In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement

“In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” is a concert in the White House East Room that WETA will produce. President and Mrs. Obama will host the event in honor of Black History Month. The evening will be taped live by WETA Washington, D.C. on February 9 and air on February 11 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings). The music special, part of the WETA “In Performance at the White House” series, will include Yolanda Adams, Joan Baez, Natalie Cole, Bob Dylan, Jennifer Hudson, John Mellencamp, Smokey Robinson, the Blind Boys of Alabama, the Howard University Choir and The Freedom Singers, featuring Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, Rutha Harris, Charles Neblett and Toshi Reagon. Morgan Freeman will serve as guest speakers.

Due to inclement weather, the following artists, originally announced for the show, were not able to participate: Robert De Niro, Queen Latifah, John Legend, Seal and Joanne Woodward

Press Releases

Additional Information

Images

  • IPWH-02CivilRights-ConcertDylan

    IPWH-02CivilRights-ConcertDylan

    Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

    Bob Dylan performs during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.

     

  • IPWH-09CivilRights-ConcertFreedomSingers

    IPWH-09CivilRights-ConcertFreedomSingers

    Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton

    The Freedom Singers perform during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.  From left to right: Toshi Reagon and three original members of The Freedom Singers, Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, Charles Neblett and Rutha Harris.

  • IPWH-04CivilRights-ConcertAdams

    IPWH-04CivilRights-ConcertAdams

    Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton

    Yolanda Adams sings during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.

  • IPWH-05CivilRights-ConcertCole

    IPWH-05CivilRights-ConcertCole

    Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton

    Natalie Cole sings during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.

  • IPWH-01CivilRights-ConcertObama

    IPWH-01CivilRights-ConcertObama

    Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

    President Barack Obama makes remarks during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.

  • IPWH-06CivilRights-ConcertBaez

    IPWH-06CivilRights-ConcertBaez

    Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton

    Joan Baez performs during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.

  • IPWH-07CivilRights-ConcertFreeman

    IPWH-07CivilRights-ConcertFreeman

    Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton

    Morgan Freeman speaks during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.

  • IPWH-08CivilRights-Concert-Smokey-Hudson

    IPWH-08CivilRights-Concert-Smokey-Hudson

    Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

    Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson sing during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.

  • IPWH-11CivilRights-ConcertBlindBoys

    IPWH-11CivilRights-ConcertBlindBoys

    Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

    The Blind Boys of Alabama sing during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.

  • IPWH-12CivilRights-ConcertHowardChoir

    IPWH-12CivilRights-ConcertHowardChoir

    Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton

    The Howard University Choir sings during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.

  • IPWH-11CivilRights-ConcertBlindBoys

    IPWH-11CivilRights-ConcertBlindBoys

    Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

    The Blind Boys of Alabama sing during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.