The second hour of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise blends rhythm and blues, postwar jump grooves, and the spiritual fire of gospel. It’s an hour that highlights the variety of sounds bubbling in the 1940s and 1950s, when the lines between blues, jazz, and gospel were more porous than ever.
The hour opens with the swinging touch of Johnny Otis and his “New Orleans Shuffle.” Otis was a bandleader, drummer, vibraphonist, and talent scout who bridged jazz and R&B, discovering and mentoring artists who would shape the sound of postwar popular music. His ability to fuse jazz sophistication with blues grit made him one of the pivotal figures in American music.
Next, the spotlight turns to Ray Charles, with a three-song stretch: “The Midnight Hour,” “Mr. Charles Blues,” and “Losing Hand.” This was the period when Charles was developing his distinct blend of gospel phrasing, blues feeling, and jazz-inflected arrangements. These early recordings reveal the seeds of “soul” before the genre had a name — Charles taking the vocabulary of the church and putting it into secular song.
Jimmy Liggins steps in with “I Ain’t Drunk,” a rollicking, good-humored anthem that became one of his signature songs. Liggins, known for his jump blues and big-band inspired sound, helped set the stage for early rock ’n’ roll with his driving beats and storytelling lyrics.
The set then softens with Faye Adams’ “The Same Old Me.” Adams, sometimes called the “Atomic Queen of the Blues,” scored major R&B hits in the 1950s with her powerful, gospel-drenched delivery. Her songs, often full of yearning and resilience, resonated with audiences navigating postwar life.
From there, Christine Kitrell brings “I’m Sittin’ Here Drinkin’.” Kitrell was a tough, emotive singer whose career spanned R&B, gospel, and jazz. While she never achieved stardom, she was respected for her versatility and expressive vocal power, particularly in live settings.
The spotlight shifts to Wilbert Harrison with “Kansas City,” one of the most enduring R&B hits of the era. Its infectious shuffle rhythm and singable refrain made it a cornerstone of American popular music, covered by countless artists and still synonymous with the sound of urban blues.
The duo Mickey & Sylvia offer a contrasting sound with “Rise Sally Rise” and “Can’t Get You on the Phone.” Best known for their smash “Love Is Strange,” the pair combined playful chemistry with clever songwriting, balancing blues roots with pop appeal. Their presence reminds us how flexible blues influences could be in the pop marketplace.
The set also makes room for piano giant Roosevelt Sykes, represented by four cuts: “Mellow Queen,” “I Wonder,” “Keep Your Hands Off Her,” and “Roll On Blues.” Known as “The Honeydripper,” Sykes was one of the most recorded and distinctive blues pianists of the 20th century. His rich voice and rolling, boogie-driven piano style were instantly recognizable, and his recordings influenced generations of pianists.
A softer, more classic mood emerges with Ethel Waters, whose three songs — “One Sweet Letters From You,” “Some Day Sweet Heart,” and “Some of These Days” — show her as a pioneering vocalist. Waters transitioned from blues into jazz and popular song, paving the way for later African American singers to enter mainstream stages and radio.
The hour closes on a spiritual high. Sister Rosetta Winn’s “Do Lord Remember Me,” Prophet B.W. West’s “I’m Going Home to Live with God,” and Edna Gallmon Cook’s “Just Hold On” bring gospel intensity to the program. These performances remind us that gospel and blues were siblings, often sharing melodies, rhythms, and vocal inflections. While blues spoke to earthly struggles, gospel reached toward heavenly hope — but both were cut from the same cultural fabric.
Hour 2 demonstrates the remarkable range of Black music in the mid-20th century: from the birth of soul in Ray Charles, to the piano swagger of Roosevelt Sykes, to the sacred shouts of gospel singers. It’s a vivid reminder that blues did not exist in isolation, but as part of a continuum that influenced and absorbed everything around it.
Hour 2 Playlist
- New Orleans Shuffle – Johnny Otis
- The Midnight Hour – Ray Charles
- Mr. Charles Blues – Ray Charles
- Losing Hand – Ray Charles
- I Ain’t Drunk – Jimmy Liggins
- The Same Old Me – Faye Adams
- I’m Sittin’ Here Drinkin’ – Christine Kitrell
- Kansas City – Wilbert Harrison
- Rise Sally Rise – Mickey & Sylvia
- Can’t Get You on the Phone – Mickey & Sylvia
- Mellow Queen – Roosevelt Sykes
- I Wonder – Roosevelt Sykes
- Keep Your Hands Off Her – Roosevelt Sykes
- Roll On Blues – Roosevelt Sykes
- One Sweet Letters From You – Ethel Waters
- Some Day Sweet Heart – Ethel Waters
- Some of These Days – Ethel Waters
- Do Lord Remember Me – Sister Rosetta Winn
- I’m Going Home to Live with God – Prophet B.W. West
- Just Hold On – Edna Gallmon Cook