Smokey Robinson is set to headline a White House Motown tribute evening tonight (24th February 2011).
SMOKEY ROBINSON, the legendary soul singer-songwriter, has been invited by President Barack Obama to perform a Motown tribute at the White House later today, reports UPI.com.Robinson will feature on a bill that also includes singers from the television musical series 'Glee'. Also performing for the President and First Lady Michelle Obama will be singer and actor Jamie Foxx, John Legend, country singer Sheryl Crow and Natasha Bedingfield. The evening will be directed by the keyboardist GREG PHILLINGANES. The concert is set to be taped in the White House East Room and is scheduled to broadcast next Tuesday (1st March 2011). Tonight will not be the first time that Robinson has performed for the President, he joined the singer Seal at last year's White House concert to celebrate music from the U.S civil rights movement. MICHELLE OBAMA began the tribute series in 2009 and previous concerts have focused on genres such as jazz, country and classical.
SMOKEY ROBINSON, often regarded as the "King of Motown", had 37 Top 40 hits for the legendary record label between 1960 and 1987. He also served as the company's vice president for over 25 years.