Hour Two of Blues Before Sunrise moves into the vibrant postwar years, when the blues began stretching into rhythm and blues, jump bands, and early soul. This hour captures a time when the music was evolving quickly—dance floors were filling, bands were getting louder, and singers were pushing blues into new emotional and musical territory. Yet even as the style changed, the heart of the blues remained intact.

The hour opens with the unmistakable smoothness of Charles Brown and his classic “Black Night.” Brown’s relaxed piano style and velvet voice helped define West Coast blues in the late 1940s. His music slowed the tempo and deepened the mood, creating a sound that felt intimate and late-night perfect for a program like Blues Before Sunrise.

Things pick up quickly with the jump blues energy of Roy Milton and “Hop, Skip & Jump.” Milton’s bandleader style and driving rhythms helped bridge the gap between big band swing and the emerging rhythm and blues sound that would soon dominate jukeboxes across America.

The emotional center of the hour arrives with Percy Mayfield performing “I Need Love So Bad.” Mayfield was one of the great lyric writers of the blues era, often referred to as the “Poet Laureate of the Blues.” His songs carried deep emotional honesty, and his gentle vocal delivery made even the saddest stories feel deeply personal.

Jump blues legend Big Joe Turner brings explosive energy with “Cherry Red,” a performance that showcases the booming voice that would later influence early rock and roll singers. Turner had the ability to command a room with sheer vocal power, turning blues into pure excitement.

Female rhythm and blues royalty arrives next with LaVern Baker and “It’s So Fine.” Baker was one of the strongest voices of the 1950s R&B scene, combining gospel power with sophisticated pop phrasing.

Humor enters the mix when comedian and performer Pigmeat Markham appears with “Hello Bill.” Blues and comedy have always been closely connected, and novelty records like this added personality and entertainment to jukebox culture.

The tempo continues rising with “Rock This Joint” by Chris Powell, a record that practically anticipates the coming explosion of rock and roll. Powell’s energetic band captured the excitement of postwar rhythm and blues dance music.

The soulful side of R&B returns with “Big Mary’s” from Titus Turner and the strong vocal performance of Varetta Cillard on “If You Want To Be My Baby.” These recordings highlight the growing importance of powerful vocalists during the 1950s.

Rare blues voices appear next with Mr. Google-Eyes performing “Rough & Rocky Road,” followed by two performances from Specs McFadden—“Harvest Moon Blues” and “People People.” These kinds of lesser-known recordings are exactly the sort of forgotten gems that Blues Before Sunrise loves to rediscover.

The hour then transitions toward classic jazz and blues interpretation with the legendary Ethel Waters. Her performances of “Heat Wave” and “Harlem On My Mind” remind listeners how early blues singers influenced the entire American popular music tradition.

As the hour winds down, the program shifts toward the spiritual roots that have always stood alongside the blues. The harmonies of the Dunham Jubilee Singers performing “Calvary,” followed by “Walk That Lonesome Valley” from the Morris Brown Quartet, bring a powerful gospel presence into the mix.

The closing moments feature “Present Your Body” by Rev. T.T. Rose and “Jesus Is Mine” from Professor J. Earl Hines. Ending the hour with gospel reminds listeners how closely blues and spiritual music have always been connected—two musical traditions born from the same emotional and cultural roots.

By the time Hour Two ends, listeners have traveled through jump blues, rhythm and blues, classic vocal jazz, and gospel, hearing the many directions the blues took as it moved deeper into the twentieth century.

Playlist – Hour Two

Black Night – Charles Brown

Hop, Skip & Jump – Roy Milton

I Need Love So Bad – Percy Mayfield

Cherry Red (1939) – Big Joe Turner

It’s So Fine – LaVerne Baker

Hello Bill – Pigmeat Markham

Rock This Joint – Chris Powell

Big Mary’s – Titus Turner

If You Want To Be My Baby – Varetta Cillard

Rough & Rocky Road – Mr. Google-Eyes

Harvest Moon Blues – Specs McFadden

People People – Specs McFadden

Heat Wave – Ethel Waters

Harlem On My Mind – Ethel Waters

Calvary – Dunham Jubilee Singers

Walk That Lonesome Valley – Morris Brown Quartet

Present Your Body – Rev. T.T. Rose

Jesus Is Mine – Professor J. Earl Hines