In this political convention season, we’re hearing about a couple of people who would like to get into the White House. But what we really want to know is: what classical and jazz performers have already made it there?
Republicans meet in Cleveland the week of July 18th, and Democrats in Philadelphia the week of July 25th. WRTI will “cover” both conventions by featuring the music and the performers that presidents have heard throughout the history of our country.
Millard Fillmore, opera buff? A jazz giant winning the Presidential Medal of Freedom? A famous cellist playing for two presidents, 50 years apart?
The great artists who played and sang for presidents, and the music, always the music!
We’ll answer these questions and more during the two weeks, but it won’t be at a press conference. It’s the music we’ll listen to, classical and jazz. It’ll be the great artists who played and sang for presidents, and the music—always the music!
How about Sonny Rollins, Sarah Vaughan, and Dizzy Gillespie, and newer artists like Esperanza Spalding and Christian McBride? They sure made it to DC. Perhaps Percy Grainger, Ferruccio Busoni, Anton Rubinstein, and Vladimir Horowitz? You bet! It’s the best in presidential jazz and classical music—and performers—on WRTI.
Listen for special Arts Desk features, too, as Susan Lewis and Meridee Duddleston meet delegates and others in Philadelphia from across the country.
So turn to us for two weeks of presidential music: non-partisan and nonpareil programming on WRTI!