Take a Sneak Peek Into White House's Celebration of Memphis Soul

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 9: U.S. President Barack Obama hosts a concert of Memphis Soul music as part of the 'In Performance at the White House' series in the East Room of the White House April 9, 2013 in Washington, DC. Justin Timberlake was also scheduled to perform. Credit: Getty Images

WASHINGTON (TheBlaze/AP) -- President Barack Obama and the first family sang along with Justin Timberlake and other performers during the White House's tax-payer funded celebration of Memphis Soul.

"Let's face it, who does not love this music?" Obama asked Tuesday, opening the night's concert in an East Room bathed in amber light and transformed by the addition of a stage and backup musicians.

Here's the first sneak peek inside the party:

Memphis, Tenn., was segregated in the 1960s, but blacks and whites came together despite the institutional racism to create a soulful blend of gospel and rhythmic blues music that sought to "bridge those divides, to create a little harmony with harmony," Obama said.

He noted that two of the night's guests, Booker T. Jones and Steve Cropper, helped form one of the city's first integrated bands.

"And that was the spirit of their music - the sound of Soulsville, U.S.A., a music that, at its core, is about the pain of being alone, the power of human connection, and the importance of treating each other right," Obama said. "After all, this is the music that asked us to try a little tenderness. It's the music that put Mr. Big Stuff in his place. And it's the music that challenged us to accept new ways of thinking with four timeless words: 'Can you dig it?'"

And with that, Obama took his seat and the show opened with Sam Moore, half of the duo Sam & Dave, and "American Idol" finalist and gospel singer Joshua Ledet belting out Moore's "Soul Man," followed minutes later by Justin Timberlake and Cropper's rendition of Otis Redding's (Sittin' on) "The Dock of the Bay."

US President Barack Obama listens to a performance alongside his daughter Sasha during a concert in honor of Memphis Soul music in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 9, 2013, as part of the 'In Performance at the White House' series. The concert, featuring performances by Justin Timberlake, Booker T. Jones, Ben Harper, Queen Latifiah, among others, is the latest in the series that honors American musicians from all spectrums of musical genres, and airs next week on the PBS television channel. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters, Malia and Sasha, sat in the front row. The president and first lady at times clapped their hands and bobbed and weaved their heads to the pulsating rhythms.

The concert was the 10th in the "In Performance at the White House" series since Obama took office. Other performers included Alabama Shakes, Ben Harper, Cyndi Lauper, Charlie Musselwhite, Mavis Staples , Queen Latifah and William Bell. Latifah also was the host and Jones led the band.

Opponents have criticized the White House's lavish parties as the administration continues to warn about the disastrous effects of the sequester. Fox News' "Hannity" mockingly referred to the party as a "sequestration celebration."

Watch that segment below via Fox News:

Earlier in the day, Bell said the concert reaffirmed years of hard work that began in the 1960s when Stax Records was created in Memphis, and the label cranked out one soul and R&B hit after another for more than a decade.

Redding, Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, Bell and Sam & Dave were among the company's artists.

"As kids coming up, we didn't think it would last this long," the 73-year-old Bell said during a rehearsal break. He later performed his hit, "You Don't Miss Your Water."

Al Green had been scheduled to perform but, about an hour before the show, the White House released a statement from the singer's spokesman who said Green had suffered a back injury and would be unable to attend.

The Memphis soul concert is set to air next Tuesday on PBS stations. It will also be broadcast at a later date over the American Forces Network for service members and civilians at Defense Department locations worldwide.