US President Barack Obama recognizes 2013 Kennedy Center Honorees (from left) Carlos Santana, Shirley MacLaine, Billy Joel, Herbie Hancock and Martina Arroyo at the White House, prior to the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington DC on Sunday. Photo: CFP

With notes of rock, jazz and opera, Washington feted piano man Billy Joel, actress Shirley MacLaine and guitarist Carlos Santana on Sunday at the Kennedy Center Honors, the capital's annual celebration of the arts.

Jazz pianist Herbie Hancock and opera singer Martina Arroyo rounded out the list of honorees at the country's prestigious awards ceremony for stars of the stage, screen and concert hall.

US President Barack Obama praised their successes at a White House ceremony before the show.

The night began with a tribute to Santana, a 10-time Grammy winner originally from Mexico. Singer Harry Belafonte, a Kennedy Center honoree, joked he was a victim of the Latino musician's greatness, who "took" his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame spot.

"The Latino thing has arrived. It has become the new black. And now Carlos is a citizen of the world."

The theme continued when Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic member of the nation's highest court, introduced opera diva Arroyo, who is of Puerto Rican and African-American heritage.

Reuters