Joe Biden held his remaining Kennedy Heart Honors final night time, paying tribute to the Grateful Useless, Bonnie Raitt, and Francis Ford Coppola, amongst others. A reception came about on the White Home on Sunday and noticed Biden celebrating the Useless’s profession.
“Within the San Francisco Bay at an inflection level in historical past, the Grateful Useless have lengthy since transcended Sixties counterculture,” Biden mentioned in a speech. “Technical virtuosos fiercely devoted to their craft, they fused many years and dozens of musical kinds to create an entire new American sound. Experimental, revolutionary and courageous.”
He continued, “Their lyrics inform the story of dreamers and rebels, by iconic jams or only a efficiency, they’re not simply that they’re an ongoing dialog with generations of ‘Doo-Dah’ followers with tons of and tons of of songs. Report of 59 prime 40 albums, 59. 23,000 concert events from Woodstock to Egypt’s nice pyramids. Some of the well-liked bands ever to be watched stay in live performance.”
The president added, “Look, there’s nonetheless lots of Deadheads round,” pointing at himself. “No two performances even the identical, however their spirit and pleasure is enduring,” he mentioned. “Tonight we honor Bobby, Invoice and Mickey.”
Band members Invoice Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart, and Bob Weir attended the occasion, whereas bassist Phil Lesh, who died in October at age 84, was represented by his son Grahame and frontman Jerry Garcia, who died in 1995, was represented by his daughter Trixie.
Through the reception, Biden paid tribute to Raitt, noting she obtained her first guitar for Christmas. “Thanks Santa,” he quipped. He additionally honored Coppola and jazz musician Arturo Sandoval, in addition to New York Metropolis establishment the Apollo.
The artists have been then honored on the John F. Kennedy Heart for the Performing Arts in the course of the official Kennedy Heart Honors ceremony, which will probably be broadcast on CBS on Dec. 23. The occasion featured a tribute to the Grateful Useless by Dave Matthews, Maggie Rogers, Leon Bridges, and extra, performing songs like “Buddy of the Satan,” “Ripple,” “Sugaree,” and “Not Fade Away.”
Matthews and Emmylou Harris took on Raitt’s traditional “Angel from Montgomery” and Brandi Carlile and Sheryl Crow carried out “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” Robert DeNiro, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, Al Pacino, and Laurence Fishburne have been there to honor Coppola, whereas Andy Garcia and Debbie Allen feted Sandoval.
