WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is paying tribute to Ray Charles and says the late singer-songwriter had the rare ability to collapse the weightiest emotion into a single note.
Obama spoke Wednesday as he and his wife, Michelle, hosted a musical tribute to Charles.
Usher, Demi Lovato, Yolanda Adams and The Band Perry are among contemporary artists who are performing Charles' music during a taping of the tribute, "Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles: In Performance at the White House."
The program is scheduled to be broadcast by PBS stations nationwide on Friday.
Obama notes that it's the final "In Performance" event of his administration. He's promised not to sing, and says it's fitting that the last one pays tribute to one of his favorites.
