WASHINGTON, June 22 (UPI) -- President George Bush praised the contributions of black musicians to American culture at a White House reception Tuesday marking Black Music Month.
"This music could only have come from the unique experience of African Americans; yet it speaks to every human heart," Bush said.
"Black music in America began with spiritual songs that bore witness to the cruelty of bondage and the strength of faith. From those roots, it grew into a variety of styles," the president said, "(that) capture a part of the American spirit."
Bush made special mention of two recently departed giants of the genre: jazz drummer Elvin Jones, whom Bush called, "the fiery pulse of John Coltrane's Quartet" and singer-songwriter Ray Charles, whom he said was "another American original."
Charles' music, the president said, "embraced every style and transcended every label. It takes a great talent to make a song forever your own, and no one hears "Georgia On My Mind" or "Hit the Road, Jack" without thinking of Ray Charles."
Bush also lauded the talents of younger African American musicians including gospel singers Kirk Franklin and Yolanda Adams and pop singer Alicia Keys.
