Gospel artists “painted the White House black with praise” June 17 in the East Room. The occasion was the Salute to Gospel Music in observance of Black Music Month. Spensha Baker, Kurt Carr and the Kurt Carr Singers and Edwin and Walter Hawkins–all African Americans–were bestowed with the auspicious honor of entertaining President George W. Bush during his final term in office.
In a room filled with music executives and Washington luminaries, it was a “history” lesson and superior entertainment rolled into almost 2 inspiring hours.
President Bush began by remembering the recently fallen father of Rock and Roll, Bo Diddly.
“We mourn his loss, yet we know this — that his memory will live on in the songs and the joy he brought to millions — including a little fellow like me.”
In his welcome salutation Bush recognized America’s musical genesis and a past of injustice and segregation that fertilized its richness.
“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,” the President said noting their warm reception at the White House.
“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. Laura said, you might just stick with practicing your speaking," He joked about himself with his trademark snicker and grin.
But as he continued to highlight the White House’s historical rendezvous with Black Music (or musicians) he had a slip of the tongue that wasn’t funny and stressed his need to take his wife’s advice.
Bush adds, “President Franklin Roosevelt called on the talented Maria [sic] Anderson to sing "Ave Maria" for the King and Queen of England,” Bush erroneously stated.
The “Maria” he referred to was, of course, world famous opera contralto, Marian Anderson. An enormous speech writer’s oversight, this fact is more in context to Black Music Month as First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1939 when its members refused to allow Anderson to perform at Constitution Hall because she was Black. Mrs. Roosevelt arranged an outdoor concert where Anderson sang on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial before 75,000 people standing in the Lincoln Mall, a well-documented triumph in Black, American and Women’s history.
This faux pas tainted an otherwise sound and sincere speech that was in part written to mark Bush’s legacy as a president who embraced both music and diversity.
Theresa Hairston, founder of Gospel Today Magazine, emceed the event.
During the ceremony, the sole gospel artist on Geffen Records, Spensha Baker, 15, encouraged the leader of the free world to hold on, as she sang a song from her upcoming debut album.
In a surprise and noble gesture, Kurt Carr invited 89-year-old Narcissus to join him and his group on stage. Carr said she was a star singer in Connecticut where he was raised and the Lord placed it on his heart the day before the event to send for her because she’d never sang at the White House.
Her voice, a clone of the late, great Mahalia Jackson, singing “This Little Light of Mine” immediately engrossed the audience.
Kurt Carr and his singers performed a medley of “Kumbayah,” “For Every Mountian,””Presence of the Lord,” and the praise and worship banner that has been translated into nine languages, “Sanctuary.”
The final act, gospel legends Edwin and Walter Hawkins presented “Marvelous,” “Some Day We’ll All Be Together,” and their ground-breaking, over 30-year old favorite, “Oh Happy Day.” Pastor Marvin Sapp joined them on stage adding his soulful take to the classic.
Throughout the ceremony, the president lifted his hands, bopped his head and rocked to the beat of the music he said is making the Good News sound sweeter than ever.
Guests in attendance included: Mark Morial (President of the Urban League), Alphonso Jackson (who was celebrationg his 75th birthday), Dorothy Height, John Styll (Gospel Music Association President), Maurette Brown Clark, Armstrong Williams (radio talk show host), Neicy Tribbett (Gospel artist Tye Tribbett’s mother and manager), Verity/Zomba Gospel reps Tracey Artis and Kimberly Norsworthy, Dr. Bobby Jones, and Veda Brown among others.
-Written By: Mona Austin
