreams.
We gain insight into Rory’s past via visits from her dead, overbearing mother who still berates and judges her from the grave while she reflecting on past events. I really liked this novel approach to flashbacks but really felt for Rory!
The book is well written, with great dialogue and a cast of colourful characters. The relationships between some of them are complex, sometimes toxic and so genuinely written that I had very mixed feelings about some of them.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Heretic is an interesting exploration of the corporate music industry and the shocking exploitation of black artists. I’d thoroughly recommend it to any music fans.
It follows the protagonist, ex-Pentecostal Black female electric guitarist Rory Tharpe as she makes her way in the cutthroat and unforgiving world of rock.
The story pulled me in from page one and it was a fascinating and no-holds barred insight into a legendary time in music history and the harsh reality of trying to ‘make it’ in a lifestyle that was far from glamorous.
I hugely admired Rory who despite facing adversity, prejudice and hurdles at every corner, was relentless and unapologetic in the pursuit of her dreams.
We gain insight into Rory’s past via visits from her dead, overbearing mother who still berates and judges her from the grave while she reflecting on past events. I really liked this novel approach to flashbacks but really felt for Rory!
The book is well written, with great dialogue and a cast of colourful characters. The relationships between some of them are complex, sometimes toxic and so genuinely written that I had very mixed feelings about some of them.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Heretic is an interesting exploration of the corporate music industry and the shocking exploitation of black artists. I’d thoroughly recommend it to any music fans.
June 7, 2021
I have to say i really enjoyed this book. The lead character Rory, a black female guitarist who faces so much in trying to follow ger dreams. Rory bas her own inner demons from her child that i felt kept her driven to succeed. Any music fan would enjoy.
May 2, 2021
With her second novel, Rock 'n' Roll Heretic, Sikivu Hutchinson has crafted an alt-history (or alt-bio, if you will) of Gospel musician Sister Rosetta Tharpe, whose guitar technique was most influential in the development of r&b and rock and roll. All you have to do is listen to her 1938 hit song "Rock Me" and you will immediately understand why ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZPLT... ). While a knowledge of Sister Tharpe's actual life and career is not necessary to enjoy Hutchinson's novel or understand its themes, a basic knowledge of it I think enhances the experience and allows you appreciate more what the writer has done and the choices she made.
As with her debut novel, White Nights, Black Paradise, Hutchinson proves herself adept at creating and occupying the mind-set of multiple complex characters while deftly jumping back and forth in time to elucidate on their development. I particularly liked the author's approach to accomplishing the latter part of this in this novel; instead of a typical "flashback", Roxy Thorpe is regularly is visited by the ghost of her mother, Katy, often reflecting on their past and tying it to current developments.
As with her other work, non-fiction and fiction, Hutchinson's concerns and targets are not singular. As you might expect, her novel is a passionate critique of the corporate music industry and its exploitation of Black musicians and appropriation of their work, which falls hardest upon Black women artists. But in addition, she she takes on the predatory money-grubbing manipulations of organized religion as well.
I was not quite as enthralled as I was with Hutchinson's first novel, but I'd be hard-pressed to say why. Maybe it is simply that, as the debut novel from a writer I knew already for her nonfiction, I was so impressed with the way it fulfilled and surpassed expectations. At any rate, the difference is minor. Rock 'n' Roll Heretic is quite highly recommended; 4 of 5 stars.
As with her debut novel, White Nights, Black Paradise, Hutchinson proves herself adept at creating and occupying the mind-set of multiple complex characters while deftly jumping back and forth in time to elucidate on their development. I particularly liked the author's approach to accomplishing the latter part of this in this novel; instead of a typical "flashback", Roxy Thorpe is regularly is visited by the ghost of her mother, Katy, often reflecting on their past and tying it to current developments.
As with her other work, non-fiction and fiction, Hutchinson's concerns and targets are not singular. As you might expect, her novel is a passionate critique of the corporate music industry and its exploitation of Black musicians and appropriation of their work, which falls hardest upon Black women artists. But in addition, she she takes on the predatory money-grubbing manipulations of organized religion as well.
I was not quite as enthralled as I was with Hutchinson's first novel, but I'd be hard-pressed to say why. Maybe it is simply that, as the debut novel from a writer I knew already for her nonfiction, I was so impressed with the way it fulfilled and surpassed expectations. At any rate, the difference is minor. Rock 'n' Roll Heretic is quite highly recommended; 4 of 5 stars.
September 29, 2021
Oooooooooooweeeeee! What a writer Sikivu Hutchinson is, what an imagination she has! At a certain point in reading it, I couldn't put it down. I completely enjoyed reading this book, "Rock 'n' Roll Heretic: The Life and Times of Rory Tharpe," as you are not only on tour and on stage with the main character, Rory, showing all the ups & downs behind the music scene, while rooting for her, but also the story delves into her internal influences of brilliancy and tragedy, along with external influences of society norms that set the trajectory of choices that determine her next steps like no choice could be made.
Sikivu Hutchinson's writing gives the reader the visual to be an unnamed character in her book, throughout the book that affects all of our human senses and sensibilities. "Rock 'n' Roll Heretic: The Life and Times of Rory Tharpe" is like the intriguing VH1 series, "Behind The Music," in written form, but with the full story, uncensored!
Sikivu Hutchinson's writing gives the reader the visual to be an unnamed character in her book, throughout the book that affects all of our human senses and sensibilities. "Rock 'n' Roll Heretic: The Life and Times of Rory Tharpe" is like the intriguing VH1 series, "Behind The Music," in written form, but with the full story, uncensored!
August 24, 2021
Sikivu has encapsulated the behind the scenes hardships that many bipoc women and female identifying people deal with inside of the music industry. I think the perspective that this book is written from adequately aligns with a lot of the similar struggles that Sister Rosetta Tharpe dealt with in the early 1900s.
She is an excellent writer and I personally look forward to her next book!
She is an excellent writer and I personally look forward to her next book!
August 25, 2021
A strange, but compelling book. Hutchinson has a gift for creating a mood with her words.
July 8, 2021
What’s a Black Woman doing in Rock ‘n’ Roll? EVERYTHING!!! Brilliant young novelist, Ms. Sikivu Hutchinson, brings character Rory Tharpe to life, as she takes her band on the road and the adventure never ends. From the hustle and the grind, to dreams of grandeur, Rory makes a way out of no way. From dive bars, to stowaways, crazy musicians and every “isum” you can face, Rory reigns supreme! Or does she? You have to read the book to find out! Sorry, no spoil alerts here!! Awesome read for the summer or anytime!! And a GREAT GIFT the music lover in your life!!! “Rock’n’ Roll Heretic: The Life and Times of Rory Tharpe”! AAA+
July 6, 2021
Rory Tharpe, the heroine of the novel Rock N Roll Heretic, is everything considered “taboo” in the Black community: rock musician, queer, and atheist. As a woman with these attributes, she’s no stranger to sexism, racism, and queerphobia perpetuated by the White men, White women, and even her own Black people in the music business. To make the journey more challenging, she faces ageism as a middle-aged woman in an industry that worships youth. Hutchinson does an amazing job illustrating Rory’s pain and triumphs against these adversities and the people perpetuating them, such as White ‘culture vulture’ rock star Jude Justis, the vampiric executives at House Records, the corrupted and sleazy pastor Divinity Mulvaney (who is Rory’s childhood enemy).
This is a road story, which is one of my favorite themes in fictional works. While on the road, Rory deals with her dysfunctional band members, Butch, Mitch, and Thurston, for whom she seems to have a soft spot despite their negative energy towards each other. Mitch and Thurston are Caucasian men, with one of them being gay, and Butch is Asian. I love that the author included a gay man and an Asian man as backing musicians to a Black female rock lead, especially considering that the plot takes place in the late 1970s, where LGBTQ culture was still greatly marginalized and Asian representation in American music was almost non-existent. Rory’s affinity for those in vulnerable situations is apparent when she meets a preteen runaway named Sid. Sid represents a child version of a Black female who rebels against cultural normativity, sexism, and religious indoctrination in the Black community.
After an early music career led by a domineering stage mother, Rory is determined to leave her mark in rock music history and win her intellectual property in addition to respect not given to her for her contributions. This story highlights the history of misogynoir, ageism, colorism, and cultural appropriation in the record business. Rory represents how much the Black woman is imitated but exploited and hated in the entertainment industry to this present day. This is not limited to the music business, however. These sentiments are prevalent in many aspects of Western society where Black women’s contributions to their communities are taken for granted. Sid, the child that mirrored Rory (at least to me), represented how hatred against black women starts early. Black girls who are survivors of abuse or rape, or missing Black girls, are almost always ignored by the media, and they are more criminalized than White survivors.
Hutchinson made a great contribution to the literature that focuses on Black women who rebel against expected social roles. But, most importantly, she created a protagonist that is rarely seen and celebrated in the mainstream media: A Black female rock musician. Rory will always be a rock star, no matter how the industry—or Jude Justis—treated her.
This is a road story, which is one of my favorite themes in fictional works. While on the road, Rory deals with her dysfunctional band members, Butch, Mitch, and Thurston, for whom she seems to have a soft spot despite their negative energy towards each other. Mitch and Thurston are Caucasian men, with one of them being gay, and Butch is Asian. I love that the author included a gay man and an Asian man as backing musicians to a Black female rock lead, especially considering that the plot takes place in the late 1970s, where LGBTQ culture was still greatly marginalized and Asian representation in American music was almost non-existent. Rory’s affinity for those in vulnerable situations is apparent when she meets a preteen runaway named Sid. Sid represents a child version of a Black female who rebels against cultural normativity, sexism, and religious indoctrination in the Black community.
After an early music career led by a domineering stage mother, Rory is determined to leave her mark in rock music history and win her intellectual property in addition to respect not given to her for her contributions. This story highlights the history of misogynoir, ageism, colorism, and cultural appropriation in the record business. Rory represents how much the Black woman is imitated but exploited and hated in the entertainment industry to this present day. This is not limited to the music business, however. These sentiments are prevalent in many aspects of Western society where Black women’s contributions to their communities are taken for granted. Sid, the child that mirrored Rory (at least to me), represented how hatred against black women starts early. Black girls who are survivors of abuse or rape, or missing Black girls, are almost always ignored by the media, and they are more criminalized than White survivors.
Hutchinson made a great contribution to the literature that focuses on Black women who rebel against expected social roles. But, most importantly, she created a protagonist that is rarely seen and celebrated in the mainstream media: A Black female rock musician. Rory will always be a rock star, no matter how the industry—or Jude Justis—treated her.
June 30, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, an engrossing saga spanning the life of its one-of-a-kind protagonist and the many characters in her chaotic orbit. Through the character of Rory Tharpe, the author shines a light on the largely ignored role that brilliant Black women have played in the history of rock and roll, and the racism and sexism they've endured, as well as the triumphs. A great read.
April 2, 2021
Cultural appropriation of Black music is as American as apple pie. If the U.S. ponied up for all of the artistic genius it's squeezed out of Black artists it would amount to a mint. Rock 'n' Roll Heretic is an indictment of this historical wrong. Sikivu Hutchinson takes a deep dive into the psychological and emotional scars of a fiercely independent Black pioneer fighting her way out of the segregated rock/r&b straightjacket that facilitated the superstar careers of master thieves like Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin and the Stones and left Black folks (particularly Black women) high and dry. Moving back and forth in time and space, the novel ties the evolution of the corporate record company swindle to the eclipse and "redemption" of a talented artist faced with multiple challenges in love, family, religious oppression, self-doubt and identity. What I found most interesting was the attraction-repulsion of the band members (also dealing with their own insecurities and never-was-been regrets about being in the music industry) and Rory's toxic relationship with the morally conflicted character of Divinity Mulvaney, who symbolizes all the "best" and worst character traits of the religious demagogue simultaneously enriching and swindling her community. Rory is a brave, brittle and complexly layered protagonist and the choice that she makes at the end of the book is a wrenching "coda" to this powerful saga
June 5, 2021
“𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝑺𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕, 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓
𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄”
Rock n Roll Heretic is homage to pioneering guitarist Rosetta Tharpe, which highlights the politics and hypocrisy that black artists face in the music industry. We follow Rory Tharpe as she navigates the cutthroat world of corporate rock, dive bars, dusk-to-dawn recording sessions, and shady contracts in the late 1970s
Rory is such a gritty, hard working and dedicated character who is constantly overlooked and is trying to work through her childhood trauma. Her character is written so powerfully and I found myself constantly rooting for her to receive the recognition that she so rightly deserved! With the fiction side of the book and the way that it is shown that Jude has become a major superstar from stealing black musicians work, did well in highlighting the struggles that black musicians have in regards to equal rights, respect and ownership in the music industry and in society as a whole, and it really does highlight just how unjust this is
I liked the format of the book watching Rory on tour with her all male band, whilst attending interviews and meetings regarding her future and where she is headed, not to mention the inclusion of the visits she has from her mother, Katy, who she talks out her current situations with, that was quite an interesting concept and was done very well. However I struggled with the 18+ language, as
there is a large amount of cursing in this book, which I am usually okay with, I just feel this was a bit over the top
The book is an engrossing and fascinating read, and I was gripped by the characters and the plot development, plus I always love a book that I take a lesson away from, or makes me go away and conduct research, which is exactly what I did. I would recommend this book to all, and I would recommend researching Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the individual this book is based upon to get a better understanding of Rory Tharpe, the character the author has developed as homage
𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄”
Rock n Roll Heretic is homage to pioneering guitarist Rosetta Tharpe, which highlights the politics and hypocrisy that black artists face in the music industry. We follow Rory Tharpe as she navigates the cutthroat world of corporate rock, dive bars, dusk-to-dawn recording sessions, and shady contracts in the late 1970s
Rory is such a gritty, hard working and dedicated character who is constantly overlooked and is trying to work through her childhood trauma. Her character is written so powerfully and I found myself constantly rooting for her to receive the recognition that she so rightly deserved! With the fiction side of the book and the way that it is shown that Jude has become a major superstar from stealing black musicians work, did well in highlighting the struggles that black musicians have in regards to equal rights, respect and ownership in the music industry and in society as a whole, and it really does highlight just how unjust this is
I liked the format of the book watching Rory on tour with her all male band, whilst attending interviews and meetings regarding her future and where she is headed, not to mention the inclusion of the visits she has from her mother, Katy, who she talks out her current situations with, that was quite an interesting concept and was done very well. However I struggled with the 18+ language, as
there is a large amount of cursing in this book, which I am usually okay with, I just feel this was a bit over the top
The book is an engrossing and fascinating read, and I was gripped by the characters and the plot development, plus I always love a book that I take a lesson away from, or makes me go away and conduct research, which is exactly what I did. I would recommend this book to all, and I would recommend researching Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the individual this book is based upon to get a better understanding of Rory Tharpe, the character the author has developed as homage
May 26, 2021
This book follows Rory Tharpe, a black, gay, ex-Pentecostal bass guitarist in the 1970’s as she tries to keep her career going, travelling around America in her dilapidated tour bus with her eclectic mix of male band members. You get a real flavour of the harsh realities of trying to scrape a living together living on the road in the music business, staying in rundown motels and having to rely on music agents for money and the next gig. Rory has demons of her own including a dead overbearing mother who is still always there telling her what to do or what not to do. I liked this aspect of the book but I did sometimes feel confused as the timeline would jump backwards and forwards. I also found it very wordy with such long sentences that I would get lost in the descriptions and have to re read parts, this also meant my mind would wander and to be honest at times I struggled to pick it up to read. I did really like the strong female characters such as Jude and Divinity and liked Sid, who I would have liked to have seen more of. Overall an interesting read.
September 1, 2021
Rock ‘n’ Roll Heretic is an interesting and well written look at gender and race, specifically how black artists are treated and exploited. The book, based loosely on Sister Rosetta Tharpe, follows Rory, a black guitarist as she navigates the music industry and deals with prejudices and her own demons. The dialogue is realistic and the characters are diverse and well-crafted. Definitely a worthwhile read especially for anyone interested in the gritty underbelly of the music industry.
December 10, 2022
Graciously received a free copy through good reads.
This book has some good parts about a struggling black musician back in the day, but many parts made no sense and I couldn't wait to just be done with this book.
This book has some good parts about a struggling black musician back in the day, but many parts made no sense and I couldn't wait to just be done with this book.
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June 18, 2021magnificent blend of history, music, music, gender, and racial struggle for recognition
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