Skip to main content

Carlos Santana wants to save the world with music

By WTOP Staff

MESFIN FEKADU
AP Music Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Try to speak with Carlos Santana about his new album and he’ll want to talk about another topic: changing the world.

The veteran musician says he is planning a concert aimed at encouraging and motivating the development of young black and Latino men in the wake of Trayvon Martin’s death and Donald Sterling’s racist comments. He wants to hold the event next year in Florida and is working with Harry Belafonte.

“I’m not show biz and entertainment, I’m an activist,” he said. “I’m a person who with passion believes that we can change the world, we can transform hate and fear forever with the right songs and the right timing.”

Santana’s latest album, “Corazon,” debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 albums chart last week. It features Juanes, Gloria Estefan and Miguel, and Santana said it wasn’t hard finding “Cinderella or Cinderfella” to guest on the songs, which he calls “glass slippers.”

“We said, ‘Hey man, this is going to be great at the Latin Grammys. We got to make an impact there,'” he recalled. “And I go, ‘Latin Grammys, why stop there? Why don’t we go to the World Cup?’ Well guess what, we’re closing the World Cup with brother Wyclef (Jean)!”

In an interview with The Associated Press, Santana, 66, had advice for Jay Z, and talked about his tour with Rod Stewart, which kicks off Friday in Albany, New York.

_____

AP: How does it feel to release another album?

Santana: I feel really, really honored to gain people’s trust. People opened their hearts and their wallets. … It allows me to do more things with my brother Harry Belafonte and (activist) Dolores Huerta. … And so we want to have a concert and bring Jamie Foxx and different kinds of artists, musicians of all colors and utilize this attention and this energy. … Obviously (with) what happened with Donald Sterling and what’s happening with people throwing bananas at soccer stadiums, you know, we have a lot to heal.

AP: Who else do you want to invite to the concert?

Santana: I’d like to bring (NBA Hall of Famer) Dr. J (Julius Erving) and (former NBA player and mayor of Sacramento) Kevin Johnson to San Quentin and talk to the brothers, black and brown, broadcast it in all the prisons and call the event ‘You Cannot Break My Spirit.’

AP: How did your tour with Rod Stewart come about?

Santana: I can say it the way Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock would say it, ‘Both of us love to play spiritual music to touch all hearts.’ That’s one thing. The rascal in me … says, ‘We both love black music. We like to play black music for white people.’

AP: There are a number of collaborative tours this summer, from Kiss and Def Leppard to Beyonce and Jay Z. Who would you like to see hit the road together?

Santana: I’d like to see Metallica and Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock to broaden the wings. Metallica did a thing with a symphony, so they’re capable, of course, of playing without volume or with volume. I just like to expand popularity with genius. … I invite brothers like Jay Z who have the money to start bringing the African brothers back to the United States. Since 9/11, if your name is Idrissa Diop or if you have a Muslim name, they won’t let you in. But they let the Irish people in and they let the Canadian people in and people from Australia. Man, how come you don’t let the African people come in? … If I had the money and the means that Jay Z has, I would bring African musicians. … I’m going to invite them. We’re going to create something like this in Las Vegas where we can co-headline, because these brothers need to be taken to schools in America so the brothers (here) can learn how to play the drums again. That’s the thing I have in common with Africa — I understand the drum … it’s in my DNA.

___

Online:

http://www.santana.com/

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote