When acclaimed Jamaican singer, Tessanne Chin makes history, she does so in the biggest way possible and Thursday night, she continued that trend by giving yet another inspiring performance during the special Women of Soul concert at the White House.
The concert, put on by U.S. First Lady, Michelle Obama took place in front of a packed East Room and featured top class singers ranging different eras, including Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Janelle Monae, Melissa Etheridge, Ariana Grande and Jill Scott.
Chin was introduced by U.S. president, Barack Obama to a rousing ovation, along with the other performers. Wearing a fiery red dress as she entered the stage, Chin thanked the Obamas for the invitation to perform before going into her set; a rendition of Last Dance, the classic song by the late, great disco singer, Donna Summer, who inspired Chin throughout her career.
Backed a full band and background singers, Chin showed why she was crowned the season five winner of The Voice with a vocally strong performance which had most in the audience moving, even getting some to their feet. In said audience was her husband and Jamaican media personality, Michael Cuffe, as well as family.
Franklin was the most prominent of the ladies in terms of sets as she performed classics such as Let’s Have a Party, I’ve Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) and Amazing Grace. LaBelle was her usually stellar self as she performed Over The Rainbow while Grande, just 20 years old, sang her hit,Tattooed Heart.
Chin later joined all the other singers for a group rendition of Proud Mary by Ike and Tina Turner.
The full concert, the 12th staged by the White House since 2009, will be seen on American television, viaPBS, on April 7 before later being broadcast on the Armed Forces Network to America’s service men and women.
Women of Soul was scheduled as a part of Women’s History Month and was preceded by a special workshop where middle school, high school and college students got to meet the performers and learn about their experiences within the music industry.
