President Barack Obama speaks during the introduction of “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House”, which celebrated Black History Month and the legacy of Motown Records and its founder Berry Gordy.
The President said he couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate Black History Month than to celebrate Motown, which was born in the basement of a house on West Grand Boulevard in the Motor City, noting Gordy’s ability to turn new talent into stars: “Soon the basement was turning out hits faster than Detroit was turning out cars.”
The event featured performances from Jamie Foxx, Ledisi, John Legend, Amber Riley, Seal, Jordin Sparks and more, including legends Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder, who joked he was only there to watch but felt compelled to perform “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” before everybody jumped to their feet for “Dancing in the Street”.
The opening medley with Jamie, John, Seal and Nick Jonas, is featured below. You can catch the full event when it airs Tuesday, March 1, on PBS. Check your local listings for times.
Lol, Nick J was gettin it! I was laughing the whole time, but that was a nice performance, great job!
Yes very good performance. I can’t wait to see the whole show.
Lol @ Nick, niceee.
I love my President
That was a fun performance. Nick and John did their thing. Though I love Seals voice he seemed a tad odd out to me.
Lol. Nick J can’t dance, but I still love him
He sounded really good!!!
Jamie was on 10! LOL. John Legend did his thang. I wanted to see Amber Riley. Where’s that clip?
John Legend is so damn good. His voice is like butter wihtout the transfats. I love me some him!
That’s was kool everybody did a great job I especially liked John Legend, Jamie, and Nick Jonas. I can’t wait to see that Tuesday.
VERY PROUD OF MY BLACK PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY. EVERY TIME I LOOK AT THIS INTELLIGENT COUPLE IT GIVES ME HOPE FOR OUR PEOPLE. I KNOW OUR SOCIETY IS FLOODED WITH ALL OF THE NEGATIVITY AND IGNORANCE OF BLACK PEOPLE, BUT YOU DO HAVE MANY OF US WHO ARE INTELLIGENT SMART FUTURE LEADERS OF THE WORLD. I JUST WISH THEY WOULD SHOW MORE OF THAT SIDE INSTEAD OF IGNORANT SOUTHERN RAPPERS, BLACK WOMEN SHAKING THEIR AZZ, AND SO ON.