Chocolate City

Obama bringing Motown to the White House

WASHINGTON, Feb 17 – President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will mark Black History Month at the White House with a celebration of Motown music.

The White House says performers will include Smokey Robinson, Sheryl Crow and John Legend. The Feb. 24 event will be taped and broadcast on PBS March 1. The Motown event is the latest in the music series "In Performance at the White House." The Obamas have hosted musical tributes to several genres, including jazz, country and Broadway. (AP)

The ubiquitous and inevitable Sheryl Crow, I can almost understand. After all, she got her career break in the 1980s, singing BVs for Michael Jackson. But where’s Michael McDonald and Jimmy Barnes? As George Clinton would say, “What’s happening, CC?” Who the White House social secretary chose as jazz, country and Broadway musicians is intriguing, though.