The day of January 19^th was a historic moment as the first African American, Barack Obama, was sworn in as the 44^th President of the United States.  Approximately 2 million attendants showed up at the National Mall in Washington D.C. to view the inauguration. 

Performers that played for the audience and the later Inaugural balls included Mary J Blige, Usher, Bounce Knowles, Jay Z, Kanye West, Will-I-am and U2.  Yet, for one of Obama's Inaugural Parties, Virginia's Inaugural Black Tie and Blue Dominion Ball, at the National Air and Space Museum there included several performances from a Chicago band called the Gentlemen of Leisure.

Within the group Amanya Amariel, one of the singers, performed before an audience of celebrities that included Steve Harvey, Actor Giancarlo Esposito, Actress Jasmine Guy, Actress Tatyana Ali, Actress Jenna Elfman, NASA Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, and the governor of Virginia Timothy Kaine,   Amanya is the daughter of Rabbi Howshua Amariel that endorsed Barack Obama during his presidential campaign and also the sister of Yeshiyah Amariel, the chairman of the Democratic campaign for Obama in Israel.  Now that Obama is the president of the United States, Amanya and her Chicago group have also been invited to the White House to perform for Presidents' Day before President Obama on February 22^nd 2009.  Presidents' Day now commemorates the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. From January through April 2009, Washington, DC is celebrating the Lincoln Bicentennial (Abraham Lincoln's 200th Birthday) with more than 80 exhibitions, performances, lectures, and guided tours.