White House celebrates Hispanic musical heritage

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

The White House became "La Casa Blanca" on Tuesday, celebrating Hispanic musical heritage with a South Lawn concert and such guests as Gloria Estefan, George Lopez, the Bachata music group Aventura, Jose Feliciano and more.

President Barack Obama said Latin music, while hard to define because it comes in so many forms -- from salsa to merengue and Bachata to reggaeton -- speaks to everyone in a language they can all understand.

"It moves us, and it tends to make us move a little bit ourselves," Obama said in brief remarks before the infectious rhythms began pulsating on the White House grounds. "In the end, what makes Latin music great is the same thing that's always made America great. The unique ability to celebrate our differences while creating something new."

"In Performance at the White House: Fiesta Latina" is the third in a music series launched by first lady Michelle Obama to celebrate various genres of music. Jazz and country music events, with workshop for music students, have been held. Classical music is on tap for Nov. 4.



Read more: http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1824421,w-obama-salsa-hispanic-latin-dance-101409.article

[Xipe Totec]

1. Gloria Estefan actively campaigned against Al Gore

after the Elian Gonzales incident.

Some of us have neither forgiven nor forgotten.

[AlphaCentauri]

2. It's well known they associate with many republicans and many bureaucrats in the white house

I think they were there when Clinton was president also.

[mackerel]

4. I don't see Juanes on the list. What about all the Afro-Cuban

jazz bands?

It sounds more like a celebration of Latino Pop music.

[AlphaCentauri]

5. No mariachis, vallenatos, llaneros, cumbes or other latino cultural manifestations n/t

[WriteDown]

9. Please....

no mariachis. Ugh.

[B3Nut]

11. I saw a mariachi band at a community festival in Chicago

they were *good*. Great musicians, and had one hell of a sound. I really dig the guitarron (the bass instrument.) Couldn't understand the words, but the music was a lot of fun to listen to.

Todd in Cheesecurdistan

[LuckyLib]

3. PBS is airing a wonderful series on Latin music.

http://video.pbs.org/program/1253189365/

[mackerel]

6. Yeah I caught some of it the other night - fantastic!

Is the narrator Jimmy Smits by chance?

[LuckyLib]

10. It is Smits. And what a wonderful review of great Latino musicians and groups.

Fania All Stars? I remember the first album. Wonderful.

[cyberswede]

7. Thanks for the link!

I missed this on my tv machine. :)

[Doctor_J]

8. David Hildalgo - a really fine guitarist

Los Lobos - gettin' it done for 20 years.