Natives of Plantersville in Georgetown County, The Chosen Sisters performed contemporary gospel and traditional spirituals from the South Carolina lowcountry for close to forty years. Rosa Mae, Albertha, and Alberteen Tucker typically sang in the a cappella style, reflecting the deep African-American roots in the state. Their creative music reflects musical elements of both European and West African cultures.
The distinctive forms and expressions of their songs are evident in their use of European melodies and West African pentatonic melodies. Their music was also marked by polyrhythmic clapping, footstomping, and a variety of shouting styles. They have performed for the Board of Trustees of the American Folklife Center and also sang for the American Society of Ethnohistory, the National Folk Festival, and the South Carolina State Fair. The Chosen Sisters received the Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award in 1988.
Video
The Chosen Sisters performing in 1992 at the "Heritage of Song" concert hosted by McKissick Museum at the University of South Carolina. Co-produced by South Carolina Educational Television.
