Hour 4 of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise stood as the heart of the program, dedicated to the Down Home Blues New York box set and the little-known artists who carried the blues into the clubs, alleys, and recording studios of New York City. These were not the towering figures of Delta or Chicago fame, but the working musicians whose records kept the blues alive in the Northeast and gave the city a raw, street-level soundtrack.
The set opened with Otis Hinton’s “Walking Down Hill”, a driving piece that introduced listeners to the earthy, urban sound of New York blues. Kine Morgan’s “Nobody’s Fool” kept that spirit alive, its vocals sharp and resilient, reflecting the everyday struggles and pride of working-class life.
From there, Steve guided listeners into a string of discoveries. Little Luther’s “Ever-Lovin’ Baby” and Little L. Boyd’s “Drinking Blues Pt. 1” revealed the club-blues sensibility—songs crafted for late-night audiences who knew something about hard living. Betty James added her own fire with “I’m a Little Mixed Up,” proving that the women of the scene carried just as much grit as their male counterparts.
The guitar was at the center of much of this music. Guitar Crusher exploded on “I Got to Know,” while Guitar Nebitt tore through “Georgia Chain Gang.” Their rough-hewn, insistent styles carried echoes of southern roots but filtered through the energy of New York’s neighborhoods. Alan Bunn’s “I Got You Covered” and Dr. Bob Gaddy’s “Evil Man Blues” added piano-driven electricity, grounding the set in barrelhouse tradition.
Jimmy Newsome’s “Do That Thing” and Square Walton’s “Pepper Headed Woman” revealed the liveliness of the New York blues dancefloor, while Big Chief Ellis’s “Poor Man’s Blues” cut deeper with lyrics that spoke of hardship and inequality. Rosita “Chicken” Lockhart’s “Bebop Daddy Blues” stood out as a rare female-led side, a playful yet commanding performance that blended humor with sharp blues delivery.
Cousin Leroy brought the grit with “Catfish,” “Highway 41,” and “Will a Matchbox Hold My Soul.” His sides captured both the bite of the Delta and the toughness of the city. Alonzo Scales added “Hard Luck Child” and “My Baby Likes to Shuffle,” both reflections of a style rooted in struggle yet alive with rhythmic drive. Bob Gaddy returned with “Paper Lady,” cementing his role as one of New York’s essential but overlooked voices.
Hour 4 was more than a survey—it was an excavation. These were names that rarely appear in blues histories, yet their recordings captured the sound of a vibrant scene that thrived in parallel to Chicago’s South Side or Memphis’s Beale Street. By highlighting the New York alley blues, Steve Cushing reminded listeners that the blues was never bound to one region—it was a national language, and New York spoke it loud.
Hour 4 Playlist
- Otis Hinton – Walking Down Hill
- Kine Morgan – Nobody’s Fool
- Little Luther – Ever-Lovin’ Baby
- Little L. Boyd – Drinking Blues Pt. I
- Betty James – I’m a Little Mixed Up
- Guitar Crusher – I Got to Know
- Guitar Nebitt – Georgia Chain Gang
- Alan Bunn – I Got You Covered
- Dr. Bob Gaddy – Evil Man Blues
- Jimmy Newsome – Do That Thing
- Square Walton – Pepper Headed Woman
- Big Chief Ellis – Poor Man’s Blues
- Rosita “Chicken” Lockhart – Bebop Daddy Blues
- Cousin Leroy – Catfish
- Alonzo Scales – Hard Luck Child
- Alonzo Scales – My Baby Likes to Shuffle
- Bob Gaddy – Paper Lady
- Cousin Leroy – Highway 41
- Cousin Leroy – Will a Matchbox Hold My Soul