JonBon at the White House last Monday

Let's go ahead and call it: Jon Bon Jovi is the official troubadour of the Democratic Party.

The enduring New Jersey rock star was scheduled to play a little gig in Washington on Monday night -- as the entertainment at the White House staff holiday party, solo and acoustic.

With countless hours logged on campaign trails for Democrats over the past decade (Al Gore, John Kerry, Jon Corzine), he's become the go-to star for events large and small. He lent his pipes to the Lincoln Memorial concert before President Obama's inauguration, dueting with formidable Bettye LaVette. He headlined a concert to benefit Hillary Clinton as she sought to close out her presidential campaign debt. He's the dutiful non-performing wonk-celeb at events like the U.N.'s World Habitat Day.

How inside is he? The night Gore conceded the 2000 race, 'Jovi was the mastermind behind a cathartic, dance-floor-rockin', late-night party at the Veep's mansion. Last year, he came to D.C. especially for the 40th-birthday party of Gore adviser Mike Feldman, at Joe Lockhart's house.

Every White House has its crooner. In the JFK years -- and then later, in the Reagan era -- it was Frank Sinatra. Barbra Streisand and Fleetwood Mac competed for the title under Bill Clinton. Bon Jovi has rivals, of course: Beyoncé and Aretha Franklin got to belt the big patriotic tunes at the big inaugural events. Wyclef Jean has played mini-concerts on Capitol Hill and to celebrate Nancy Pelosi's ascension to speaker. Will.I.Am created the Obama love-bomb "Yes, We Can" video -- but we haven't seen him around town lately. Bruce Springsteen, a bigger star, is more on-message. But does he play small rooms for the cause? Nope: Bon Jovi's that guy.

Haven't seen any photos of the event (yet, I'm sure some were smuggled out) but if/when I get them, I will be sure to share!

~ Hath

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