Celebration of Black Music Month at the White House

On June 25, 2003, the White House hosted a celebration for Black Music Month featuring performances from the Harlem Jazz Museum. The event was organized by the Harlem Jazz Museum and the creators of 'Harlem Song.' Musicians, under the direction of renowned saxophonist and jazz bandleader Loren Schoenberg, performed three jazz pieces. The evening's performance was led by George C. Wolfe, the esteemed director of the Public Theater in New York. It was fitting to feature a work by Duke Ellington on the opening night of Black Music Month, as Ellington was undoubtedly one of the greatest achievements in jazz music and one of America's greatest composers. African Americans have played a central role in the creation of music in the United States. American music has become an international language that connects us regardless of race or country. This reflects our purest wish and dream for democracy, where even one person's voice can be heard by all, allowing everyone to hear the humanity embedded in an individual's message. The first piece performed was 'Harlem Song' by Duke Ellington. At the end of the event, President Bush, along with his wife Laura, welcomed the attendees and stated, '...by presidential proclamation, I declare June 2003 as Black Music Month.'