OnTV
“In Performance at The White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement”
Where: PBS (check local listings)
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Info: pbs.org/inperformanceatthewhitehouse
Some of music’s biggest stars — including Smokey Robinson and John Legend — will appear on PBS tonight at 8 “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music From the Civil Rights Movement.” The gala special event concert, hosted by President and Mrs. Obama in honor of Black History Month, features songs, speeches and writings from the civil rights movement. The concert was taped in the East Room.
Among the headliners are singers Bob Dylan and former “American Idol” star and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson. Other performers include John Mellencamp, Joan Baez, Natalie Cole, the Blind Boys of Alabama, and the Howard University Choir and the Freedom Singers, featuring Bernice Johnson Reagon, Rutha Harris, Charles Neblett and Toshi Reagon.
In addition, the program features guest speakers Morgan Freeman, Robert DeNiro and Queen Latifah.
The concert was the latest music event hosted at the White House since the Obamas took residence. A year ago, a conga line formed when Earth, Wind and Fire performed for the nation’s governors. Stevie Wonder played a concert in the East Room. Marc Anthony took to the South Lawn for an evening of Latin music, and Foo Fighters played the Fourth of July party.
The first lady kicked off the White House Music Series last year with Jazz Studio, and since then she has hosted a celebration of country music, a Fiesta Latina and an evening of classical music. These events also included daytime educational workshops designed to educate and encourage young people to develop an interest in the arts community.
Tonight’s nationally televised concert is produced by Washington’s PBS affiliate WETA, the Grammy Museum, the National Black Programming Consortium and AEG Ehrlich Ventures. The owner of AEG, Philip Anschutz, also owns The Washington Examiner.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
