Obama sings the blues with Mick Jagger, B.B. King

President Obama took the microphone Tuesday to sing a few bars of 'Sweet Home Chicago' during a blues concert at the White House. Are Mick Jagger and B.B. King in danger of being upstaged? You decide.

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PBS
President Barack Obama sings the blues with B.B. King at the White House.

"Let the Good Times Roll".... "The Thrill is Gone".... "Sweet Home Chicago." A Republican recipe for ending Barack Obama’s presidency after one term? Not quite. It was blues night at the White House, and those were on the play list.

More important, B.B. King was in the house, and when Mick Jagger (yes, that Mick Jagger) handed President Obama the microphone Tuesday night, that was all it took to get the First Crooner to belt out a few bars with the King of the Blues (see video below).

Buddy Guy, another legendary blues man in attendance, told Mr. Obama he’d heard about the president singing a little Al Green recently and added, “You gotta keep it up,” according to the Associated Press.

The concert, timed for Black History Month, was the latest in the “In Performance at the White House" series and will air Monday on PBS. This one is called “Red, White and Blues.”

Also performing: Trombone Shorty, Jeff Beck, Shemekia Copeland, Susan Tedeschi, Gary Clark Jr., Keb’ Mo’, Derek Trucks, and Warren Haynes.

Set list

1. “Let the Good Times Roll” (Ensemble)

2. “The Thrill Is Gone” (B.B King)

3. “St. James Infirmary” (Trombone Shorty)

4. “Let Me Love You Baby” (Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck)

5. “Brush With The Blues” instrumental (Jeff Beck)

6. “I Can’t Turn You Loose” (Mick Jagger)

7. “Commit A Crime” (Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck)

8. “Miss You” (Mick Jagger, Shemekia Copeland, Susan Tedeschi)

9. “Beat Up Guitar” (Shemekia Copeland, Gary Clark Jr.)

10. “Catfish Blues” (Gary Clark Jr.)

11. “In The Evening (When The Sun Goes Down)” (Gary Clark Jr.)

12. “Henry” ( Keb’ Mo’)

13. “I’d Rather Go Blind” (Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes)

14. “Five Long years” (Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, Gary Clark, Mick Jagger)

15. “Sweet Home Chicago” (Ensemble)

[ Video is no longer available. ]

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