After what seems like a lifetime of exile of the Arts, President Obama and the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama have brought back Music to the White House in the tradition that was established by President Kennedy and First Lady, Jackie Kennedy. I am so grateful for this return to Music in the White House because regardless of the dire times we are currently living in, it is the Arts that have sustained us as a country during the good times, but most especially during the bad times.
In Performance At The White House began in 1978 in association with PBS, and tonight the tribute for Stevie Wonder will be on television (9 pm Central Time).
The song entitled 'You and I' by Stevie Wonder was the song that President Obama and Michelle used as their wedding song, so this was a very special event in many regards for them, for the White House, for the American people and for one of my all time favorite artist: Little Stevie Wonder. More below the fold.
From an article on Huffington Post:
First Lady, Michelle Obama, looking stunning in a Kelly Greene evening gown opened the event, and explained that she grew up listening to Stevie Wonder's music with her grandfather. Years later, she said she "discovered what Stevie meant when he sang about love. Barack and I chose the song, 'You and I' as our wedding song." A chorus of "awws" from the crowd. FLOTUS continued, that Wonder's music has been connecting with fellow artists and fans for 40 years, adding that he recently performed with the Jonas Brothers, "thrilling a new generation of young girls, including our own." President Obama called Stevie Wonder's music "the soundtrack of my youth," saying he found in it "peace and inspiration, especially in difficult times." He then mirrored his wife's comments, saying: "I think it's fair to say that had I not been a Stevie Wonder fan, Michelle might not have dated me. We might not have married. The fact that we agreed on Stevie was part of the essence of our courtship."
The award was presented, and after a long ovation, Wonder spoke. "President and Mrs. Obama, I'm so excited to know that I was a part of" - he said, pausing for some laughter from the audience. "I needn't say more." POTUS, standing to Wonder's left, sported a broad smile, and then looked down to his wife in the front row. Wonder thanked his friends and family, and said he accepted the award for his mother. If she were here, Wonder said, "She'd say, 'Let me give him a peach cobbler.'" Wonder then spoke of his excitement over the president who honored him tonight, saying that through him "America has a chance to again live up to the greatness that it deserves to be seen and known as." He closed by saying that he looked forward to the president being able to unite the world, "so that in my lifetime I can write some more songs about love, about unity, and real songs of passion." And then he added: "You know, maybe I'll be a part of creating some more of those babies." The audience roared with laughter and applause.
The event was to award the 2nd annual Gershwin Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Library of Congress. The first award was given to Paul Simon. Some of the other people in attendance included; People from the Berklee School of Music, (that is my old hunting grounds by the way) Jeffrey Kimpton from Interlochen in Michigan, the president of Juilliard, the head of the Grammy's foundation, a number of creative arts and music conservatory teachers and students, and folks from music programs via the DC public schools, including the woman who runs Duke Ellington in NW.
What is more exciting to me is that this event is an extension of the continuing plan by the Obamas to open the White House to the greater community, and bring different artistics groups together.
Others performers for the event include: Kathleen Battle, Tony Bennett, Wayne Brady, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, Diana Krall, Mary Mary, Martina McBride, Paul Simon, Esperanza Spalding, and Will.i.am.
Some words from our First Lady at the event:
"Good evening everyone, and welcome to PBS' "In Performance At The White House.' Tonight it is a huge thrill for me as we honor a man whose music and lyrics I fell in love with when I was a little girl. The first album I ever bought was Steve Wonder's 'Talking Book.' I'd go to my grandfather's, because he was a real music junkie. He'd blast music throughout the house. And that's where he and I would sit and listen to Stevie's music together. Songs about life, love, romance, heartache, despair. He would let me listen to these songs over and over and over and over again. "And then there was the album cover, a first that was in Braille. Years later, I discovered what Stevie meant when he sang about love. Barack and I chose the song, 'You and I' as our wedding song. For nearly 40 years, Stevie's music and powerful lyrics have inspired his fellow artists and connected with generations of fans. And he's still connecting, even today. He recently performed with the Jonas Brothers, thrilling a new generation of young girls, including our own.
"So it is with tremendous pride and delight that I now introduce one of the world's greatest artists, and one of my favorite people in the whole wide world, Stevie Wonder - in performance at the White House."
President Obama later went on to say:
"Stevie has always drawn on the incredible range of traditions in his music. From them he's created a sound that at once uniquely American, uniquely his own, and yet somehow universal. Indeed, this could be called the American tradition - artists demonstrating the courage and talent to find new harmonies in the rich and dissonant sounds of the American experience." "Tonight's prize is also personal for me. As Stevie knows, I'm a huge fan. And he has been a great supporter. When I was first discovering music, just like Michelle, it was Stevie's albums that I found and his songs became the soundtrack of my youth. Through them I found peace and inspiration, especially in difficult times. And I think it's fair to say that had I not been a Stevie Wonder fan, Michelle might not have dated me. We might not have married. The fact that we agreed on Stevie was part of the essence of our courtship. "And I'm not alone. Millions of people around the world have found similar comfort and joy in Stevie's music, and his unique capacity to find hope in struggle, and humanity in our common hardships. This gift that music affords us, transporting us from the here and now, relieving us of our burdens, even if it's just for the length of a song. And this gift given to us by artists like Stevie is something we can all share.
The words of Stevie Wonder echo the feelings that so many of us have for what has come to pass in this great country of ours:
"But what's really exciting for me today is that we truly have lived to see a time where America has a chance to again live up to the greatness that it deserves to be seen and known as, through the love and the caring and the commitment of a president, as in our president, Barack Obama. [APPLAUSE] It's exciting 'cause I know my children will be able to say, 'I was born when there was the first African American president. Yeah, I can do that too!' But not only can they do that, but all children of all various ethnicities understand that they can speak in truth. They can talk about loving and caring about this country. They can talk about being a united people of the United States of America. They can live that dream that Dr. King talked about so long ago. And if those in this country and throughout the world - you can put down your spirits of hate and open up your hearts to receive God's ever commitment of love, then we can be a united people of the world. If we can think that big, and feel that strong, then I believe, as is said to me by my God, impossible is unacceptable. We don't know the miracles that will be bestown on us because of that.
Miracles indeed. Knowing how far we have come, knowing how much farther we have to go, will be made a bit easier with Music and Arts back in the 'People's House'.
The greatness of the American people can be sustained when we remember who we are, and our music can lift us up in times like these.
There are no videos available of the event yet. So instead I offer up one of my own favorite videos of Stevie Wonder. God bless him for what he has given our nation over all of the years of his life.
Cheers !!!!
Cheers !!!!!