First Lady Michelle Obama At the History of Gospel Music Workshop

By Stephen Pate – Along with President Obama’s, First Lady Michelle Obama held a student workshop with Michelle Williams, Lyall Lovett, Darlene Love, Randy Crowell and Leanne Giddings.

Michelle Obama spoke of her admiration of gospel music as she welcomed students to a workshop at the White House on gospel music on April 14, 2015.

First Lady Obama displays her natural charm and disarming way as she introduces the audience to the artists and discusses the prevalence of gospel music in American life.

She also provides inspiring words about overcoming obstacles in life to achieve the great things we are all destined to do.

First Lady Obama tells the story of gospel singer Darlene Love one of the most important but unknown backup singers in rock and roll music. Darlene sang the lead behind “She’s A Rebel” but was cheated by the producer who put someone else’s name on the song. While she sang on hit records, no one knew her. When her life was at the lowest point, Darlene Love started singing again and made her career start again.

“Gospel music has really played such an important role in our country’s history,” she told more than 100 students gathered in the State Dining Room, “from the spirituals sung by slaves, to the anthems that became the soundtrack of the civil rights movement, and to the hymns that millions of Americans sing every single day in churches all across the country.”

Here are some of the lessons learned during the 75-minute event, where Grammy Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli interviewed a panel of singers and songwriters ahead of a star-studded concert that will air on PBS on
June 26 as part of the “In Performance at the White House” series.

“Gospel music has really played such an important role in our country’s history,” she told more than 100 students gathered in the State Dining Room, “from the spirituals sung by slaves, to the anthems that became the soundtrack of the civil rights movement, and to the hymns that millions of Americans sing every single day in churches all across the country.”

Here are some of the lessons learned during the 75-minute event, where Grammy Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli interviewed a panel of singers and songwriters ahead of a star-studded concert that will air on PBS on
June 26 as part of the “In Performance at the White House” series.

The video is the full session. Enjoy.

By Stephen Pate, NJN Network