In Performance at the White House house band included Robert Mounsey (music director, piano and keyboards), David Mann (saxophone), Anthony Kadleck (trumpet), Henry Hey (keyboards), David Finck (bass), Ben Butler (guitar), Bashiri Johnson (percussion), Shawn Pelton (drums), Fonzi Thornton (background vocals), Vaneese Thomas (background vocals), Jill Dell'Abate (background vocals).
The starry occasion celebrated the presentation by President Obama of the Library of Congress' 2012 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song to composer Bacharach, 83, and lyricist David, 90. Bacharach was in attendance, but David, recovering from a recent stroke, was not there.
The Gershwin Prize for Popular Song "honors artists whose lifetime contributions in the field of popular song exemplify the standard of excellence associated with George and Ira Gershwin, by bridging musical styles, bringing diverse listeners together, and fostering their mutual respect and appreciation."
Previous recipients are Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney.
In making the selection for the prize, the Librarian of Congress turned for advice to leading members of the music and entertainment communities. The 2012 award advisory committee consisted of Elvis Costello, Bobette Dudley, Paul McCartney, Rickey Minor, Paul Simon, Lee Ann Womack and Stevie Wonder.
Bacharach and David have collaborated with other songwriters. Their most prolific time together was in the 1960s up to a hiatus in the mid-1970s. They reunited in the early 1990s with Dionne Warwick, writing a song titled "Sunny Weather Lover" for her "Friends Can Be Lovers" album.
Burt Bacharach won three Academy Awards and eight Grammy Awards, including the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award and the 1997 Trustees Award, both of which he shares with David. David has won several Grammy Awards; he also has received the Presidential Award from the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) and the B'Nai B'rith Creative Achievement Award. As a recipient of the Ivor Novello Award, he became the first American to achieve that honor. In 1996 he and Burt Bacharach received the Johnny Mercer Award from the national Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2011, the Hall also presented David with its Visionary Leadership Award.