"Memphis Charlie" to Play the White House Next Week

The White House might be the pinnacle of performance venues for many musicians, and the Obama White House has presented an inspiring line-up of concerts over the past four years. From Country Music to Motown, Classical to Latina, Stevie Wonder to Paul McCartney.

Next week that stage will be come alive with the sound of Memphis Soul - including performances by modern artists like the Alabama Shakes and Ben Harper, legendary artists like Steve Cropper, Al Green, Sam Moore and Mavis Staples, and our very own blues star Charlie Musselwhite.

“Memphis Charlie” is one of Musselwhite’s nicknames, and he’s telling everyone he knows he’ll be sharing the stage with those greats.

“It's a real honor to play the White House and to be with so many great musicians, many of whom are old friends of mine,” Musselwhite told Patch.

Musselwhite has played several times recently in Healdsburg, including at the Raven earlier this year and the Healdsburg Plaza previously.

"I know Charlie's a big supporter of Obama," said KRSH radio's Bill Bowker. "Last time they met he gave Obama a harmonica and offered to give him lessons."

"I'm a little busy, Charlie," said the President, according to Bowker.

President and Mrs. Obama will host the program, which honors the memorable soul sounds from the mid- to late-1960s that came from Memphis, Tennessee and legendary labels like Stax-Volt Records. “Soulsville, USA: The History of Memphis Soul,” will stream live on www.whitehouse.gov/live Tuesday, April 9 at starting at 6:55 p.m. ET (that’s 3:55 local time).

Other performers include Queen Latifah, Cyndi Lauper, Joshua Ledet and Justin Timberlake, with Booker T. Jones (himself a Marin County resident) as music director and band leader.

"In Performance at the White House: Memphis Soul" will be broadcast on PBS stations nationwide on Tuesday, April 16 at 8 p.m., including KQED-TV in the Bay Area.

Follow on Twitter | Like on Facebook | Sign up for daily email | Start a blog on Patch!