Jon Batiste will perform at the White House, Thursday, December 1, for President Joe Biden’s first White House state dinner, which will host French President Emmanuel Macron. His performance will be the first time a New Orleans artist has played in the White House for a state dinner since George W. Bush invited the Preservation Hall Jazz Band in 2005 while hosting the Prime Minister of India.
“An artist who transcends generations, Jon Batiste’s music inspires and brings people together,” said Vanessa Valdivia, a spokesperson for first lady Jill Biden, whose office is overseeing dinner preparations.
Jon Batiste’s awards accepted by his parents. Photo by Willow Haley.
Starting as a local artist and graduate of St. Augustine High alumnus, Batiste’s career has flourished over the past two years, earning five Grammy Awards including his 2021 release “We Are” winning album of the year. At the Grammys, Batiste performed a song from the album “Freedom” which ended with him jumping on Billie Eilish’s table.
He recently left “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” where he was bandleader and musical director for seven years. The 2020 Pixar movie Soul also won Batiste a Golden Globe and a Grammy for his work as composer and musical consultant.
OffBeat awarded Batiste three awards at the 26th Annual Best Of The Beat™ including awards Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year (The Allen Toussaint Songwriter Award).
The guest of honor at the White House State dinner, Macron will tour the US including a stop in New Orleans to visit the French Quarter and meet with Gov. John Bel Edwards to discuss climate issues and a possible French language education fund in American schools. It will be the first visit by a Franch President in over 45 years since Valéry Giscard d’Estaing in 1976.
