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Civil Rights songs at the White House Feb 9

10 Feb 10 - 08:34 PM (#2835633)
Subject: Civil Rights songs at the White House Fe
From: GUEST,Pauline L

President Obama had a White House concert celebrating songs of the 60's, with an emphasis on civil rights songs, on Feb. 9, 2010. I've scoured the Internet for a recording or video of that concert, but I haven't found it. Can any one help me?


10 Feb 10 - 09:08 PM (#2835653)
Subject: RE: Civil Rights songs at the White House Feb 9
From: katlaughing

You can download the video at the official White HOuse site HERE

Here's the official blog blurb about it:

Posted by Kori Schulman on February 9, 2010 at 2:51 PM EST

[Ed. Note: This event was moved to today due to tomorrow's weather forecast]

Today marks the beginning of the 2010 White House music series with "In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement" - a concert celebrating Black History month.

At 3pm EST today, the White House will host a "Music that Inspired the Movement" workshop for high school students from across the country. Robert Santelli, the executive director of The GRAMMY Museum, and Smokey Robinson, the legendary Motown singer, will facilitate the workshop with performances by Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, one of the original Freedom Singers in the 1960s who traveled around the country carrying stories in song of local Civil Rights Movement campaigns to national audiences.

Tonight the President and First Lady will host the "In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement" concert, featuring songs from the Civil Rights Movement as well as readings from famous Civil Rights speeches and writings with participants including Bob Dylan, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and more.


10 Feb 10 - 09:22 PM (#2835666)
Subject: RE: Civil Rights songs at the White House Feb 9
From: GUEST,999

There was a guy who tried to sneak a cell phone in to bootleg the concert. He's in Guantanamo today, unable to get the pics out.


Thanks for posting that, Kat.


10 Feb 10 - 09:36 PM (#2835685)
Subject: RE: Civil Rights songs at the White House Feb 9
From: GUEST,999

I was kidding about the Guantanamo thing.


10 Feb 10 - 09:41 PM (#2835693)
Subject: RE: Civil Rights songs at the White House Feb 9
From: EnglishFolkfan

The link above only seems to give the video of the president's opening speech, just over 4 mins long.

I watched the concert via the PBS stream (was on from just past 1 am to 2.15 am here in UK) with the FB chat although there were only about 7 people on that general talk link. Joan Baez & Bob Dylan only sang one song each and didn't duo or come back on stage for the final song from what I could see. Dylan looked a bit uncomfortable at the end of his song & I guess as the concert was pulled forward by a day there hadn't been much rehearsal/sound checking time. Morgan Freeman was relaxed as the main MC. @joanbaez had tweeted when she was on her way to Washington.

I can't find the full concert up online yet, maybe PBS will be putting it up online after editing the between songs stage rearranging breaks.


10 Feb 10 - 10:14 PM (#2835718)
Subject: RE: Civil Rights songs at the White House Feb 9
From: katlaughing

I hope they do. Sorry I didn't notice that was just The President's intro. I wonder if they couldn't archive it due to copyrights of the individual artists.


11 Feb 10 - 01:23 AM (#2835778)
Subject: RE: Civil Rights songs at the White House Feb 9
From: Pauline L

Katlaughing, I saw the video with Obama, too. I kept waiting for him to stop talking and let the music begin, but it didn't happen. I hope PBS puts it up on the Web, and I hope they're not thwarted by copyright issues. I searched Youtube, but it isn't there (yet).


12 Feb 10 - 12:42 AM (#2836799)
Subject: RE: Civil Rights songs at the White House Feb 9
From: nager

There was footage of it on the News here in Australia - sadly all it featured was the president and no performers.


12 Feb 10 - 03:57 AM (#2836855)
Subject: RE: Civil Rights songs at the White House Feb 9
From: Pauline L

I found a lot of the concert on Youtube, sponsored by PBS. Here are links to Joan Baez singing "We Shall Overcome",Jennifer and Smokey Robinson singing "People Get Ready", Yolanda Adams singing "A Change is Gonna Come", Natalie Cole singing "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free", the Howard University Choir singing "Lord, I Don' Done," and Bob Dylan singing "The Times They Are A Changin'". Joan Baez's voice is not as young as it was back in the 60s, but younger voices, including those of Natalie Cole and the Howard University Choir, carry it on. I find them all very moving.


12 Feb 10 - 10:05 PM (#2837807)
Subject: RE: Civil Rights songs at the White House Feb 9
From: nager

Thanks Pauline I am listening to Bob Dylan singing now!! Wonderful..
Paul


12 Feb 10 - 11:38 PM (#2837839)
Subject: RE: Civil Rights songs at the White House Feb 9
From: katlaughing

Thanks, Pauline!


13 Feb 10 - 11:36 AM (#2838162)
Subject: RE: Civil Rights songs at the White House Feb 9
From: Desert Dancer

Also available via NPR: here.

~ Becky in Tucson


13 Feb 10 - 11:55 AM (#2838186)
Subject: RE: Civil Rights songs at the White House Feb 9
From: Charley Noble

Thanks for posting the links above.

Charley Noble


13 Feb 10 - 08:47 PM (#2838568)
Subject: RE: Civil Rights songs at the White House Feb 9
From: GUEST,pattyClink

Watch the Yolanda Adams clip! She is amazing.


13 Feb 10 - 09:25 PM (#2838587)
Subject: RE: Civil Rights songs at the White House Feb 9
From: Bobert

Thanks... Good stuff...

B~