Hour 2 of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise takes listeners on a deep journey through the crosscurrents of gospel, swing, and blues. Steve Cushing highlights the overlooked but vital recordings that shaped the era, drawing lines between spiritual traditions, early rhythm & blues, and the show-stopping energy of live performance.
The hour opens with Paul “Hucklebuck” Williams, a key bandleader and saxophonist who helped usher in the transition from swing into rhythm & blues. His “Blues at Daybreak” shows why his nickname stuck—this is a groove that leans forward toward rock and roll without losing its jazz roots. Williams had an instinct for rhythm, and his band’s arrangements kept dance floors full from the late 1940s well into the 1950s.
The spotlight then shifts to Sister Rosetta Tharpe, often called the “Godmother of Rock and Roll.” Here, three of her soundies—“Four or Five Times,” “Shout Sister Shout,” and “That Lonesome Road”—remind us why she was so revolutionary. Combining sanctified gospel fire with the guitar skills of a blues master, Sister Rosetta blurred lines that the industry was only beginning to understand. These performances, preserved on film, show her bold stage presence and influence on later generations from Chuck Berry to Johnny Cash.
Next, the microphone turns to Cousin Joe, the New Orleans singer and pianist known for mixing humor, social commentary, and sly double entendre in his songs. Tracks like “Evolution Blues,” “Boxcar Shorty & Peter Blue,” and “Boxcar Shorty’s Confession” display his sharp wit and playful storytelling. Cousin Joe was never a household name, but his clever phrasing and ability to inject life’s grit into his lyrics made him a favorite among musicians and discerning listeners.
The hour also showcases Mabel Scott, whose “Boogie Woogie Choo Choo Train” is a high-octane blast of energy. Scott’s voice was built for excitement—equal parts gospel grit and jazz polish. Following her, Sonny Parker keeps the momentum rolling with “She Set My Soul on Fire,” a title that perfectly captures the heat of his delivery.
Williams returns later in the set with “Gabardine Groove,” a tight instrumental that swings with urban sophistication. This tune shows how bandleaders like Williams balanced jazz arrangements with the raw drive of blues-based rhythms, bridging eras in Black popular music.
The program then dips into the refined world of Ethel Waters, a singer whose career spanned vaudeville, Broadway, and early jazz recordings. Her selections here—“Lonesome Swallow,” “Guess Who’s in Town,” “My Handy Man,” and “Do What You Did Last Night”—illustrate her versatility. Waters could deliver sultry blues, witty innuendo, or heart-stopping ballads, always with a theatrical flair that left audiences spellbound.
Closing the hour, Cushing turns toward gospel once more. The Alphabetical Four bring sacred harmonies to “Go Where I Send Thee,” while Rev. Isaiah Shelton’s “Eagle Stirreth Her Nest” demonstrates the power of sermon-song. Finally, the Swan Silvertones, one of the greatest gospel quartets of the twentieth century, perform “Careless Soul,” a haunting reminder of how gospel influenced every corner of American music.
Hour 2 is a masterclass in musical hybridity—how gospel, jazz, and blues continually fed each other in postwar America. The mix of Sister Rosetta’s sacred fire, Cousin Joe’s streetwise humor, and Ethel Waters’ stage polish creates a portrait of an era when categories were blurred, and artists thrived in the space between tradition and innovation.
Hour 2 Playlist
Paul Hucklebuck Williams – Blues at Daybreak
Sister Rosetta Tharpe – Four or Five Times (Soundie)
Sister Rosetta Tharpe – Shout Sister Shout (Soundie)
Sister Rosetta Tharpe – That Lonesome Road (Soundie)
Cousin Joe – Evolution Blues
Cousin Joe – Boxcar Shorty & Peter Blue
Cousin Joe – Boxcar Shorty’s Confession
Mabel Scott – Boogie Woogie Choo Choo Train
Sonny Parker – She Set My Soul on Fire
Paul Hucklebuck Williams – Gabardine Groove
Ethel Waters – Lonesome Swallow
Ethel Waters – Guess Who’s in Town
Ethel Waters – My Handy Man
Ethel Waters – Do What You Did Last Night
Alphabetical Four – Go Where I Send Thee
Rev. Isaiah Shelton – Eagle Stirreth Her Nest
Swan Silvertones – Careless Soul