The White House Jazz Festival of 1978 was a historic celebration held on June 18, 1978, hosted by President Jimmy Carter on the South Lawn of the White House. This event commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival and marked one of the first major jazz gatherings at the White House, assembling about 40 of the biggest names in jazz in front of approximately 800 guests.
The festival featured performances by legendary musicians, spanning the evolution of jazz, including Eubie Blake, Herbie Hancock, Lionel Hampton, Ornette Coleman, Pearl Bailey, Mary Lou Williams, Roy Eldridge, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, Chick Corea, Max Roach, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Benny Carter, Illinois Jacquet, George Benson, Stan Getz, and more.
These are my photographs that I shot at the event while an intern at the White House in 1978Grand Mashall of the Young Tuxedo Brass Band of New Orleans Mathew ‘Fats’ Houston at the White House Jazz Festival in 1978
Tenor Sax player Zoot Sims at White House Jazz Festival in 1978.From left: Dexter Gordon, Illinois Jacquet, Lionel Hampton, Pearl Bailey and George BensonMuddy Waters at the White House Jazz FestivalFrom White House Jazz Festival in 1978 – President Jimmy Carter attempted to sing Salt Peanuts with Dizzy Gillespie and drummer Max RoachPresident Jimmy Carter at the White House Jazz Festival in 1978 with son Jack Carter and Gregory Stafford with the Young Tuxedo Brass Band of New Orleans.Piano player Eubie Blake at the White House Jazz Festival in 1978Lionel Hampton at White House Jazz Festival in 1978. He was an American jazz vibraphonist, percussionist, and bandleader In the background is George BensonDizzy Gillespie at the White House Jazz Festival in 1978Drummer Max Roach at the White House Jazz Festival in 1978
