B.B. King plays during a celebration of Blues music and in recognition of Black History Month as part of their 'In Performance at the White House' series in Washington, DC.

Gary Clark, B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Warrne Haynes play during a celebration of Blues music and in recognition of Black History Month as part of their 'In Performance at the White House' series in Washington.

B.B. King plays with others during a celebration of Blues music and in recognition of Black History Month as part of their 'In Performance at the White House' series in Washington, DC.

Troy 'Trombone Shorty' Andrews, Guitarists Jeff Beck, Derek Trucks and Gary Clark play during a celebration of Blues music and in recognition of Black History Month as part of their 'In Performance at the White House' series.

Shemekia Copeland and Susan Tedeschi play during a celebration of Blues music and in recognition of Black History Month as part of their 'In Performance at the White House' series.

B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Warren Haynes and Shemekia Copeland play during a celebration of Blues music.

Troy 'Trombone Shorty' Andrews and Guitarists Jeff Beck, Derek Trucks and Gary Clark play during a celebration of Blues music.

Guitarists Jeff Beck, Derek Trucks, Gary Clark, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Warrne Haynes, Shemekia Copeland, Susan Tedeschi and Keb Mo play during a celebration.

Guitarists Jeff Beck, Derek Trucks and Gary Clark play in recognition of Black History Month.

Blues musician Troy 'Trombone Shorty' Andrews plays as part of 'In Performance at the White House' series in Washington.

US President Barak Obama helps Blues musician B.B. King to the stage during 'In Performance at the White House' series. Obama said at the event that the blues remained a popular and powerful genre.

Obama broke into song at this blues show, as Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger urged a reluctant US leader to step up and sing a few lines. To cheers from the audience, a smiling Obama sang parts of the tune.

"This music speaks to something universal. No one goes through life without both joy and pain, triumph and sorrow, the blues gets all of that, sometimes with just a lyric or just one note," Obama said. "As we celebrate black history month, the blues reminds us that we've been through tougher times before."