The final hour of Blues Before Sunrise is where the night settles in completely. By this time the world is quiet, the radio is low, and the music has room to breathe. Hour Five of this February 22 broadcast eases listeners through a graceful landing, beginning with smooth vocal harmony and drifting through jazz balladry, soul blues, and deep electric Chicago feeling before closing on a haunting instrumental note.

The hour opens with the polished vocal blend of the Delta Rhythm Boys, whose rendition of “Blue Skies” floats like a calm breeze after midnight. Their harmonies recall an earlier era of American popular music, when vocal groups balanced swing sophistication with gospel warmth. It’s a fitting doorway into the final stretch of the program.

Next comes an unexpected but elegant instrumental turn from Henry Mancini with “Royal Blue.” Mancini, known to many for his film scores, had a knack for creating melodies that felt both cinematic and intimate. In the late hours of the program, his music works like mood lighting—soft, reflective, and quietly sophisticated.

The atmosphere deepens with Ray Charles and “Moon Over Miami.” Few artists bridged jazz, blues, and soul with the authority of Ray Charles, and here he delivers a performance that feels both romantic and slightly lonely—the perfect emotional color for the final hour of a late-night blues show.

Vocalist Lorez Alexandria follows with “Spring Is Here,” her rich jazz phrasing reminding listeners how deeply the blues runs through classic jazz singing. Then guitarist Jimmy Ponder delivers a reflective take on “This Bitter Earth,” turning the famous song into a soulful guitar meditation.

The emotional core of this portion of the hour arrives with two performances from Nancy Wilson. Her interpretations of “Never Will I Marry” and “When Sunny Gets Blue” showcase the elegance and emotional precision that made her one of the most respected jazz and soul vocalists of the 20th century. Wilson never over-sings; she simply tells the story, letting the lyrics do their work.

From there, the program shifts back toward the blues with a trio of recordings from B.B. King. “Gonna Miss You Around Here,” “Long Night,” and “Jump With You Baby” demonstrate why King became one of the defining voices of electric blues. His guitar tone—singing, sharp, and unmistakably human—carries both pain and celebration.

The blues continue with Al King’s “On My Way,” followed by the moody soul-blues atmosphere of Ted Taylor with “Days Are Dark.” These recordings capture the emotional honesty that lies at the heart of the genre: heartbreak, perseverance, and the determination to keep moving forward.

Things get a little more electrified when Little Milton appears with “She Put a Spell on Me,” a record that mixes Chicago blues grit with southern soul swagger. That momentum carries straight into the raw slide guitar attack of Guitar Slim, whose influence can be heard in generations of blues and rock guitarists.

The powerful voice of Big Mama Thornton arrives next with “Big Mama’s Coming Home,” reminding listeners why she remains one of the most commanding performers in blues history. Her delivery is fearless, direct, and unmistakably authentic.

Johnny Fuller follows with “First Stage of the Blues,” a record steeped in the tradition of West Coast electric blues, before the program closes with one of the most atmospheric instrumentals ever recorded.

“Albatross” by Fleetwood Mac drifts in like fog over still water. Released during the band’s early blues era under guitarist Peter Green, the instrumental provides a quiet, almost meditative ending to the program. The guitars shimmer softly as the night fades toward morning.

After hours of rare records, forgotten classics, and deep blues history, Hour Five brings the show gently to rest—exactly the way Blues Before Sunrise was meant to end.

Playlist – Hour Five

Blue Skies – Delta Rhythm Boys

Royal Blue – Henry Mancini

Moon Over Miami – Ray Charles

Spring Is Here – Lorez Alexandria

This Bitter Earth – Jimmy Ponder

Never Will I Marry – Nancy Wilson

When Sunny Gets Blue – Nancy Wilson

Gonna Miss You Around Here – B.B. King

Long Night – B.B. King

Jump With You Baby – B.B. King

On My Way – Al King

Days Are Dark – Ted Taylor

She Put a Spell On Me – Little Milton

The Things That I Used to Do – Guitar Slim

Big Mama’s Coming Home – Big Mama Thornton

First Stage of the Blues – Johnny Fuller

Albatross – Fleetwood Mac