Courtesy of Universal Tone Management

Courtesy of Universal Tone ManagementCarlos Santana and his wife, Santana drummer Cindy Blackman Santana, have recorded a version of John Lennon‘s classic peace anthem “Imagine” as part of a new campaign called SongAid that will benefit the WhyHunger charity’s Rapid Response Fund.

Starting this Friday, May 29, new songs contributed by a variety of artists will premiere each Friday as part of a SongAid playlist available via various streaming music services.  Each time someone listens to those tunes, the streaming proceeds will be donated to the WhyHunger fund.

The Santanas’ cover of “Imagine” will be included in the first SongAid playlist, along with tunes recorded by Tom Morello, Run DMC‘s Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and his group The HellRaisers, and renowned classical cellist Yo-Yo Ma with The Silkroad Ensemble. In addition, a collaboration between Steve Miller and Jesse Colin Young will be featured on a future playlist. Visit SongAid.com for more details.

“It is an honor to work alongside WhyHunger on the SongAid campaign,” Carlos and Cindy Blackman Santana say in a joint statement. “We have always been strong supporters of their work and it gives us great joy to share John Lennon’s message of peace and light, together with them, to make a tangible difference in the world and feed those in need.”

Adds Yoko Ono Lennon, a longtime WhyHunger supporter, “I am excited that Cindy Blackman Santana and Carlos Santana’s beautiful rendition of ‘Imagine’ is helping to kick off this important campaign and bring my late husband, John Lennon’s, vision of a peaceful world, free from hunger, to this critical cause.”

WhyHunger’s Rapid Response Fund seeks to provide economic relief and food to the people affected most by hunger and poverty during the coronavirus pandemic.

By Matt Friedlander
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