AJU GLOBAL LIMITED.: Obama's got the blues: President belts out a few bars as he joins B.B. King and Mick Jagger to salute Black History Month

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Obama's got the blues: President belts out a few bars as he joins B.B. King and Mick Jagger to salute Black History Month

Even the President of the United States can't say no to the king of the blues.

.Oh, go on then: Obama didn't miss the opportunity to sing a few bars of blues classic Sweet Home Chicago with legends B.B King and Mick Jagger at the White House last night

.Listen up: B.B. King was part of the ensemble cast at the White House during a blues performance to celebrate Black History Month

Barack Obama found himself belting out a few bars of Sweet Home Chicago, the blues anthem of his hometown, after being cajoled by the legendary B.B. King - part of an ensemble of musical stars who came together at the White House last night to celebrate Black History Month.

The intimate gig in the East Room had almost wound down, when guitarist Buddy Guy reminded the president that he had burst into a cover of Al Green's Let's Stay Together at a recent rally. The musician quipped to Obama: 'You gotta keep it up.'

With wife Michelle clapping her approval and cheers from the crowd, Obama shook his head in refusal - but then readily accepted a microphone offered by Mick Jagger before he launched into song.

'Come on, baby don't you want to go,' the president sang twice, handing the microphone to B.B. King momentarily - then taking it back to tack on 'Sweet Home Chicago' before making a suave exit.

The President's impromptu burst into song came as leading Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum dubbed Obama a 'rock star' who was acting like royalty running the country.

Earlier this week, Santorum told the Maricopa County Lincoln Day lunch in Phoenix, Arizona: 'Back in 2008, the American public at a time of crisis went for a rock star that they believed could solve their problems, someone that they believed in to make a difference in their lives.

.Sharing a tune: B.B. King (left) and the President improvised on the last song of the night Sweet Home Chicago

Thiselection, Americans are going to go back to what we've done in the past. We're looking for leaders, not who we believe in, we're looking for a leader who believes in you.'

At the star-studded White House event, Obama opened the celebration by telling the crowd there were 'downsides' to running the country - before adding that 'things even out a little bit' when music legends like King and Jagger, along with Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy and Grammy-winner Keb Mo, stopped by to jam.

.Smooth: First Lady Michelle looks delighted as the President improvised on a couple of bars with the ensemble blues cast

The President continued: 'This music speaks to something universal. No one goes through life without both joy and pain, triumph and sorrow. The blues gets all of that, sometimes with just one lyric or one note.'

B.B. King, 86, arrived in a wheelchair but stood to kick off the night with a raucous version of Let The Good Times Roll. He followed with The Thrill Is Gone.

.Rock and roll: Jeff Beck

Obama, who was joined at the concert by wife Michelle and her mother Marian Robinson, swayed in his seat and sang along to a playlist including St James Infirmary and Let Me Love You.

Beck slowed things down with an instrumental Brush With the Blues, as anticipation built for the arrival of Mick Jagger, who did not disappoint.

The Rolling Stones frontman sang I Can't Turn You Loose and then teamed up with Beck on Commit a Crime.

Jagger got the Obamas out of their seats, swaying and clapping to the music, and picked up the pace with Miss You performed with Shemekia Copeland and Susan Tedeschi.

Obama at times closed his eyes and nodded his head along to the music.

Keb Mo

Before the closing number of Sweet Home Chicago, Obama said: 'For Michelle and me, there's no blues like the song our artists have chosen to close with - the blues from our hometown.'

The lineup for Tuesday's concert spanned multiple generations, from legends like King and Guy to young faces such as 26-year-old Troy 'Trombone Shorty' Andrews and Gary Clark Jr, whose style blends hip hop, contemporary soul and indie rock.

Also performing were Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks, with actress Taraji P. Henson as the program host and Booker T Jones as music director and band leader.

The blues concert was part of the 'In Performance at the White House' series that airs on PBS. It begins on Monday in celebration of Black History Month.

.American classics: Shemekia Copeland (left) and Susan Tedeschi (right) sing during a celebration of blues music where they were joined by the President himself for the finale

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Obama signs order to cut travel, cellphones, swag

WASHINGTON (AP) — With the stroke of his pen, President Barack Obama has sacked souvenirs federal agencies buy with taxpayer money to promote their work. The ban he signed Wednesday is part of a broader executive order to cut some $4 billion of dollars in waste and make government more efficient. Some office equipment will simply be scarcer, and fewer cell phones and laptops will be issued. Obama has been using his executive powers on modest proposals — Wednesday's order targets trinkets like coffee cups, T-shirts and pens — to promote job creation, help homeowners or, in this case, redirect spending. With such orders, signed in Oval Office ceremonies, Obama is trying to demonstrate that he is engaged in measures large and small and to distinguish himself from what he argues is a pretty unproductive Congress. Lawmakers are in the middle of a more gargantuan task — cutting deficits by at least $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years. "It doesn't replace the importance of work the Congress needs to do in coming up with a balanced, bold plan to reduce our deficit," Obama said as he prepared to sign his administrative order. "But it indicates once again that there are things that we can do right now that will actually deliver better government, more efficiently, more consumer friendly for less money." The saved money won't directly reduce deficits, however. In a statement in advance of the signing, Obama said, "We're cutting what we don't need so that we can invest in what we do need." An administration official said the savings of about $4 billion would allow the administration to focus resources on veterans, members of the military and on infrastructure. The order directs government agencies not only to reduce the authorizations for technology equipment, but also requires cutting the size of the executive vehicle fleet. It also encourages agencies to use technology to save money, including teleconferences and online seminars to reduce travel and online publishing to cut down on publication costs. Overall, the president aims to cut spending in the areas mentioned in the order by 20 percent. "We believe we can get better results for less using technology," Obama said. Vice President Joe Biden and White House budget director Jacob Lew attended the signing in the Oval Office. Obama was also accompanied by four finalists in a cost-saving contest among federal government employees. One finalist suggested the creation of a tool "lending library," another proposed ending the purchase of U.S. code books that are already available online. Among examples cited by the White House of cost-cutting already under way are the Internal Revenue Service's plan to cut 27 percent of its travel costs by relying more on teleconferences and webinars and the Homeland Security Department's decision to conduct annual audits to reduce the number of unused cellphones and air cards. At the Commerce Department, the White House said, the agency has reduced the number of fleet drivers to one for all top departmental officials, including for new Secretary John Bryson.

Heavy D dies at 44

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rapper Heavy D, who rose to fame during the 1990s and scored hit singles such as "Now That We Found Love", died on Tuesday after collapsing outside his Beverly Hills home. He was 44. Beverly Hills Police Lt. Mark Rosen said in a statement that the rapper, whose real name is Dwight Arrington Meyers, was found on a walkway at 11:25 a.m. PST outside his condominium. He conscious and talking, but having difficulty breathing. Paramedics were called and the singer was rushed to a nearby hospital. "The individual ultimately died at the hospital," Rosen said. He added that there were no signs of foul play, and the death is believed to be medically related. An official cause is pending an autopsy by Los Angeles County coroners. The singer's New York-based agent was not immediately available for comment. Rotund rapper Heavy D was born in Jamaica and moved to Mt. Vernon, New York as a child. He enjoyed hip hop music as a kid and formed his first group, the Boyz, with high school friends who took the stage names DJ Eddie F, Trouble T-Roy and G-Wiz. The group became Heavy D & The Boyz and released their first album in 1987, which included singles "Mr. Big Stuff" and "The Overweight Lover's in the House." Their breakout album came with 1989's "Big Tyme," which included the hits "Somebody for Me" and "We Got Our Own Thang." The band met with tragedy in 1990 when Trouble T-Roy died in an accident. One year later, they scored their biggest hit with the album "Peaceful Journey" and single "Now That We Found Love," which reached the top five on R&B charts and crossed over to mainstream pop audiences. A string of hits followed in the 1990s. The band sang the theme song for popular TV show "In Living Color," and Heavy D's 1999 CD "Heavy" became his seventh album to chart among the R&B top 10. During those years, the rapper also began acting, working in small roles on film and TV before landing a role in high-school TV drama "Boston Public". His film work included parts in "The Cider House Rules," "Step Up" and "Big Trouble."

Eddie Murphy quits Oscars after Brett Ratner exit

Actor and comedian Eddie Murphy has resigned as host of the 2012 Oscar ceremony, due to be held in February. His decision comes a day after the resignation of producer Brett Ratner, a friend of Murphy, who used a derogatory term in public. Mr Ratner used the word "fags" during a question and answer session on his latest film Tower Heist. Mr Ratner recruited Murphy to be the Oscars' next host when he was hired as producer of the 2012 awards ceremony. The Rush Hour director has been replaced by Brian Grazer, the Oscar-winning producer of A Beautiful Mind - and frequent producing partner of director Ron Howard. "Brian Grazer is a renowned filmmaker who over the past 25 years has produced a diverse and extraordinary body of work," said Academy President Tom Sherak. "He will certainly bring his tremendous talent, creativity and relationships to the Oscars.' No replacement has been announced for Murphy. Ratings push Correspondents say the comedian's resignation could be a setback for the Academy Awards. The ceremony has seen declining TV ratings in recent years and is battling the rise of newer awards ceremonies, which appeal to younger audiences. Choosing Murphy to host for the 2012 ceremony marked a return to the traditional, well-tried formula of a comedian host - one very successful ceremony was hosted by Bob Hope, Johnny Carson and Billy Crystal. Oscar officials and Eddie Murphy himself insisted the split was not an acrimonious one. "I appreciate how Eddie feels about losing his creative partner, Brett Ratner, and we all wish him well," Sherak said of Murphy's decision to step down. Murphy said: "I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I'm sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job." An online campaign to replace Murphy with the Muppets was initiated on Wednesday.

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Obama's got the blues: President belts out a few bars as he joins B.B. King and Mick Jagger to salute Black History Month

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