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Obama honours Stevie Wonder

President Barack Obama presents Stevie Wonder with the Library of Congress Gershwin Award during 'Stevie Wonder In Performance at the White House: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize' in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Barack Obama presents Stevie Wonder with the Library of Congress Gershwin Award during 'Stevie Wonder In Performance at the White House: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize' in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

WASHINGTON - Stevie Wonder picked up a major award at the White House, and Barack and Michelle Obama were treated to a concert from the singer whose music the president says brought the couple together.

WASHINGTON - Stevie Wonder picked up a major award at the White House, and Barack and Michelle Obama were treated to a concert from the singer whose music the president says brought the couple together.

The Obamas late on Wednesday hosted a concert to honour Wonder, an early and vocal supporter of Obama for president.

"I think it's fair to say that had I not been a Stevie Wonder fan, Michelle might not have dated me," Obama told guests that included the singer Will.i.am, a number of US lawmakers and Attorney General Eric Holder.

The White House's stately East Room was transformed into an intimate, miniature concert hall for the occasion, in which Obama presented Wonder with the second yearly Gershwin Award for Lifetime Achievement from the US Library of Congress.

Wonder accepted the award for his late mother, then praised the US president and hoped Obama could unite the world.

The first Gershwin award, named after 20th century US composer and pianist George Gershwin, went to singer Paul Simon in 2007. - Sapa-AFP

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