Concert at U.N. by popular musician Carlos Santana 1980 Apr 07

7 April -The Mission of Panama and the Peace Meditation Group sponsored a free concert at the U.N. by popular musician Carlos Santana

DEVADIP CARLOS SANTANA GIVES UNITED NATIONS CONCERT

Devadip Carlos Santana treated the United Nations community to an evening of his music on 7 April 1980 in a free concert held in the Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium.

Shraddha

Mr. Santana, who is best known for leading the Santana band, offered the hundreds who packed the auditorium ample opportunity to appreciate his solo artistry on the electric guitar as well as his group’s virtuosity.

Shraddha

The programme was sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Panama to the United Nations and Sri Chinmoy: the Peace Meditation at the United Nations. Mrs. Jorge Illueca served as Master of Ceremonies for her husband, Ambassador Illueca, who was detained in Panama.

Shraddha

Mr. Santana has been voted best rock guitarist by “Guitar Player Magazine” and in 1978 was voted “Bay Area Musician of the Year” by his fans in California. William Carlton of the New York Daily News has called him “quite possibly the greatest guitarist of his generation and certainly one of the most brilliant, fiery, inspired and inspiring musicians ever.”

In 1977 CBS awarded the Santana Band their first “Crystal Globe Award” marking the sale of five million units sold in Europe. In japan, Santana’s “Amigos” album was chosen as “Album of the year” in 1976.

Since their appearance at Woodstock the Santana band has recorded 15 albums (through 1978) and toured throughout the world. Included in their extensive itinerary have been benefit concerts to aid Nicaraguan earthquake victims, San Francisco school children, prisoners in California, the Marin Youth Orchestra, the University of California EOP programme, the Paris school children’s sports programme and UNICEF.

Mr. Santana’s contributions to UNICEF were recognised in an award ceremony at the close of the concert. On behalf of the U. S. Committee for UNICEF, Sri Chinmoy presented him with a commemorative coin. Excerpts from the programme follow.

Shraddha

Mrs. Jorge Illueca of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Panama to the United Nations:

On behalf of the Permanent Mission of Panama to the United Nations and Sri Chinmoy the Peace Meditation at the United Nations, I would like to welcome you to tonight ‘s concert, which is being offered to the United Nations community by Devadip Carlos Santana.

Ambassador Illueca very much wanted to be with us tonight, but was not able to get back in time from Panama. As I am sure all of us here know, Mr. Santana, in addition to being one of the major performers of the past ten years, has recently expressed his concern for the work of the United Nations by participating in a large benefit concert to aide UNICEF’s work in Kampuchea.

It is our privilege and honour to welcome him and to thank him for offering tonight’s concert to the United Nations community.

(At the end of the concert, Mr. Santana received an award from the U.S. Committee for UNICEF’S MUSIC FOR UNICEF.

Here Sri Chinmoy, Mrs. Illueca and her daughter, Marta, and Mr. Santana listen while the meditation group choir sings a song of congratulations.)

Shraddha

The singers also performed

several songs dedicated

to Panama by Sri Chinmoy.

Shraddha

Mrs. Jorge Illueca:

In December 1979, in the midst of a concert tour of the United States, Devadip Carlos Santana and his group played a benefit concert in California. raising a significant contribution for the International Year of the Child.

The very next month in Oakland, California, he joined other well-known performers in a concert to benefit UNICEF’s relief efforts in Kampuchea. In recognition of these efforts and the generous spirit of self-giving behind them, MUSIC 8 FOR UNICEF takes this opportunity to express its gratitude to Mr. Santana.

On behalf of MUSIC FOR UNICEF,

I would like to request Sri Chinmoy to present this commemorative coin to Devadip Carlos Santana

for his work during the International Year of the Child and for his continuing work for the children of the world.

The quote on the award reads:

“There shall be peace on Earth;

But not until each child shall daily eat his fill;

Go warmly clad against the winter wind

And learn his lessons with a tranquil mind.”

Shraddha

Sri Chinmoy:

Dear Mrs. Illueca, I am extremely grateful to you for having given me the opportunity to offer this most significant award to the unparalleled musician Devadip Carlos Santana.

He has played throughout the length and breadth of the world and his music has been highly acclaimed by young and old alike.

It is his heart that inspires and elevates the music-loving world. He is all heart, his music is all heart, his contribution to the world at large is all heart. Heart means oneness, oneness within and oneness without.

The vision of the United Nations is for a oneness-family.

So, to me, this is a most appropriate place for Devadip to play in.

I am sure that he will agree with me that his heart’s soulful contributions to the soul of the United Nations are being accepted most lovingly.

On behalf of the Peace Meditation Group, I wish to thank him most soulfully while offering him this most coveted award.

And once more, I wish to thank you for this opportunity to offer it to him