Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Honorary Street Designation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee forwards ordinance to name 2300 block of Barton Avenue for Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Summary
After a public speaker described Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s ties to Richmond and musical influence, the Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee voted to forward Ordinance 2026 056 to council with a recommendation to approve the honorary designation of the 2300 block of Barton Avenue.
The Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee voted to forward Ordinance 2026 056 to Richmond City Council with a recommendation to approve an honorary street-sign designation for Sister Rosetta Tharpe on the 2300 block of Barton Avenue.
Martin Gary told the committee he supported the designation and outlined Tharpe’s musical influence. "She is known as the godmother of rock and roll," Gary said, and he described how Tharpe’s blend of gospel, jazz and blues influenced performers including Chuck Berry, the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix. Gary said Tharpe lived in Richmond and that she purchased 2306 Barton Avenue in 1948 for $7,500.
The ordinance was introduced to the committee and a public hearing was opened; the Clerk asked for speakers in support or opposition and no one signed up in opposition. A committee member moved to recommend the ordinance for approval and the motion carried when the Clerk announced that the motion had been approved and would be sent to council with the committee’s recommendation.
The decision sends the ordinance to Richmond City Council for final action; the committee record as transcribed did not include a full roll-call tally in the transcript. The hearing record includes the public testimony in support offered by Martin Gary.
The committee’s next scheduled meeting was noted as April 21, when additional items will be considered.
