Back in 1964, Granada Television turned up at the already disused Wilbraham station in Chorlton and used it as a backdrop for a 1930s Gospel singer from the USA’s Deep South. Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Now a legendary moment in Manchester musical history is to recreated by a group of musicians in Whalley Range, just a mile away from the site of the station.
Then, the station was turned into a Wild West scene complete with a fake ‘Chorltonville’ sign, seemingly to sound American and give that feel of the Gospel and blues of the cotton states, the audience and the band line the platform and Sister Rosetta relaunched her career during that UK tour.
She was an inspiration to amongst others Chuck Berry, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Little Richard, and was brought to the disused railway station in a horse drawn carriage.
Amongst those performing at the concert on the 3rd May are Blues guitarist Phil Busby, one of the organisers , along with Blues Collective, the Sing Out Gospel Choir and West African drumming troupe Wangari.
Sister Rosetta died in 1973 at the age of just 58 in Pennsylvania and in 2008 its state governor declared that January 11th would be Sister Rosetta Tharpe Day in recognition of her remarkable musical legacy.
