Derek Trucks recalls Barack Obama getting down to Howlin' Wolf

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      When Grammy-winning slide-guitar specialist Derek Trucks played the Red, White & Blues concert at the White House last February, he was joined in the lineup by such primo pickers as Jeff Beck, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Warren Haynes--his coguitarist in the Allman Brothers Band--as well as his wife, Susan Tedeschi.

      "We've been really fortunate the last few years," says Trucks, calling in advance of next Tuesday's (June 19) Tedeschi Trucks Band show in Vancouver. "We've had a lot of over-the-top moments, but that is certainly in the Top Five. Pretty amazing, you know, bein' able to hang with B.B. King and Buddy Guy at the White House."

      One of the highlights of the show--which was taped for a PBS special--was when Mick Jagger coaxed Barack Obama into taking the mike, and the prez sang a few lines from the Robert Johnson classic, "Sweet Home Chicago".

      "I'm impressed he knows the lyrics of those tunes," says Trucks. "And it was funny, because somebody was playing a Howlin' Wolf tune, and I was watching the president mouthing Howlin' Wolf lyrics. That's pretty hip!"

      For more from Trucks--including his thoughts on being ranked 16th in Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time poll--see the story in this week's issue of the Georgia Straight. Read it on paper for that old-school Allman Brothers vibe.

      You can follow Steve Newton on Twitter at twitter.com/earofnewt.

      Comments

      3 Comments

      Gentleman Jack

      Jun 10, 2012 at 3:19pm

      Finally what America needs---a President into the same music as all of the acidheads from the 60s!

      Steve Newton

      Jun 10, 2012 at 7:10pm

      it's called having some soul, GJ

      Marty

      Jun 11, 2012 at 9:36am

      Derek is cool. Obama is not!