Hour Two of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise drifts elegantly between the sacred and the secular, blending the church-born passion of gospel with the urbane sophistication of jazz and blues piano. At the center of this journey is Sammy Price, the New Orleans–born pianist whose stride-informed swing and gospel feel made him one of the unsung architects of mid-century rhythm and blues. Alongside him stand Ethel Waters, one of the first great crossover stars of the blues and jazz era, and a deep bench of gospel artists whose voices helped shape the spiritual backbone of Black American music.

Sammy Price’s work captures a crucial bridge between early jazz and postwar blues. Known for his years as house pianist and arranger at Decca Records, Price’s rolling left hand and rhythmic bounce infused everything from boogie-woogie instrumentals to pop-blues hits. In recordings like “Rib Joint” and “Nice and Easy,” his piano cuts through with clean precision and a strong church influence. He had a knack for turning the blues into something urbane and danceable without losing its roots—a quality that made him an in-demand session man behind artists like T-Bone Walker and Big Joe Turner.

From there, the hour turns to Ethel Waters, a performer who helped redefine what a blues vocalist could be. Waters began her career on the vaudeville stage before becoming a major recording artist in the 1920s. Her early records—like “Down Home Blues” and “My Handy Man Ain’t Handy No More”—showcase a singer capable of emotional depth, sly humor, and sophisticated phrasing. But Waters also transcended the blues; she became a celebrated Broadway performer and an early gospel interpreter whose recordings like “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” introduced sacred themes to popular audiences. Her inclusion this hour underscores the continuum between the pulpit and the nightclub, between sacred uplift and worldly storytelling.

The gospel selections that follow bring that theme home. Artists like The Soul Stirrers, The Pilgrim Travelers, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe represent the raw, ecstatic power of the gospel tradition. When the Soul Stirrers deliver “I’m a Pilgrim,” they transform an old spiritual into a modern harmony masterpiece, setting the template for groups like the Swan Silvertones and the Five Blind Boys. The Pilgrim Travelers’ “Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb” crackles with wartime-era urgency, using the language of the atomic age to frame the apocalypse in terms everyone could understand.

And then there’s Sister Rosetta Tharpe, whose “Strange Things Happening Every Day” remains one of the most important records in American music history. Recorded in 1944 with her electric guitar ringing like a bell, it became a hit on both gospel and R&B charts—making Tharpe, in effect, one of the first rock & roll pioneers. Her blend of sanctified joy and blues grit made her a model for everyone from Chuck Berry to Little Richard.

The hour’s final cuts—likely including spirituals by The Golden Gate Quartet or The Charioteers—bring things full circle. Both groups were masters at merging jubilee harmonies with rhythmic swing, proving that gospel didn’t have to be solemn to be profound. By the time the hour fades out, it’s clear how gospel, blues, and jazz share the same DNA: music meant to stir the soul, whether in a revival tent or a packed dancehall.

Sammy Price and Ethel Waters remind us that sophistication and spirituality are not opposites—they’re complementary forces. Their artistry, along with the gospel voices featured this hour, reveals how deep the blues runs, not just through the juke joints of America but through its churches, theaters, and hearts.

HOUR #2 PLAYLIST

PAY DAY JUMP – ROY BROWN

WORRIED LIFE BLUES – RUBBERLEGS WILLIAMS

THAT’S THE BLUES – RUBBERLEGS WILLIAMS

MY LOVE COMES TUMBLING DOWN – COUSIN JOE

BABY YOU DON’T KNOW IT ALL – COUSIN JOE

LET ME BE YOUR MAN – GATEMOUTH MOORE

GRAVEYARD DISPOSITION – GATEMOUTH MOORE

WHAT EVIL HAVE I DONE – WALTER BROWN

GONNA PLAY WITH YOUR WOMAN – WALTER BROWN

TOGETHER – EDDIE LOCKJAW DAVIS

BOOGIE WOOGIE MOAN – SAMMY PRICE

DO YOU DIG MY JIVE – SAMMY PRICE

HOW ‘BOUT THAT MESS – SAMMY PRICE

GEORGIA BLUES – ETHEL WATERS

I LIKE THE WAY HE DOES IT – ETHEL WATERS

SAID HE WOULD CALM THE OCEAN – GOLDEN GATE QUARTET

NO FEMALE ANGELS IN HEAVEN – ELDER SOLOMON MICHAUX

I’M A ROLLIN’ – WINGS OVER JORDAN

I WILL TRUST IN THE LORD – WINGS OVER JORDAN