In Performance at the White House
PBS series of performances from the White House.
In Performance at the White House is a PBS television series that presents performances recorded at the White House, the residence of the president of the United States. The series began in 1978 during the presidency of Jimmy Carter, with an inaugural series of five hour-long programs recorded in the East Room. Notable for featuring a wide range of performers from ballet and classical music to popular entertainment, the series has continued across multiple administrations.
Quick Facts
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Network
- PBS
- First aired
- 1978
Facts from the source article.
Partial list of episodes
The 1982/83 season featured four episodes hosted by violinist Itzhak Perlman. In one episode, Perlman performed with pianist Ken Noda, playing Igor Stravinsky's Suite Italienne, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Fantasia in D minor, and Ballade No. 1 by Frédéric Chopin. A jazz episode included trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, saxophonist Stan Getz, and pianist Chick Corea, with singer Diane Schuur and trumpeter Jon Faddis also performing. Musical theatre performers Mary Martin and John Raitt sang songs from Broadway musicals on the White House lawn.
An episode titled "An Evening of Spirituals and Gospel Music" was hosted by Leontyne Price and recorded at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., with the Howard University choir, Lillias White, Kevette Cartledge, David Weatherspoon, and the Richard Smallwood Singers; President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy attended. Three episodes were titled "Tribute to American Music" and included Marvin Hamlisch, Liza Minnelli, and Vic Damone. Other episodes included "Savion Glover: Stomp, Slide and Swing", "CeCe Winans, Glorious Gospel", and "Fiesta Latina" which aired on October 15, 2009, featuring Marc Anthony, Jimmy Smits, Pete Escovedo, Gloria Estefan, José Feliciano, George Lopez, Thalía, Tito El Bambino, Aventura, and Los Lobos, with Sheila E. leading the house band.
The 2009 incarnation titled "Paul McCartney: The Gershwin Prize" aired on July 28, 2010, with performances by Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Dave Grohl, Herbie Hancock, Emmylou Harris, Faith Hill, Jonas Brothers, Lang Lang, Corinne Bailey Rae, Jack White, and Stevie Wonder. "Red, White and Blues" celebrated blues music for Black History Month with B.B. King, Jeff Beck, Gary Clark, Jr., Shemekia Copeland, Buddy Guy, Warren Haynes, Mick Jagger, Keb' Mo', Trombone Shorty, Susan Tedeschi, and Derek Trucks, hosted by Taraji P. Henson, with Booker T. Jones as bandleader and musical director.
More in 1980s American Music Television Series
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