    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [June 17, 2008]
    [Pages 838-840]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Reception for Black Music Month
    June 17, 2008

        Thanks for coming. Please be seated. Thank you. Welcome to the White
    House. I really appreciate you coming to celebrate Black Music Month.
    Music has been a part of this house since its beginning. Some of our
    Presidents themselves were skilled musicians; some were not. [Laughter]
    As a matter of fact, after the Temptations
    came here a couple of months ago, I was so
    inspired that I thought I would take up singing. [Laughter] Laura said, ``You might just stick with practicing your
    speaking.'' [Laughter] So thanks for giving me a chance to do it today.
    And thanks for coming. We're going to have a pretty special day here at
    the White House.
        I want to thank my friend Alphonso Jackson and Marcia. It's good to see
    you. Appreciate you being here.
        Rod Paige, former Secretary of the
    Education, celebrating his 75th birthday today. Yes. You're looking
    good, Rodney.
        Dr. Dorothy Height--honored you're
    here, Dr. Height. Proud to be with you. Roslyn Brock, vice chairman of the NAACP--Roslyn--yes, good to
    see you, Roslyn. Thanks for coming. Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, proud to
    have you here, Marc. Thanks for coming.
        John Styll, president and CEO of the
    Gospel Music Association--thanks, John. Dr. Bobby Jones, television host--where are you, Bobby? There you are,
    Bobby. Dyana Williams, cofounder and
    president of the International Association of African American Music--
    Dyana, thank you for coming--and everybody else. [Laughter]
        As we honor black music in America, our thoughts turn to one of its
    legends, Bo Diddley. Bo was one of the pioneers
    of rock and roll. And during his more than five decades as a singer,
    songwriter, and performer, he changed the face of music; he really did.
    We mourn his loss, yet we know this: that his memory will live on the
    songs and the joy he brought to millions, including a little fellow like
    me. So

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    all of us here today send our thoughts and prayers to Bo Diddley's
    family.
        Over the years, the White House has been home to many memorable
    events in black music. I suspect that 30 years from now, when a
    President is speaking, he's going to say, this is going to be one of the
    memorable events. In 1882, President Chester A. Arthur invited to the
    White House the first black choir ever to perform here, the Jubilee
    Singers from Fisk University in Tennessee. Of course, during those days
    they had trouble finding a place to stay. But they were welcomed warmly
    here at the White House, just like everybody here is welcomed warmly at
    the White House. Their music was so powerful that it moved President
    Arthur to tears.
        In the ensuing decades, other Presidents followed this example,
    recognizing the contributions of black musicians when many other
    Americans would not. Benjamin Harrison welcomed the daughter of a former
    slave, an opera singer named Sissieretta Jones. President Franklin
    Roosevelt called on the talented Maria [Marian] * Anderson to sing ``Ave
    Maria'' for the King and Queen of England.
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        * White House correction.
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        In 1979, President Jimmy Carter
    welcomed the legendary Chuck Berry in his first
    official celebration of Black Music Month at the White House. Ever the
    performer, Chuck Berry changed the lyrics in one of his famous songs
    from ``Oh Carol'' to ``Oh Amy,'' in honor of
    the little girl sitting on the White House lawn. The day's finale came
    when the entire audience rose to its feet, swaying and clapping to the
    gospel song ``Jesus is the Answer.''
        For this year's Black Music Month, we return to the theme of gospel
    music. The gospel music tradition was born from great pain. Slaves sang
    spirituals to communicate with one another in the fields, and songs of
    faith helped black Americans endure the injustice of segregation. Today,
    gospel is more than an anchor for black culture and history; it's a
    source of inspiration for the whole Nation.
        Gospel has influenced some of the legends of other forms of American
    music. Louis Armstrong once said that when he sang in church, his heart
    went into every song. Aretha Franklin wowed
    crowds in her dad's church in Detroit. Elvis Presley listened to gospel
    music after rock concerts to calm his mind. And Bob Dylan won a Grammy for his song--for his album of gospel hymns.
        Today, gospel music continues to provide strength for our
    communities, and it is making the ``good news'' sound sweeter than ever.
    I know you're looking forward to three great gospel performers we have
    in store. So I'd like to now turn the podium over to the founder of
    Gospel Today magazine, our outstanding emcee
    this evening, Teresa Hairston.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:01 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to former Secretary of Housing and
    Urban Development Alphonso R. Jackson and his wife Marcia; civil rights
    leader Dorothy I. Height; and Amy Lynn Carter, daughter of former
    President Jimmy Carter. The Black Music Month proclamation of May 30 is
    listed in Appendix D at the end of this volume.

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