"I feel honored to be speaking to young musicians and a new generation of music scholars,'' Santana said in a statement released by UCLA.
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"The class of 2020 is resilient, and their voices are needed now more than ever. I want them to use their music as a platform to empower and unite as we seek justice and creative solutions during these challenging times."
Last month, the 72-year-old guitarist-bandleader and his wife, Cindy Blackman Santana, released their rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine.'' The couple is donating proceeds from the sale of the single through SongAid to WhyHunger, a nonprofit fighting hunger around the world.
In 1998, Santana and his family founded the Milagro Foundation, which has granted more than $8 million for nonprofit programs that support underserved youth in the areas of arts, education and health.
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The 10-time Grammy Award-winning artist has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and has produced countless chart-topping hits, including "Black Magic Woman,'' "Oye Como Va,'' and "Smooth.'' His group, Santana, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.