Carlos Santana(I)
- Music Artist
- Actor
- Composer
Carlos Santana is a Mexican guitarist, composer, singer and band-leader who
helped to shape the concept of "world music" by his experiments with
blending many styles of music from a multitude of ethnic sources.
He was born Carlos Augusto Alves Santana on July 20, 1947, in Autlán de
Navarro, Jalisco, Mexico. He is one of six children born to José
Santana and Josefina Barragán. From the age of 5 young Santana learned
the violin from his father, a professional mariachi violinist. He
switched to guitar at the age of 8, when the family moved to Tijuana.
During the late 50s he was playing gigs at clubs and bars with various
bands up and down the Tijuana Strip. In 1961 he moved to San Francisco,
California, joining the family, which moved there the previous year. In
1966 he made his debut with the newly formed Santana Blues Band. In
1968 Santana was promoted by
Bill Graham to play at the famous
Fillmore West in San Francisco. The first album, self-titled 'Santana',
was released in 1969.
Santana shot to fame after the legendary performance at Woodstock Music
and Art Festival in 1969. His surprise appearance was captured in the
film 'Woodstock' which vastly increased Santana's popularity. The
psychedelic second album titled 'Abraxas' (1970) reached No.1 on the
album charts and went on to sell over four million copies worldwide.
Three songs from that album: 'Black Magic Woman', 'Oye Como Va', and
'Samba Pa Ti' became huge international hits. Then he collaborated with
poet and guru Sri Chinmoy and jazz guitarist
John McLaughlin in a
spiritual and musically innovative album 'Love, Devotion, Surrender'
(1973).
After years of touring, Santana participated in the first-ever joint
US-Soviet "Rock'n Roll Summit" in 1987. At that time Santana evolved to
become a multi-faceted artist and prepared to re-emerge as a
conscientious member of society. He contributed to the benefit of San
Francisco Earthquake Relief, Doctors Without Borders, Indigenous People
Fund, Hispanic Media & Education Group, Amnesty International, LA
Museum of Tolerance, and other charitable causes. In 1998, Carlos
Santana and his wife Deborah started the Milagro Foundation which
contributed 1,8 million dollars to help underprivileged youths. Santana
also contributed the profits of his 2003 'Shaman' tour to fight AIDS.
'Supernatural' (1999) is considered by many to be Carlos Santana's
greatest work. It became the Album of the Year, received eleven Grammy
awards, and sold over 25 million copies worldwide. It included such
hits as "Smooth" and "Maria Maria" and featured guest artists
Rob Thomas,
Wyclef Jean,
Eric Clapton, and
Dave Matthews among others.
Santana continued collaboration with various artists in his next
albums, 'Shaman (2003) and 'All That I Am' (2005), and also contributed
to the 2005 album of Herbie Hancock. He
received the Latin Recording Academy's honor as "Person of the Year" in
2004.
During the four decades of his career Santana has been a true
multi-cultural artist. He contributed to shaping the concept of "world
music" by his experiments with blending many styles and genres of music
from a multitude of ethnic sources. His instantly identifiable blend of
Latin, salsa, blues, rock, and Afro-Cuban styles has been evolving with
the inclusion of elements from jazz, fusion, and world beat. Santana's
high-pitched and clean guitar sound has been coming out of his
custom-made PRS guitars. His unique and instantly recognizable sound is
legendary: "With one note people know me..." says Carlos Santana.
A street and public square in his native town of Autlan de Navarro is
bearing his name. Carlos Santana is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame. He has sold more than 90 million records, and performed to
over 100 million people globally.
helped to shape the concept of "world music" by his experiments with
blending many styles of music from a multitude of ethnic sources.
He was born Carlos Augusto Alves Santana on July 20, 1947, in Autlán de
Navarro, Jalisco, Mexico. He is one of six children born to José
Santana and Josefina Barragán. From the age of 5 young Santana learned
the violin from his father, a professional mariachi violinist. He
switched to guitar at the age of 8, when the family moved to Tijuana.
During the late 50s he was playing gigs at clubs and bars with various
bands up and down the Tijuana Strip. In 1961 he moved to San Francisco,
California, joining the family, which moved there the previous year. In
1966 he made his debut with the newly formed Santana Blues Band. In
1968 Santana was promoted by
Bill Graham to play at the famous
Fillmore West in San Francisco. The first album, self-titled 'Santana',
was released in 1969.
Santana shot to fame after the legendary performance at Woodstock Music
and Art Festival in 1969. His surprise appearance was captured in the
film 'Woodstock' which vastly increased Santana's popularity. The
psychedelic second album titled 'Abraxas' (1970) reached No.1 on the
album charts and went on to sell over four million copies worldwide.
Three songs from that album: 'Black Magic Woman', 'Oye Como Va', and
'Samba Pa Ti' became huge international hits. Then he collaborated with
poet and guru Sri Chinmoy and jazz guitarist
John McLaughlin in a
spiritual and musically innovative album 'Love, Devotion, Surrender'
(1973).
After years of touring, Santana participated in the first-ever joint
US-Soviet "Rock'n Roll Summit" in 1987. At that time Santana evolved to
become a multi-faceted artist and prepared to re-emerge as a
conscientious member of society. He contributed to the benefit of San
Francisco Earthquake Relief, Doctors Without Borders, Indigenous People
Fund, Hispanic Media & Education Group, Amnesty International, LA
Museum of Tolerance, and other charitable causes. In 1998, Carlos
Santana and his wife Deborah started the Milagro Foundation which
contributed 1,8 million dollars to help underprivileged youths. Santana
also contributed the profits of his 2003 'Shaman' tour to fight AIDS.
'Supernatural' (1999) is considered by many to be Carlos Santana's
greatest work. It became the Album of the Year, received eleven Grammy
awards, and sold over 25 million copies worldwide. It included such
hits as "Smooth" and "Maria Maria" and featured guest artists
Rob Thomas,
Wyclef Jean,
Eric Clapton, and
Dave Matthews among others.
Santana continued collaboration with various artists in his next
albums, 'Shaman (2003) and 'All That I Am' (2005), and also contributed
to the 2005 album of Herbie Hancock. He
received the Latin Recording Academy's honor as "Person of the Year" in
2004.
During the four decades of his career Santana has been a true
multi-cultural artist. He contributed to shaping the concept of "world
music" by his experiments with blending many styles and genres of music
from a multitude of ethnic sources. His instantly identifiable blend of
Latin, salsa, blues, rock, and Afro-Cuban styles has been evolving with
the inclusion of elements from jazz, fusion, and world beat. Santana's
high-pitched and clean guitar sound has been coming out of his
custom-made PRS guitars. His unique and instantly recognizable sound is
legendary: "With one note people know me..." says Carlos Santana.
A street and public square in his native town of Autlan de Navarro is
bearing his name. Carlos Santana is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame. He has sold more than 90 million records, and performed to
over 100 million people globally.