This week’s Blues Before Sunrise was a deep dive into the heart of classic blues history, framed around Steve’s carefully curated list of the Top 15 Classic Blues Singers. Across five hours, the program explored the women who helped shape the blues in the 1920s, while weaving in connections to jazz, gospel, and R&B. Listeners were treated to both timeless recordings and fresh insights into how these voices paved the way for every generation of blues and jazz that followed.

The show began with a wide-ranging first hour that set the mood. Early swing and rhythm-and-blues pioneers like Louis Jordan and Big Joe Turner lit up the broadcast with broadcast transcriptions, showcasing their wit, rhythm, and groundbreaking sound. Scatman Crothers opened the set with his signature humor and verve, while Lena Horne’s elegant performances reminded listeners how seamlessly the blues spirit bled into classic jazz vocals. With contributions from the Delta Rhythm Boys, Deryck Sampson, Bert Williams, and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, the first hour gave a taste of the range of Black music in the mid-20th century — a perfect primer before diving into the core theme.

Hour two shifted the spotlight to a blend of rhythm-and-blues crooners, early gospel harmonizers, and blues storytellers. Camille Howard’s “Groovy Blues” and Charles Brown’s “Jilted Blues” carried the West Coast blues sound forward, while Etta James’s soaring vocals delivered both fire and heartbreak. Listeners also heard from Percy Mayfield, known as the “Poet Laureate of the Blues,” and two fine contributions from Jimmy T-99 Nelson, whose raw Texas phrasing put him in league with the great shouters. Historic tracks by Tampa Red, Lonnie Johnson, and Lil Johnson anchored the blues foundation, while Ethel Waters demonstrated her crossover brilliance with both blues and popular standards. Closing with gospel harmonies from the Original Gospel Harmonettes and the Dixie Hummingbirds, the hour bridged sacred and secular traditions.

The heart of this week’s theme came alive in hour three. Steve’s “Top 15 Classic Blues Singers” spotlighted pioneering women such as Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Clara Smith, Ida Cox, Alberta Hunter, Sippie Wallace, Rosa Henderson, Viola McCoy, Mamie Smith, Trixie Smith, Sara Martin, Maggie Jones, Lucille Hegamin, and Monette Moore. Each brought her own character and depth to the genre, singing of love, betrayal, survival, and joy in ways that still resonate today. This hour was not just a playlist, but a living lesson in blues history, bringing voices from a century ago back to the forefront.

Hour four returned to a rougher Chicago blues edge. Featuring the harmonica fire of Jazz Gillum, the piano power of Otis Spann, and the unforgettable growl of Howlin’ Wolf, this set embodied the postwar Chicago sound. Little Walter, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Sunnyland Slim, and Little Johnny Jones rounded out the lineup, creating an electric hour of urban blues that carried the raw immediacy of the city’s South Side clubs.

The fifth and final hour blended blues with jazz and soul, showing how the music evolved and spread its influence. Jazz standards like Charlie Parker’s “Everything Happens to Me” and Ella Fitzgerald’s “I Can’t Face the Music” shared space with powerhouse bluesmen like B.B. King, Bobby Bland, and Freddie King. Peppermint Harris brought the Texas shuffle, Jimmy Reed anchored the Mississippi groove, and Fleetwood Mac’s “Albatross” provided a surprising but fitting close, illustrating the blues’ global reach.

Altogether, the 6/22/25 broadcast was a masterclass in blues history. By honoring the women of the 1920s while also showcasing gospel roots, Chicago grit, and modern interpretations, Steve Cushing reminded listeners why the blues remains both timeless and essential. For fans old and new, this week’s Blues Before Sunrise was a journey through the very soul of American music.