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| B.B. King, Booker T. invited to White House blues event Feb. 21 Longtime Memphis music legends B.B. King and Booker T. Jones are going to the White House. Jones, King, guitarist Jeff Beck, Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and blues guitarist/vocalist Keb' Mo' are among A-list artists who will perform Feb. 21 at the White House to celebrate blues music and recognize Black History Month. Jones will be music director and bandleader. The program, called "In Performance at the White House: Red, White and Blues, " will be streamed live on the White House web site, whitehouse.gov/live. It will also be broadcast at 8 p.m. CST on Feb. 27 on PBS stations. The American Forces Network will broadcast the program later. President Barack Obama will deliver remarks at the event, which will be hosted by Taraji P. Henson. Obama and his wife, Michelle, have opened the White House to a number of "In Performance" programs that have showcased Hispanic, Broadway and country music, among others. The press release from PBS said: "'In Performance at the White House: Red, White and Blues' will honor the musical form that sprang from the Mississippi Delta and flourished in the Westside of Chicago with deep roots in Africa and slavery. The performances will explore those roots and pay homage to the great figures of the Blues and the songs they made famous by tracing the influence of the Blues on modern American music from soul to rock 'n' roll." Also scheduled to perform are Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews; guitarist and actor Gary Clark Jr.; singer Shemekia Copeland; singer/guitarist Buddy Guy; singer, songwriter and guitarist Warren Haynes; singer Susan Tedeschi; and singer/guitarist Derek Trucks. write your comments about the article :: © 2012 Jazz News :: home page |