[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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