Countdown is on for Latin version of Obama's highly-anticipated inaugural fetes

Puerto Rican salsa/pop singer Marc Anthony

With only 11 days left for the biggest event of 2009, there’s no word yet from President-elect Barack Obama’s camp on whether or not there will be an official Latino inaugural ball held on Jan. 20, 2009 in Washington D.C.

But that doesn’t mean that thousands of thrilled Latinos who voted for the democratic candidate in the U.S. presidential elections in November are going to stay home and watch nuggets of the 11 confirmed galas so far on TV.

Their plan is to party, and party big time.

Earlier this week, the 2009 Latino Inaugural Gala committee announced an array of big-name entertainers - from salsa kings and pop icons to urban powerhouses - slated to perform in the festivities taking place Jan. 18, 2009 at Union Station.

The A-list includes Marc Anthony, Alejandro Sanz, Paulina Rubio, Lila Downs, Cucu Diamantes & Yerba Buena and Mariachi Los Camperos, among others.

Next week, the organization is expected to announce the participation of additional high-profile celebrities.

"It is inspiring to have so many talented and admired Latino entertainers willing to come together in celebration of our nation's 44th President, the Honorable Barack Obama, and of the historic role Latinos played in this election," said in a prepared statement Esther Aguilera, President and CEO of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), one of the co-hosts of the Latino Inaugural Gala.

"This will truly be an impressive display of the musical and cultural contributions that our community has to offer," she added.

For Ramona Martínez, Chair of the DNC Hispanic Caucus, one of the organizations co-hosting the event, the benefit gala promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime event.

"Bringing together such an incredible variety of entertainers will ensure that the Latino Inaugural Gala will be, without a doubt, one of the greatest and most memorable inaugural celebrations to date.”

According to the Latino group, all proceeds raised from the 2009 Latino Inaugural Gala will go to support the creation of a National Museum of the American Latino in Washington, D.C.

So far, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder are among the handful of popular U.S. entertainers scheduled to perform at Obama’s inaugural celebration. Shakira’s participation in the event is yet to be confirmed.

Marc Anthony portraying the late iconic salsa singer Héctor Lavoe in a scene

from the tribute flick "El Cantante." He's performing "Aguanile," the salsa classic

by the dynamite Lavoe/ Willie Colón duo.

You can also check out here my "Top 10 'Fantasy' list of Latin artists for Obama's inaugural bash"

 http://www.examiner.com/x-615-Latin-Music-Examiner~y2008m12d12-My-Top-10-list-of-Latin-artists-for-Obamas-inaugural-bash