September 21, 2011 16:58

Los Angeles school renames itself Carlos Santana Arts Academy

Valley Region Elementary School No. 12 is renamed in the guitarist's honour

Photo: PA Photos

A Los Angeles elementary school has renamed itself Carlos Santana Arts Academy after the legendary axeman.

The school, which was previously known as the Valley Region Elementary School No. 12, will now be known as the Carlos Santana Arts Academy after the school's board decided to honour the guitarist for his longstanding musical achievements and for philanthropy with his Milagro Foundation, which works to provide education and health care for children.

The Santana guitarist has thanked the school for the honour and wrote of his pride at receiving the accolade in a letter to the school's board, reports Fox News.

Santana recently made headlines as one of the artists protesting against the changes to the Grammy Awards. In another letter, this time to the organizers of the awards, he described the decision to remove over 30 categories from the proceedings as doing "a disservice to the brilliant musicians who keep music vibrant."

Santana's particular concern was the culling of category which celebrated Latin jazz.