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Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind And Fire to Rock the White House

2/20/09, 10:55 am EST

Photo: Parry/WireImage

Washington, DC has a hot new music venue, and it’s Barack Obama’s White House. Stevie Wonder will be honored with performances by Will.i.am, Tony Bennett, Diana Krall and many more in the presidential mansion’s East Room for “Stevie Wonder in Performance at the White House: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize.” Obama himself will present Wonder with the Gershwin Award on February 25th. The one-hour special will air on PBS channels nationwide the following day, Billboard.com reports.

“If I had one musical hero, it would have to be Stevie Wonder,” Obama told Rolling Stone during a June 2008 interview. “When I was at that point where you start getting involved in music, Stevie had that run with Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Fulfillingness’ First Finale and Innervisions, and then Songs in the Key of Life. Those are as brilliant a set of five albums as we’ve ever seen.”

Another of Obama’s favorite artists will also play the White House’s East Room on February 22nd when Earth, Wind and Fire perform for U.S. Governors and guests in an event hosted by the Obamas. “I have pretty eclectic tastes. I grew up in the Seventies, so a lot of Seventies rhythm & blues and pop were staples for me: Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind and Fire, Elton John, Rolling Stones,” Obama said in the same interview.

Additionally, the Library of Congress offered Wonder a musical commission, which Wonder will perform at a recital on February 23rd at the Library’s Coolidge Auditorium. Stevie Wonder is the second recipient to receive the Gershwin Award, following Paul Simon getting the honor in 2007.

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The Inaugural Balls: Beyonce, The Dead, Fall Out Boy and More Rock Barack Obama’s Celebrations
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Inside Barack Obama’s iPod


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Comments

B-rad | 2/20/2009, 11:17 am EST

I just wish that RS would get off their knees and pull Obama’s pants back up for once. You guys are so one-sided. Not talking about this article, but just in general. Fortunatley i only come to you for music purposes, which even then isn’t always what its cracked up to be.

Roscoe | 2/20/2009, 12:31 pm EST

B-Rad,
Heard Obama is having a benefit concert for all his appointees who didn’t pay their taxes…..it’s being called “The Messiah’s Tax Ball” and I have thrown my bid in to handle the Kool- Aid concession.

Gandolph Fitch | 2/20/2009, 4:01 pm EST

More rancid, jealous, bitter wingnuts posting here. To them, I suggest a high colonic.

Stevie rules. Obama rules. Those are the rules. Now beat it, freepers.

John | 2/21/2009, 11:33 am EST

The wingnuts’ accusations of one sidedness are so true. After all, the truth is very one sided, and after 8 years of pathological lying, it’s refreshing to have some truth being spoken at the highest levels of power.

the back door deal | 2/23/2009, 12:34 am EST

Stevie is a back door kind of guy, and Obama promoting him for the buy american sale…..and then letting him advertise his wares all over national public televsion, is Obama letting Stevie advertise, once again, the composer’s versions of his own works, and Marc Rando is a composer and I do legally own all exclusive rights to most of the collection of recorded musical works, and Steive shouldn’t get any kind of award, he should get a swift kick in his royalty rich, fat a__az well az az yet……….I know my husband’s works and I know the works of politicians, and the only reason that they would advocate for this free commercial and the buy american is if they have some deal going with Stevie for a kick back……..

WHY IS IT THAT .... | 2/27/2009, 12:52 pm EST

you really think somebody’s listening and caring. It does not matter what you write here … life will move forward and you dummies will continue doing what you do all day … write in someone’s blog. If you don’t like it what’s being said, SO DIDLY WHAT!!!! You won’t change the world with you negative opinion.

asamasa | 3/1/2009, 4:39 pm EST

American music has sucked for a while now and awarding Stevie Wonder may help the situation. He is the most talented artists America has seen since Duke Ellington. It will be great when young American musicians are taught his songs in school. They wont learn them really easy. Those songs have 4 or 5 parts instead of the typical verse and chorus. Learning Stevie will make any musician a better musician.

CokayneWest | 3/1/2009, 7:25 pm EST

If you’re gonna paint the white house black, the least you can do is invite George Clinton

piracy | 3/10/2009, 11:10 am EST

President Obama arranging for Stevie to be plastered all over public television is President Obama arranging for a PIRATE, a liar and a thief to get some free advertising. It isn’t like the Obama’s don’t know that Stevie is a pirate, hell, I written to honorable law enforcement officers all over this country. As Hillary once said, so aptly put, “Shame on you!!!!” Now, if and when I get an attorney to file suit against Stevie for copyright infringement, mostly because he, Stevie, was the one who loved stealing Marc’s musical works the most, what’s that going to say about you???

Zcxxneok | 7/13/2009, 9:20 pm EST

8sx2Un

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