Obama Not The First President To Provide Music
Barack Obama’s crooning a bit of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” at the Apollo Theater last week may have been the first time the president has showed off his singing voice. But it isn’t the first time a sitting president has put his musical chops on display publicly. Back in the day, candidate Bill Clinton showed off his swagger when he played his sax on the “Arsenio Hall” show, complete with dark shades. Clinton repeated the act during his inaugural balls, performing alongside Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band. Richard Nixon played the piano twice in the final months of his tarnished presidency – once at the Grand Ole Opry. Harry Truman and Thomas Jefferson also played music in public, Truman the piano and Jefferson, the violin.
Barack Obama’s crooning a bit of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” at the Apollo Theater last week may have been the first time the president has showed off his singing voice. But it isn’t the first time a sitting president has put his musical chops on display publicly. Back in the day, candidate Bill Clinton showed off his swagger when he played his sax on the “Arsenio Hall” show, complete with dark shades. Clinton repeated the act during his inaugural balls, performing alongside Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band. Richard Nixon played the piano twice in the final months of his tarnished presidency – once at the Grand Ole Opry. Harry Truman and Thomas Jefferson also played music in public, Truman the piano and Jefferson, the violin.
