Singer Al Green will not be able to attend the White House taping of “Memphis Soul.”
According to the White House pool report, the soul singer said through a spokesman that a back injury is keeping him from traveling.
“Al Green has suffered a back injury that will prevent him from traveling. It is an injury he has experienced before and a full recovery is expected. He regrets he will not be able to perform before the President and First Lady at this esteemed event.” Blue Note Records’ JR Rich said in a statement released by the White House.
This is the second time the legendary singer has been unable to entertain an Obama invitation in recent months.
The AP reported in late January that a Green spokesman said he had been invited to sing at the inauguration, but was unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts.
Green was in attendance at Obama’s January 2012 at the Apollo Theater in New York when the president famously sang a a portion of Green’s song “Let’s Stay Together,” which the Huffington Post reported led to an 490-percent increase in sales.
Of Obama’s performance, Green told TMZ “he nailed it.”
No other performers have canceled for the evening’s festivities.