Jazz in the White House

Source: ALL ABOUT JAZZ
May 7, 2008
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Who Let Them In!

Even though jazz was highly popular in the 1920's and 1930's in the U. Street area in D.C., the earliest performance of jazz in the White House did not occur until November 19, 1962. This first performance was during a children's program in the East Room by the Paul Winter Jazz Sextet.

Since the Kennedy administration, most Presidents have increasingly used jazz as a White House entertainment staple. During the Johnson administration, Pearl Bailey became the first jazz performer in the White House to appear before an adult audience. Later, President Gerald Ford established jazz performances as a unique form of American entertainment for state dignitaries.

Jimmy Carter's administration was responsible for creating the first large-scale jazz production on the White House's South Lawn. This event, which marked the 25th Anniversary of the Newport Jazz festival, included 800 guests and over 50 jazz musicians.

Although jazz had been an important American art form for more than half a century, President Carter's public identification of jazz was deeply significant.

In 2004, President George W. Bush recognized the National Endowment for the Arts' Jazz Masters program in a celebration of Black Music Month. A concert, A Salute to NEA Jazz Masters, took place in the East Room of the White House and featured three NEA Jazz Masters and six young musicians. Those Jazz Masters were pianist Dr. Billy Taylor performing with his trio; drummer, Chico Hamilton; and saxophonist, James Moody. The student musicians are part of Jazz and a New Generation, a program conceived and directed by Dr. Taylor and presented by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Education Department.

In his remarks President Bush noted, “These performers and many others carried forward the tradition of black music in our country. We take great pride in this heritage. We're grateful to every musician who keeps that heritage so rich and so vital today."

NEA Chairman Dana Gioia noted the “joy, wisdom and consolation" that jazz offers and its “testament to the power of art to speak across cultures." In closing remarks First Lady Laura Bush spoke of the importance of music in one's life and that we celebrate jazz as a uniquely American art form.

Members of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band performed on the tarmac at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport Monday, April 21, 2008, offering a musical welcome for North American leaders President George W. Bush, Mexico President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper at their arrivals to attend the 2008 North American Leaders' Summit.

Below is a list of jazz artists who have appeared at the White House.

John F. Kennedy 1961-1963

Paul Winter Jazz Sextet

Lyndon B. Johnson 1963-1969

Sarah Vaughan

Richard Nixon 1969-1974

Pearl Bailey
Duke Ellington

Gerald Ford 1974-1977

Pearl Bailey
Ella Fitzgerald
Earl Hines
Harry James
New England Conservatory Ragtime Ensemble, Gunther Schuller, Director George Shearing
Billy Taylor
The World's Greates Jazz Band with Yank Lawson and Bob Haggart

James Carter 1977-1981

Invited to the 25th anniversary celebration of the Newport Jazz Festival , 6/18/78 (*Indicates performers at the Anniversary Festival Celebration)

Eubie Blake *
Ornette Coleman*
Mary Lou Williams*
Stan Getz*
Dizzy Gillespie*
Lionel Hampton*
Herbie Hancock*
Papa Joe Jones*
Katherine Handy Lewis*
Max Roach*
Sonny Rollins*
Cecil Taylor*
Cecil Taylor*
Clark Terry*
Ray Brown
Benny Carter
'Lil Jazz Eldridge
Dexter Gordon
Milt Hinton
John Lewis
Charles Mingus
Gerry Mulligan
George Russell
Billy Taylor
McCoy Tyner
Teddy Wilson