Hour One of Blues Before Sunrise – Annual Christmas Program #2 is all about arrival. It’s the season beginning in full swing: joy, humor, elegance, and a little mischief packed into every note. The hour sets the stage for everything that follows, establishing the energy, warmth, and depth that makes BBS’s holiday programs unforgettable.
Leslie Uggams opens with “Mrs. Santa Claus,” a playful, bright introduction that signals a Christmas alive with personality. The King Cole Trio’s “The Christmas Song” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” follow, balancing warmth and elegance while reminding listeners why these performances endure across generations. Joe Williams’ “Ole Santa” adds attitude and charm, a reminder that even the blues can have its winks and smiles.
Billy Eckstine’s “Little Christmas Tree” and Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song (1946 Trio/Orch)” offer familiar melodies, performed with style and intimacy that make the season feel close, personal, and lived-in. The playful “Jingle Jangle Jump” from Gladys Bentley and Dexter Gordon injects swing, keeping the rhythm moving as Calvin Bostick’s “Christmas Won’t Be Christmas” introduces reflection and a touch of melancholy.
From there, the hour blends humor, rhythm, and heart. Billy Eckstine’s “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve” and Leslie Uggams’ “My Stocking Is Empty” add narrative and wit, exploring longing and anticipation. King Cole Trio’s “Jingle Bells” and Big Joe Turner’s “Christmas Date Boogie” return energy to the room, reminding listeners that Christmas is as much about movement and dance as reflection.
Babs Gonzales’ “Bebop Santa” and Titus Turner’s “Christmas Morning” keep the tempo lively, while Lionel Hampton’s “Boogie Woogie Santa” and the Ravens’ “White Christmas” merge swing and vocal harmony, bridging generations and styles. Sugar Chile Robinson’s “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” adds youthful playfulness and charm, giving the hour a sense of timeless joy.
The hour closes with Bessie Smith’s “Christmas Morning Blues” and Butterbeans & Susie’s “Papa Ain’t No Santa Claus,” grounding the broadcast in history and humor. Ozzie Ware’s “Santa Bring My Man Back to Me” and the Black Swan Quartet’s “Come All Ye Faithful” combine longing and faith, while Lloyd Glenn’s “Sleigh Ride” and the Jackson Trio’s “Jingle Bell Hop” provide a final flourish—danceable, joyful, and unmistakably blues.
Hour One is Christmas at its entrance: open, vibrant, and alive. It establishes the warmth, humor, reflection, and rhythm that will guide listeners through the rest of the program. The stage is set, the music is ready, and the spirit of the season begins its journey through the blues.
Playlist – Hour 1 (12/21/25)
MRS. SANTA CLAUS – Leslie Uggams
THE CHRISTMAS SONG – King Cole Trio
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS – King Cole Trio
OLE SANTA – Joe Williams
LITTLE CHRISTMAS TREE – Billy Eckstine
THE CHRISTMAS SONG (1946 TRIO) – King Cole Trio
THE CHRISTMAS SONG (1946 ORCH) – King Cole Trio
JINGLE JANGLE JUMP – Gladys Bentley/Dexter Gordon
CHRISTMAS WON’T BE CHRISTMAS – Calvin Bostick
WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEAR’S EVE – Billy Eckstine
MY STOCKING IS EMPTY – Leslie Uggams
JINGLE BELLS – King Cole Trio
CHRISTMAS DATE BOOGIE – Big Joe Turner
BEBOP SANTA – Babs Gonzales
CHRISTMAS MORNING – Titus Turner
BOOGIE WOOGIE SANTA – Lionel Hampton
WHITE CHRISTMAS – Ravens
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER – Sugar Chile Robinson