Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell has named this Friday, January 11, Sister Rosetta Tharpe Day, reports Dave Howell in the Morning Call. A concert will be held that night at the Keswick Theatre outside of Philadelphia to benefit the memorial fund established in the singer's name; she died in 1973. The concert will feature such gospel and folk legends as the Dixie Hummingbirds and Odetta.

Sam Phillips recently wrote a song paying homage to the influential musician, titled "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us," which Robert Plant and Alison Krauss recorded on their 2007 hit record, Raising Sand, and which Sam performs on her forthcoming Nonesuch album, scheduled for release this spring.

To read the Morning Call article about Sister Rosetta and this Friday's benefit concert, visit mccall.com. For ticket information, visit keswicktheatre.com.