Women of Soul rock the White House

buzzz worthy. . .



Musical veterans and and future vetrans united in the Performance at the White House series, Women of Soul on March 6.    Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Melissa Etheridge, Tessanne Chin, Jill Scott, Janelle Monáe and Ariana Grande were all placed in the spotlight, 

President Obama noted ha soul music was rooted in the church, where many R&B performers got their start:

"For many of the performers here tonight, it all began on Sunday morning.  Growing up in Detroit, Aretha sang at her father’s church, and recorded her first album at that church when she was just 14 years old.  Patti LaBelle was painfully shy -- I cannot believe that, but this is what I’ve been told --(laughter) -- until she sang a solo in front of the congregation, and got a standing ovation.  That’s when she realized she could do something special. 

Eventually, artists like Aretha and Patti began mixing gospel with R&B, and rock and pop.  Instead of singing about love and pain, forgiveness and acceptance to a church audience, they sang about them to the world.  And the world had never heard anything like it."

"Women in Soul" will air on OBS on April 7.  Check your local listing for airing times.