Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are celebrating International Jazz Day a day early with a concert at the White House.
Borrowing a line from trumpet player Dizzy Gillespie, who ran for president in 1964, Obama says he intends to turn the White House into the "Blues House" with Friday night's concert.
Obama says he first obtained an appreciation of jazz when a father he "barely knew" came to visit him for about a month in Honolulu. He says his father took him to see jazz pianist Dave Brubeck in 1971.
Obama says the world that concert opened up for a 10-year-old boy was spectacular, and he was hooked.
The concert features Aretha Franklin, Al Jarreau, Herbie Hancock and others and is to be televised Saturday on ABC.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.