White House Memphis Soul night: Justin Timberlake, Alabama Shakes, Ben Harper, Queen Latifah, Cyndi Lauper, Charlie Musselwhite, Mavis Staples

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the First Lady

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 8, 2013

UPDATED GUIDANCE ON “IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE: MEMPHIS SOUL”

Event includes Evening Performances and Daytime Student Workshop

Honoring Memphis Soul Sound

Tuesday, April 9 * White House – As part of their “In Performance at the White House” series, the President and First Lady will invite music legends and contemporary major artists to the White House for a celebration of Memphis Soul music. The program will include performances by Alabama Shakes, William Bell, Steve Cropper, Eddie Floyd, Ben Harper, Queen Latifah, Cyndi Lauper, Joshua Ledet, Sam Moore, Charlie Musselwhite, Mavis Staples and Justin Timberlake, with Booker T. Jones as music director and band leader. The President’s remarks will be pooled press and the entire event will be streamed live on www.whitehouse.gov/live starting at 6:55 PM ET. “In Performance at the White House: Memphis Soul” will be broadcast Tuesday, April 16 at 8 PM ET on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings). The program will also be broadcast at a later date via the American Forces Network to American service men and women and civilians at U.S. Department of Defense locations around the world.

As she has done with previous White House music events, the First Lady will host a special daytime event for students. The First Lady will welcome 120 middle and high school students from across the country to take part in an interactive student workshop event: “Soulsville, USA: The History of Memphis Soul.” Beginning at 11:00 AM in the State Dining Room, Robert Santelli, Executive Director of The GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles, will lead the students in an overview of the origins of Memphis Soul, discuss important artists from throughout its history, and explore the elements of soul and gospel that helped contribute to the genre’s unique sound. Ben Harper, Charlie Musselwhite, Mavis Staples, Sam Moore and Justin Timberlake will share their experiences as well as answer student questions about the music and entertainment world. Students from 16 schools and organizations from the following ten communities will participate: Herndon, Virginia; Los Angeles and Oakland, California; Memphis, Tennessee; New York, New York; Sandy Spring, Maryland; Seminole, Tampa; Tarpon Springs, Florida; and Washington, D.C.

The workshop, “Soulsville, USA: The History of Memphis Soul,” will stream live on www.whitehouse.gov/live. This event will be open press, but the deadline to RSVP has passed.

“In Performance at the White House: Memphis Soul” will be the tenth “In Performance at the White House” program hosted by the President and Mrs. Obama. Starting in February 2009, these events have honored the musical genius of Stevie Wonder, Sir Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach and Hal David; celebrated Hispanic musical heritage during Hispanic Heritage Month; marked Black History Month with events featuring music from the Civil Rights Movement, Motown and the Blues; spotlighted Broadway and the unique spirit of the American musical; and explored the rich roots and resiliency of Country Music.

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