As Denver dignitaries gathered Tuesday for Mayor John Hickenlooper’s State of the City address, City Council President Michael Hancock introduced singer Rene Marie to perform the national anthem.

But that’s not what she did.

Instead, Marie performed the song “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” which also is known as the “black national anthem.”

When she finished, the proceedings moved forward, and the “Star-Spangled Banner” was never performed.

Councilman Charlie Brown took to local talk radio Tuesday afternoon to blast the lack of the nation’s anthem at the proceedings.

“There’s no replacement for the national anthem,” Brown said. “They should have sung it.”

“I was surprised,” said Hancock, who said he thought Marie should have cleared her plans with the mayor’s office in advance. By Tuesday afternoon he had received several telephone calls from citizens and the media. “But you go on with the show.”

Hickenlooper said in a statement: “We were as surprised as anyone that jazz singer René Marie did not sing our national anthem at Tuesday’s State of the City ceremony, as our staff had requested. As I listened to her sing, I assumed she would eventually move into the traditional Star Spangled Banner. I called her personally this (Tuesday) afternoon to understand what happened. She explained her song was an artistic expression of her love for her country. She said she meant no disrespect of any kind and that her song was in no way intended to be a political statement. She apologized for any problems she may have created.

“I’m disappointed that this matter has been a distraction from the great work and significant accomplishments of our City employees over the past year and the many important initiatives on tap for the coming year.

Christopher N. Osher: 303-954-1747 or cosher@denverpost.com