 Mr. Vice President, Mr. Vice President, and Ms. Barbara Bush, I'm very happy and so proud with humility today of this great honor that has been bestowed upon me and I like to say that I am very, very, very grateful. I like to say that American jazz is one commodity that America has given to the world and I'd like for you to join me in a little explanation about jazz. Won't you come along with me to the Mississippi? We take a boat to the land of dreams, float down the band that'll meet us. Old friends that greet us, that's where all the help and the right folks meet. Shoo-be-do-be-do-be on Basel Street. Now Basel Street is the street where all the hippocats meet. Yes-a-ree in New Orleans that land of dreams. You never know how much it means or just what it really seems. Yes-a-ree. I'm glad to be where welcome's free. It means so much to me so I can't lose. My Basel Street blues, they say some people longer were searching for a different tune. One day they started to swan to and fro. They didn't know what to use and this is how the blues that you would it. Especially Mr. President, all my good friends here today. Dr. Cheeks from Harvard University. Now you know why you give me that doctor's degree, huh? Musicians under this tent today to show that talent. Some will. Just a teeny little bit. You're going to use your imagination just what these wonderful people can do. I'd like to bring on a group that's going to take over now. One of the greatest piano players and composers of all times. I want you to meet Dave Brubeck, huh? Musician. A great musician and a leader of his outstanding group. One of the finest bass players that ever played the bass. I'd like for you to meet Mr. Ron Carter. Here's a guy that's someone that we know so well. But he's a great performer in his own right. One of the greatest drummers of all time, Mr. Louis Bellison, huh? A gentleman that really got the Steelers football team and baseball team and got Weston House out there. Which is run by my good friend, Mr. Bob Kirby, who's the chairman of board directors out there. But here's a guy that plays saxophone and he did his share in putting Pittsburgh on the map. I want you to meet that famous all-time saxophone player, Mr. Stanley Turntine, huh? Here's a youngster from Inlandapolis, Indiana. I remember when I was to go out there and play benefits for the St. Regis Catholic Church. And we started a drum and bugle corps. And this kid asked me when we started, I was passing out the instruments. And he wanted a drum. And I said, well, we have no more drums, but here's the bugle you started playing it, huh? And he's been blowing ever since. And he's one of the greatest trumpet players of all times. The one and only Freddie Herbert. Here's a guy that makes a whole lot of pretty music. Been making it for years. One of the all-time greats. I'd like to meet on the saxophone, Zoot Sims. Let's hear it for these wonderful men. Thank you so much, gentlemen. We got to keep it going. These guys are terrific. They could play the five o'clock tomorrow morning. And they would, too. We have another set group here. Before we play this group, we have one of the knowledge, the presence. You know, we are doing our big show tonight. Of course, this is the biggest show you can have when you play for the president. Ain't no bigger show than this. We're going to have a little intermission show tonight at the center. And we have some wonderful singers that are going to sing for us tonight outside these outstanding musicians. It's a lady I want you to meet. She used to sing with my band. And she was discovered when she was about 17 years old in Detroit, Michigan. And I remember Millard Jackson, the great Bible hop, I just gave him some Bible hop hammers to start him off on his career as being one of the greatest Bible hop players in the business. And so he was telling me about a girl he brought to the dance that night. I played in Detroit and he said he wanted me to hear her sing. So I had to come up and sing a song. And she was singing Moonlight in Vermont. And you have Moonlight in Vermont go Moonlight in Vermont. And she would do re-bop. And I said, well, what you have to put that in there for? She said, that's my soul, man. Okay, I gave her a job and I named her Beebop. And her name is when I call her, you're going to recognize her because she's really going to the Great Heights. And I'm talking about Betty Carter, Beebop. Betty Carter, huh? She's tremendous. I mean, you should hear her sing, you know what I'm saying? We have a young lady, we have a young lady that's really a green woman and do these singers because we're going to have a privilege of having a veteran singer. I mean, a singer that's been on the trail with me a long time and many Republican rallies, you know what I'm saying? And I would have to break the present and have her sing a song. If I don't, would she give me a bad time, that's what I'm saying. But no, we all love her, but I'll tell you about her later. I'd better stop whining my head. We have a young lady that's really going to the Great Heights and singing and she just finished starring in one of the most terrific shows I've ever seen, The Wiz. And now she's headlining every place in the country on her own and just have great hit records out. Well, she's going to be with us tonight too. And I'd like for you to meet her. She's not going to sing now, but she's a president who's really felt here. So she wants to say hi to our great president, our face lead and our vice president and also Ms. Bush. And I'd like for you to meet Stephanie Mills. Stephanie Mills. Thank you. It was a reporter once asked me, say, Ham, do you like a country western? Do you like rock and roll? I said, I like all music. And he said, do you like, as I said before, country western music? I said, well, man, you must be death. I said, I like all music. And when I say all, I'm talking about one of the greatest singers of all time in American folk songs. I want you to meet the one and only Charlie Pride. Well, he's here in Washington, D.C. today. And I think he brought his heart from San Francisco with him. Ladies and gentlemen, the great one, the one of the finest singers of all times. I didn't say no more. I'm talking about the one and only Tony Bennett. For the lady I was talking about, we're going to have a sing. She has distinct honor of being the one who's going to sing this afternoon. Five of great distinguished guests. And ladies and gentlemen, I didn't say no more, but one of the finest performers of all times and a personal friend of mine. And I'm so happy that she's here with us today. And I know we all love her. I like to meet the one and only Miss Pearl Bailey. Huh? Yeah. I had picked another song. I don't know which mic to go, but it doesn't worry me, because I was in show business before they had electricity. Another song, Mr. President. I really did. And happy birthday, Mrs. Reagan. You and Louis are born the same day. But I had a song that I was going to move all across the stage and do all that and a carol like that. And then this man said veteran. And because he said veteran, I've got to do one of the greatest of the old songs. One that will really touch the heart and has no bearing on me whatsoever or anyone else in this audience. Sir, this gentleman's from Chicago. He's from New York. You want to play him? It's Sunday. Might as well do something. Everyone. Why does he keep on doing that? He doesn't have a job now, Mr. President. I can tell you now. Is that how you move them out? I move them right on out. Like the seasons. Heels just as free. I either sing one, but if you sing for the president, then you can pick up another one. Let's swing one. I'm tired of that veteran stuff. Let's move. I'll be loving you. You see, I seem to like the older songs. Vice President Bush. I'll be loving you. Always. With a love that I can understand. That's when I'll be there. Hey boys, I missed a ton. Terrible if I could move, Mr. President. We'll have some more jazz music after that. I'll tell you, he's a gentleman that he played here at the White House three years ago. At that time they had a barbecue. Today we have Kavya. He invited me to the last party. The only thing I'm mad at him, I didn't get no barbecue. He's getting plenty of Kavya today because he's with one of the finest groups. With the finest president in the world. First lady in the world. My good friend, the wonderful people here today. This administration has the greatest ministration in the world. And it's headlined by the greatest star in the world. President Ronald Reagan, huh? Let's get the president a big round of applause. Okay, we're going with this group and we'll come back to our star, the president. I'd like to say we're going to have a gentleman I was talking about. He's the promoter and the founder of the Newport Jazz Festival and also now the Cool Jazz Festival. We're going to have him to play piano. He was a child pro-gen in my band when he was 13 years old. Playing the piano. I'd like to say this time, let's meet and give a round of applause to George Wiens. Thank you, thank you. That's the best introduction you've had in your life. And also we'll bring back again at the bass, Milt Hinton, huh? Thank you, Milt. And one of the greatest all-time drummers of all times. I mean, this guy is really fantastic. When I call his name, you're going to recognize him and give him a big juicy round of applause. And I'm talking about the one and only Art Blakely, huh? A gentleman that's really made his notch in the musical world as being one of the finest musicians and trumpet players in the business today. I want you to meet Clark Terry, huh? And also a lad that came alumni from my band and he went on to play with Count Basie and now he's had his own auxiosep and doing great. I want you to meet one of the world's greatest trombone players, Al Gray. Excuse his hat, that's part of his uniform, huh? We have a gentleman here that's really brought the tin of saxophone out to be one of the populous horns in the business today in the music business. And don't have to say no more because we all know him and respect him and we love him. Let's meet and give a round of applause to Illinois Jacket, huh? Aren't we glad we grew up in the era of the big bands? I don't know why, but as time has gone by I just appreciate old folks more than ever. I'm going to remind her of a little something I'm supposed to say this that she might not remember but some years ago there was a young fellow that at age 21 had just a meteoric rise and skyrocketed in show business and the Friars Club in Los Angeles was giving a testimonial dinner of band could one of their famous roasts to this young man. And the biggest stars in the entertainment world were there all to entertain and perform and he was having a great time the gathering before the dinner mingling and so forth and Pearl was sitting over there and I went over and sat down beside her and we watched this for a minute and then the words of wisdom that have always characterized her came out she turned to me and said this was before we all had to go on in this big star stud at evening and she said I wish he were half as scared as I am. Well I think this has been a treat Lionel that Nancy and I will long remember and I think we're speaking for everyone here when we say that. And what makes it really special is that it was all put together to honor a truly great American Lionel Hampton and the gathering here on the south lawn of the White House is more than appropriate. This house I've said before belongs to the people of the United States and it's fitting that a man who has contributed so much to the enjoyment and cultural betterment of his fellow citizens should be honored here. Lionel stands for what's best about America. With raw talent and hard work he became one of the most respected men in American music. I understand when back in his younger days before he went on to the Viber Harp the older musicians like to play in groups with Lionel because he was a a good time drummer. He knew how to keep a beat. Well you know Lionel I don't think you've missed a beat in all these years. And this happens to be especially true when it comes to courage and decency. This man has always been an example for all of us. He's used his talent and his energy tirelessly to advance the cause of brotherhood. And I think his strength of character and integrity come through in his music. Of course he's a real institution here in Washington. He played for the inaugural celebrations of six presidents. Nancy and I are happy the last January and one of the wire is number six. When I was discussing this event with one of our fellows here on the team he said Lionel Hampton well he's played with all of the greats and I said my friend he is one of the greats. There are many ways that people make contributions to their country. What you've given to America over these many years can never be taken away. What you've done is make this country a happier place and I think speaking for all of us it's deeply appreciated. Tonight as you enjoy yourselves all of you and those wonderful performers who have been up here with you and those that you introduced in the audience at the Kennedy Center the hearts of your fellow citizens are with you hearts that are a little lighter because of the music you've provided. Now I'm going to stop making a speech because apparently the clean air board wouldn't give us permission to light the barbecue so you're all invited inside for refreshments. Please join us.