[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 24 (Monday, June 23, 2008)]
[Pages 870-871]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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.

[[Page 871]]

    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 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 Sisseretta Jones. President Franklin 
Roosevelt called on the talented Maria [Marian] * Anderson to sing ``Ave 
Maria'' for the King and Queen of England.
    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.''
    * White House correction.
    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.