Podcast
The History of Wine and the White House
Featuring Frederick J. Ryan, author of “Wine and the White House: A History" and member of the White House Historical Association’s National Council on White House History
Music in the White House
Gallery
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The people in these portraits are members of the Hutchinson family. A singing group, for generations they sang about social issues and political causes. They entertained at President Lincoln's White House and, in various combinations, for six other presidents.
Library of Congress -
In this photograph, taken on April 26, 1929, musicians from the United States Indian Band perform for Vice President Charles Curtis on the steps of the United States Capitol Building. The band, which included representatives from 13 tribal nations, visited the Capitol to pay their respects to Curtis and Oklahoma Senator William Bliss Pine. Born in Kansas to a white father and Native American mother, and raised by his maternal grandparents, Curtis was the first person of Native American descent as well as the first person of color to serve as vice president. He served as vice president for President Herbert Hoover.
Library of Congress -
This is a photograph taken by National Park Service Photographer Abbie Rowe of crowds singing Christmas carols during the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on Christmas Eve 1944. The National Tree lighting ceremony started in 1923 during the Coolidge administration and has become a treasured tradition in Washington, D.C. Rowe was a prolific photographer, providing extensive coverage of the presidency from the Franklin D. Roosevelt through the Lyndon B. Johnson administrations.
National Archives and Records Administration -
This black and white photograph shows former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt greeting contralto Marian Anderson in Japan. In 1939, Anderson was barred from singing in Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) due to her race. Upon hearing this news, Mrs. Roosevelt resigned her membership to the DAR and worked with President Franklin D. Roosevelt to arrange for Anderson to give a concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939. Two months later, Mrs. Roosevelt presented Anderson with the Spingarn Medal for distinguished achievement at the 30th annual NAACP conference.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This photograph features the Paul Winter Jazz Sextet as they perform for First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and over 200 guests in the East Room of the White House. This concert was the fifth installment of Mrs. Kennedy's Musical Programs for Youth by Youth. She invited the children of diplomats, Cabinet members, and State Department officials living in Washington, D.C. The concert featured performances by pianist Han Tong-il and the Paul Winter Jazz Sextet.
White House Historical Association -
This photograph was taken during a Christmas party held for the children of diplomats on December 29, 1965. Here, an army musician from the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps shares a drum with a young guest in the East Room.
White House Historical Association -
This photograph by the National Park Service's Abbie Rowe is of President Richard M. Nixon and Duke Ellington and was taken on April 29, 1969 during a program honoring Ellington's seventieth birthday. Ellington (1899-1974) was a prolific musician, composer and band leader who wrote numerous songs that became classics of American jazz. At this celebration, Ellington was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to American music.
National Archives and Records Administration -
This photograph is a closeup of a saxophone player performing during the White House Festival of Arts. On June 14, 1965 over 300 guests attended the White House Festival of the Arts to honor contemporary American artistic achievement. 65 works of art borrowed from 39 museums across the country were displayed in the East Wing and Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. The 14-hour event also featured a photography exhibition in the Vermeil Room, a film screening in the State Dining Room, and a variety of performances in the East Room, State Dining Room, and the South Lawn including Duke Ellington, the Robert Joffrey Ballet, and the Louisville Orchestra.
White House Historical Association -
This photograph was taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph J. Scherschel on December 14, 1969, during a preview performance of the Bob Hope Christmas Show in the East Room. Here, actress and singer Teresa Graves performs during the variety show for President Richard M. Nixon, First Lady Pat Nixon, and over 200 guests. Bob Hope's USO-sponsored variety shows entertained American troops around the world for nearly 50 years, and his television specials were an annual tradition for American households for decades. Hope was a recurrent guest at the White House and entertained every president from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Bill Clinton.
White House Historical Association -
In this photograph, taken on December 21, 1970, President Richard M. Nixon and Elvis Presley greet one another in the Oval Office. Out of concern for the country Presley wrote Nixon a letter suggesting he be appointed a Federal Agent at Large. Nixon agreed and granted Presley a federal narcotics badge during this visit. Presley gifted the president a pistol and some family photos for hosting the meeting.
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This black and white photograph shows Tony Orlando serenading First Lady Betty Ford, Susan Ford, and other guests in the State Dining Room. Social secretary Maria Downs is also in the photograph. Orlando was an American singer and music producer.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
In this official White House Photograph, taken by Bill Fitz-Patrick on December 13, 1974, President Gerald R. Ford chats beside the fireplace in the Oval Office with musician George Harrison, formerly of the Beatles. Harrison was invited to the White House at the request of the president's son, Jack, where he attended a luncheon in the Solarium on the Third Floor. Also present were musicians Billy Preston, Tommy Scott, and Ravi Shankar. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.
Courtesy of Henry & Carole Haller and Family -
This color photograph shows President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford listening to a performance by Harry James following a State Dinner held for President and Mrs. Walter Scheel of the Federal Republic of Germany. James (1916-1983) was an American musician and band leader, popular during the big band era of the 1940s and 50s.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This photograph shows President Gerald R. Ford watching as Pearl Bailey gives an impromptu performance in the White House Entrance Hall while accompanied by the U.S. Marine Chamber Orchestra, which is part of the Marine Band, during a State Dinner held in honor of Shah Mohammad Reza and Empress Farah Pahlavi of Iran. Bailey (1918-1990) was an American actress and singer who won numerous awards including a Tony in 1968 for her stage work. In 1988 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This photograph shows President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford with American singer Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996), who was a legendary jazz and blues singer. She won more than a dozen Grammy awards, received the Kennedy Center Medal of Honor and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George H. W. Bush in 1992.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This photograph of President Jimmy Carter on stage at a White House jazz concert was taken on June 18, 1978. Carter appears in the photograph with trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie (center) and percussionist Max Roach (right), performing Gillespie's tune "Salt Peanuts." The concert marked the 25th anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival and featured such jazz greats as Roy Eldridge, Chick Corea, and George Benson. John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie is known as one of the greatest jazz musicians in American musical history. He helped originate the style of bebop and was prominent in the Afro-Cuban music movement. Roach was also a significant figure in the development of bebop and a highly influential drummer as well as a composer.
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This photograph of First Lady Nancy Reagan was taken on July 13, 1982 by Joseph H. Bailey for the National Geographic Service. Reagan introduces the Johnson Mountain Boys, a Maryland bluegrass band.
White House Historical Association -
In this photograph, Princess Diana is dancing with actor John Travolta in the Entrance Hall at the State Dinner on November 9, 1985. In the background, President Ronald Reagan is also dancing and First Lady Nancy Reagan is talking with Prince Charles. Pete Souza took this photograph on November 9, 1985.
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This photograph shows President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush watching Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine performing in the East Room. Estefan is a Cuban-born singer and songwriter who has won multiple awards including Grammys and an American Music Awards Lifetime Achievement honor. She was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 by President Barack Obama.
George Bush Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This digital photograph shows iconic American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter B.B. King performing in the East Room for a celebration of Black Music Month on June 26, 2006. His performance focused on music of the Gulf Coast.
George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This photograph by an unknown photographer is of American singer, musician, and Motown icon Stevie Wonder performing at the White House. A child prodigy who began performing publicly at age 11, Wonder plays multiple instruments and composes his own songs. He has won 25 Grammy awards amid numerous other accolades, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2014.
William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This photograph, taken by Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association on March 14, 2016, shows composer, lyricist, and performer Lin-Manuel Miranda alongside Daveed Diggs at a student workshop in the State Dining Room. Miranda and other cast members of his popular musical "Hamilton" were invited to the White House by First Lady Michelle Obama to participate in a performance, workshop, and question-and-answer session for local high school students. Miranda delivered his first public performance of what would eventually become the opening song of the musical at an event at the White House celebrating poetry, music, and the spoken word on May 12, 2009.
White House Historical Association -
In this photograph, President Barack Obama sings with musician Marc Anthony during the grand finale of the Lighting of the National Christmas Tree on December 1, 2016. First Lady Michelle Obama is seen in the background hugging country singer Tricia Yearwood. The celebration took place on the Ellipse near the South Grounds of the White House. The event was hosted by actress Eva Longoria and included performances by Anthony, Yearwood, Garth Brooks, James Taylor, Kelly Clarkson, Yolanda Adams, Chance the Rapper, and The Lumineers. The event marked the eighth and final lighting for President Barack Obama and his family.
White House Historical Association -
In this photograph, taken by Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association, M SGT Kevin Bennear performs onstage on the South Lawn during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, held on April 22, 2019. Bennear joined the U.S. Marine Band in January 2000, becoming the third featured vocal soloist since the position was established in 1955. Other military bands who performed at the Easter Egg Roll included the U.S. Army Band, the U.S. Navy Band, and the U.S. Air Force Band.
Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association -
This photograph was taken by Matthew D'Agostino on December 5, 2019, during the 97th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. Here, members of the West Tennessee Youth Chorus perform "Deck the Halls," accompanied by the United States Marine Band. The touring youth choir was directed by Martha Wright, who founded the group in 1996. This was the third time the West Tennessee Youth Chorus had been invited to perform at the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony; the group also performed during the Bill Clinton administration in 2000, and during the George W. Bush administration in 2004. The lighting of the National Christmas Tree is a cherished holiday tradition in Washington, D.C., and it has always been associated with music. When President Calvin Coolidge lit the first tree in 1923, the U.S. Marine Band performed at the event, and the celebration attracted more than 6,000 spectators. The opening ceremony and nightly holiday concerts have annually drawn hundreds of attendees.
Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association -
This photograph of military musicians, including members of the United States Marine Band, performing in the Entrance Hall was taken by Matthew D'Agostino on November 30, 2020 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. United States Marine Band Director Col. Jason K. Fettig conducted the performance. Fettig and the musicians wore face masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus during the COVID-19 pandemic. The holiday theme for 2020 was America the Beautiful, which celebrated the natural wonders of the American landscape. Selected by First Lady Melania Trump, the White House decorations also paid tribute to the courage and resilience of frontline workers, members of the military, and other American heroes.
Matthew DAgostino for the White House Historical Association
About this Gallery
Music is often called the universal language. It has been known to break down barriers and shape historic events in a way no other form of art can. The White House has played host to a diverse selection of historic performances since it became the home of the president and first family in 1800. From performances by the "President's Own" United States Marine Band, to country legends Johnny and June Carter Cash, those who have lived in the Executive Mansion have recognized the importance and diversity of music in shaping America.
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