The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House

A PBS music special in the East Room of the White House.  President and Mrs. Obama hosted the event on Thursday, February 24 in celebration of Black History Month and the legacy of Motown, the distinctive soul-infused pop music sound, style and presentation that was born in Detroit and embodied by the Motown Records label.  The evening included program host Jamie Foxx and performances by Foxx, Natasha Bedingfield, Sheryl Crow, the group Gloriana, Nick Jonas, Ledisi, John Legend, Amber Riley, Smokey Robinson, Mark Salling, Seal and Jordin Sparks.  (Program subject to change.)  The sixty-minute television special, part of the Emmy Award-nominated PBS “In Performance at the White House” series, will premiere Tuesday, March 1 at 8 p.m. ET on WETA Television and PBS stations nationwide.  (Check local listings.)

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  • IPWH-Motown-Concert-MedleyWomen

    IPWH-Motown-Concert-MedleyWomen

    Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy.

    Natasha Bedingfield, Jordin Sparks, and Ledisi perform in the East Room at “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House,” a concert celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of Motown Records.  Taped February 24, 2011; broadcasts March 1 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide.

  • IPWH-Motown-Concert-Legend

    IPWH-Motown-Concert-Legend

    Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy.

    John Legend performs in the East Room at “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House,” a concert celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of Motown Records.  Taped February 24, 2011; broadcasts March 1 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide.

  • IPWH-Motown-Concert-RobinsonCrow

    IPWH-Motown-Concert-RobinsonCrow

    Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy.

    Smokey Robinson and Sheryl Crow perform  in the East Room at “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House,” a concert celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of Motown Records.  Taped February 24, 2011; broadcasts March 1 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide.

  • IPWH-Motown-Concert-Seal

    IPWH-Motown-Concert-Seal

    Official White House Photo by Pete Souza.

    Stevie Wonder  performs in the East Room at “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House,” a concert celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of Motown Records.  Taped February 24, 2011; broadcasts March 1 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide.

  • IPWH-Motown-Concert-Riley

    IPWH-Motown-Concert-Riley

    Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy.

    Amber Riley performs in the East Room at “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House,” a concert celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of Motown Records.  Taped February 24, 2011; broadcasts March 1 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide.

  • IPWH-Motown-Concert-Salling

    IPWH-Motown-Concert-Salling

    Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy.

    Mark Salling performs in the East Room at “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House,” a concert celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of Motown Records.  Taped February 24, 2011; broadcasts March 1 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide.

  • IPWH-Motown-Concert-Wonder

    IPWH-Motown-Concert-Wonder

    Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy.

    Stevie Wonder  performs in the East Room at “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House,” a concert celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of Motown Records.  Taped February 24, 2011; broadcasts March 1 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide.

  • IPWH-Motown-Concert-Ledisi

    IPWH-Motown-Concert-Ledisi

    Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy.

    Ledisi performs in the East Room at “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House,” a concert celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of Motown Records.  Taped February 24, 2011; broadcasts March 1 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide.

  • IPWH-Motown-Concert-Obama

    IPWH-Motown-Concert-Obama

    Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy.

    President Barack Obama makes remarks in the East Room during “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House,” a concert celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of Motown Records.  Taped February 24, 2011; broadcasts March 1 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide.

  • IPWH-Motown-Concert-NickJonas

    IPWH-Motown-Concert-NickJonas

    Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy.

    Nick Jonas performs in the East Room at “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House,” a concert celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of Motown Records.  Taped February 24, 2011; broadcasts March 1 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide.

  • IPWH-Motown-Concert-Gloriana

    IPWH-Motown-Concert-Gloriana

    Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy.

    Gloriana (Tom Gossin, Mike Gossin, Rachel Reinert and Cheyenne Kimball) perform in the East Room at “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House,” a concert celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of Motown Records.  Taped February 24, 2011; broadcasts March 1 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide.

  • IPWH-Motown-Concert-MedleyMen

    IPWH-Motown-Concert-MedleyMen

    Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy.

    Jamie Foxx, Nick Jonas, Seal and John Legend perform in the East Room at “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House,” a concert celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of Motown Records. Taped February 24, 2011; broadcasts March 1 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide.

  • IPWH-Motown-Concert-Finale

    IPWH-Motown-Concert-Finale

    Official White House Photo by Pete Souza.

    Berry Gordy joins in the finale at in the East Room at “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House,” a concert celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of Motown Records. Taped February 24, 2011; broadcasts March 1 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide.