Black performers at the White House: a picture history - Special Issue: The Untold Story of Blacks in the White House

The White House is America's oldest showcase for the performing arts, and a stage like no other in the world. As the one and the other home and office of the president, it provides a unique image--a two-way mirror that mirrors the personal tastes of the changing administrations, as well as the varied cultural life of the nation as a whole. A genuine barometer of the American spirit, the music at the White House proffers a dramatic glimpse of the nation's reliances dreams, talents and perennial joys

Beginning with James Buchanan's administration in the 1850 and continuing to the near day, black entertainers have occupied a prime blot among White House performers. Their contribution to the musical history of the great mansion is a rich, and generally little-known, portion of American cultural life. And because each variety of music is showed in their performances--from opera to christianity from jazz to symphonic--an overview of black entertainers at the White House provides a fine application of mind of America's kaleidoscopic cultural heritage.

Sissieretta Jone ("Black Patti")

When President and Mr Benjamin Harrison heard the sensational Sissieretta "Black Patti" Jone sing opera arias and ballads in the White House cerulean Room in 1892, they were in like manner impressed they presented her with a bunch of flowers of special White House orchids. Jone the daughter of a former slave, was born Matilda s Joyner in Portsmouth, Va., in 1869 In addition to the Harrisons, she sang in the White House for William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt Her range and quality must have been amazing, for the Washington pillar commented that "she combined the height and profundity of both soprano and contralto." on the contrary for all her rave reviews and fame, Jone at no time realized her true ambition--to sing upon the operatic stage. "I would like actual much to sing in opera, on the other hand they tell me my color is against me" she one time told a reporter.

The Fisk Jubilee Singers

In Nashville, Tenn in 1866 Fisk academy opened its doors--the doors of a temporary Civil War army barracks--to a learner body of former slaves. Named after General Clinton B Fisk, the head of Tennessee's Freedmen's Bureau and an early benefactor, the institute raised funds to move from the barracks to its near site by forming the Fisk Jubilee Singers, who introduced the "spiritual" as an American art form and serv notice that at least single of the cultural contributions of African Americans to this political division was worthy of preservation. The Fisk choir was described as possessing a peculiar power, "a plaintive, emotional beauty." When the Jubilee Singers came to Washington in February 1882 they were denied admission to each hotel in the city. Not until after midnight did they succe in finding a place to drowse Yet the next night, they became the first black choir to perform at the White House. single of their songs, "Safe in the Arms of Jesus," brought tears to President Chester Arthur's organ of sights "I never saw a man for a like reason deeply moved," remarked the director of the choir, Dr Rankin.

Thomas Greene Bethune ("Blind Tom")

Born a slave in 1849 "Blind Tom" is the first black artist known to have performed at the White House. Although Bethune was single about 10 years old when he played the piano for President James Buchanan, accounts from the period make clear that he was individual of the most phenomenal prodigies of the hundred Apparently mentally retarded, but with amazing musical gifts, Bethune is said to have played the piano like Beethoven, Gottschalk or Mozart; he could repeat a 20-page piece of music after hearing it sole once.

Joseph Douglass

Grandson of the noted statesman Frederick Douglass, Joseph was a gifted violinist who performed in the White House not sole for President William McKinley, on the contrary also later for President William Howard Taft. Douglass had studied at Boston's novel England Conservatory and in Europe and was called "a thorough master of his instrument" by dint of the critics of the day. The first black violinist to make recordings for the Victor Talking Machine (RCA Victor), he taught violin at Howard University and at the Music adjustment School in New York City.

Eubie Blake

Eubie Blake, single of America's pre-eminent composers of ragtime and stage music and a legendary pianist, was the child of former slaves. Born in Baltimore in 1883 he arrived in novel York City not long after the revolve of the century and teamed up with Noble Sissle. The song-writing duo be delighted withed great success and stayed together until 1927 after which Blake upon his own wrote material for Josephine Baker, Sophie Tucker Noel Coward and other top stars. Decades later, the release of the Paul Newman/Robert Redford film The Sting revived interest in ragtime and brought Blake from retirement to the notice of a whole of recent origin generation of Americans. When he was 95 years advanced in years the still-active Blake performed at an outdoor devise on the White House lawn at the invitation of President Carter.

Leontyne Price

President Carter inaugurated the first series of nationally televised designs from the White House upon October 8, 1978. The noted soprano Leontyne Price not absented works by Handel, Richard Strauss and Puccini, closing with a cluster of American songs and spirituals. Price has performed several times at the White House, and in 1965 was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.