R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Aretha to Perform at Inaugral!!

Tons of talent will be performing at the Obama Inaug, which will feature a new composition by John Williams performed by Itzhak Perlman on violin, Yo-Yo Ma on cello, Gabriela Montero on piano and Anthony McGill on clarinet.

The United States Marine Band will play, followed by the San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus.  Elizabeth Alexander, a poet from Yale University, will read and Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, considered the dean of the civil rights movement, will perform the benediction.

But the high point (aside from Obama’s taking the oath of office administered by Chief Justice John G. Roberts) is going to be ARETHA!!! In 1993 she sang “Someday We’ll All Be Free” and “Respect” for Clinton at his inaugural gala concert, but now Queen of Soul be delivering her glorious voice from the podium.

In 1987 Aretha was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her songs gave voice to the Civil Rights movement, and as a close family friend of Martin Luther King, Jr., Aretha sang at his funeral.