Hour Five of Blues Before Sunrise – Annual Christmas Program #2 is where the season exhales. This is Christmas at its quietest and most reflective, when the decorations are still up but the emotions have shifted. The party has passed, the house is still, and what remains are thoughts about love, memory, faith, and time. It’s a beautifully measured hour, built for listeners who appreciate Christmas best when it’s unhurried and honest.

Amos Milburn opens the hour with “Let’s Make Christmas Merry Baby,” a gentle invitation rather than a demand for cheer. Milburn’s warmth sets the tone for what follows—a sequence of songs that feel lived-in, personal, and late-night intimate. Calvin Bostick’s “Christmas Won’t Be Christmas” reinforces that idea immediately, reminding us that the season is only as bright as the company we keep.

Billy Eckstine’s “What Are You Doin’ New Year’s Eve” bridges Christmas and what comes after, extending the emotional arc beyond December 25th. Louis Armstrong’s “The Night Before Christmas” follows, bringing storytelling, charm, and unmistakable humanity. Armstrong doesn’t polish Christmas—he animates it, making the familiar feel freshly told.

Dinah Washington’s “Silent Night” is reverent and restrained, her voice carrying quiet authority. Dan Grissom’s “Wonderful Christmas Night” keeps the mood hushed and tender, while Jimmy Smith’s “White Christmas” offers a soulful instrumental pause, letting listeners breathe before the next emotional turn.

Billy Eckstine returns with “Christmas Eve,” and the Ravens’ version of “Silent Night” adds rich harmony and depth, reinforcing the sacred side of the season without ever breaking the hour’s intimate spell. These performances feel less like public declarations and more like private moments overheard.

Charles Brown anchors the emotional core of the hour with “Christmas With No One to Love,” a song that captures loneliness without dramatics. Billy Eckstine’s “Blue Christmas” continues that thread, reminding us that sadness and beauty often arrive together during the holidays. Brook Benton’s “This Time of Year” widens the lens slightly, reflecting on the season itself rather than a single moment within it.

As the hour moves forward, humor and rhythm re-enter—gently. Oscar McLollie’s “Dig That Crazy Santa Claus” and Big John Greer’s “Santa Do the Mambo” bring playful relief, letting Santa dance his way back into the room without overwhelming the reflective mood.

Louis Armstrong returns with “Zat You Santa Claus” and “Cool Yule,” two sides that capture his unique ability to balance joy and sophistication. These tracks don’t shout Christmas—they swing it, effortlessly cool and timeless.

The hour closes with Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s “White Christmas,” a powerful reminder that faith, soul, and individuality can coexist beautifully. Bill Doggett’s “Moondust” serves as the perfect closer—instrumental, atmospheric, and slightly mysterious, like the last lights glowing before morning arrives.

Hour Five of Christmas Program #2 doesn’t rush to finish the season. Instead, it lingers, honoring the quieter emotions that arrive after the gifts are opened and the crowds have gone home. It’s Christmas music for the final hours—graceful, soulful, and deeply human.

Playlist – Hour 5 (12/21/25)

LET’S MAKE CHRISTMAS MERRY BABY – Amos Milburn

CHRISTMAS WON’T BE CHRISTMAS – Calvin Bostick

WHAT ARE YOU DOIN’ NEW YEAR’S EVE – Billy Eckstine

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS – Louis Armstrong

SILENT NIGHT – Dinah Washington

WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS NIGHT – Dan Grissom

WHITE CHRISTMAS – Jimmy Smith

CHRISTMAS EVE – Billy Eckstine

SILENT NIGHT – Ravens

CHRISTMAS WITH NO ONE TO LOVE – Charles Brown

BLUE CHRISTMAS – Billy Eckstine

THIS TIME OF YEAR – Brook Benton

DIG THAT CRAZY SANTA CLAUS – Oscar McLollie

SANTA DO THE MAMBO – Big John Greer

ZAT YOU SANTA CLAUS – Louis Armstrong

COOL YULE – Louis Armstrong

WHITE CHRISTMAS – Sister Rosetta Tharpe

MOONDUST – Bill Doggett