<a href="http://www.roanoke.com/extra/wb/150535">Some excellent pre show press</a>

<blockquote>For Potter, a 24-year-old Vermonter, the roots are in gospel music from artists such as Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

"That really blew my mind," she said. "I'm not particularly religious, but I heard this music and it absolutely transfixed me."

She has her parents to thank, for their record collection -- which she constantly de-alphabetized. And she had a chorus teacher at Harwood Union High School, Di Phillips, who allowed students to travel beyond the usual in song selection and arrangements, Potter said. When Potter was a senior, Phillips allowed her to arrange "Scarborough Fair" for chorus and bagpipes.

"I was an opportunist about it," she said. "I was the only one who was nuts enough to say to the teacher, I want to try this."

</blockquote>

For those of you unfamiliar with Sister Rosetta Tharpe - well, you're in for a treat. Powerful voice, rockin' guitar, amazing stage presence - sound familiar?

<strong>"Down By The Riverside"</strong>
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<strong>
"Up Above My Head"</strong>
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<strong>
"Didn't It Rain"</strong>
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An <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=BH5a74NBiYcC">excellent book at on Sister Rosetta</a> <strong>"Shout, Sister, Shout"</strong>