'Fiesta Latina' at the White House

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Gloria Estefan and Marc Anthony headlined a night of Latin music at the White House Tuesday, playing music U.S. President Barack Obama said "speaks to us all."

The concert -- hosted by actress Eva Longoria Parker, actor Jimmy Smits and comedian George Lopez -- also featured performances by Jose Feliciano, Los Lobos and the Mexican singer Thalia. The event was taped for broadcast Thursday on PBS and Sunday on the Spanish-language Telemundo network.

"Although Latin music takes many forms, the spirit of diversity also unifies us," Obama said as he introduced the program."Even though it's constantly evolving, Latin music speaks to us all in a language we can understand about hope and joy, sorrow and pain, friendship and love."

Obama danced with Thalia and sang along with his daughters Malia and Sasha as Los Lobos played their hit version of the Ritchie Valens rock 'n' roll classic, "La Bamba."

The audience included prominent Latinos such as Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

David Hidalgo of Los Lobos said before the concert it was "a political event that we're here," the Times reported.

"But I think it's more just to celebrate the culture."