President and Mrs. Obama host a PBS music special in the East Room of the White House. The evening is an all-star celebration of the blues, the musical form that sprang from the Mississippi Delta and the west side of Chicago. With deep roots in Africa and slavery, the music has influenced modern American music from soul to rock ‘n’ roll. Leading popular artists’ performances trace that migratory path and pay homage to the great figures of the blues genre, from John Lee Hooker to Muddy Waters, and the songs they made famous.
1 of 12
B.B. King performs as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE "Red, White And Blues" in celebration of Blues music in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 21, 2012.
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
2 of 12
From left, Derek Trucks, Gary Clark Jr., B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Warren Haynes perform as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE "Red, White And Blues" in celebration of Blues music in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 21, 2012.
Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy
3 of 12
Mick Jagger sings and Buddy Guy plays guitar as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE "Red, White and Blues” in celebration of blues music in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 21, 2012. The concert is in recognition of Black History Month. In the background, from left, music director and band leader Booker T. Jones, Jeff Beck and Gary Clark Jr. joined in for the song.
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
4 of 12
Mick Jagger performs as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE "Red, White And Blues" in celebration of blues music in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 21, 2012.
Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy
5 of 12
Buddy Guy, left, and Jeff Beck perform as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE "Red, White And Blues" in celebration of Blues music in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 21, 2012.
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
6 of 12
Shemekia Copeland, left, and Gary Clark Jr. perform as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE "Red, White And Blues" in celebration of Blues music in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 21, 2012.
Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy
7 of 12
Keb Mo performs as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE "Red, White And Blues" in celebration of Blues music in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 21, 2012.
Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy
8 of 12
From left, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi and Warren Haynes perform as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE "Red, White And Blues" in celebration of Blues music in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 21, 2012.
Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy
9 of 12
Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews performs as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE "Red, White And Blues" in celebration of Blues music in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 21, 2012.
Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy
10 of 12
Music director and band leader Booker T. Jones acknowledges his introduction as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE "Red, White And Blues" in celebration of Blues music in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 21, 2012.
Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy
11 of 12
President Barack Obama delivers remarks as he and First Lady Michelle Obama host, IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE "Red, White And Blues" in celebration of Blues music in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 21, 2012.
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
12 of 12
Taraji P. Henson, program host for IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE "Red, White And Blues."
Courtesy of Sharp Associates
Performers include B.B. King, Booker T. Jones, Buddy Guy, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Gary Clark Jr., Jeff Beck, Keb Mo, Mick Jagger, Shemekia Copeland, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, and Warren Haynes, with Taraji P. Henson as the program host.
IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE has been produced by WETA since 1978 and spans every administration since President Carter's. The series began with an East Room recital by the legendary pianist Vladimir Horowitz.
Since then, IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE has embraced virtually every genre of American performance: pop, country, gospel, jazz, blues, theatre and dance among them. The series was created to showcase the rich fabric of American culture in the setting of the nation's most famous home.
