Carlos Santana was born on July 20th, 1947, in Autlan, Mexico. At the very beginning of his chilhood he started to play violin with guidance of his father Jose. Jose was an experienced mariachi violinist, and he taught Carlos the basics of traditional musical theory. But soon after moving to Tijuana, at age of eight, Carlos changed his violin to guitar. He started learning and emulating sounds of artists like B. B. King, T-Bone Walker and John Lee Hooker. After getting enough experience by playing in several local bands, Carlos arrived to San Francisco and rejoined his family, which had lived there a year already. In San Francisco he found colourful and rich musical atmosphere which helped in evolving his unique guitar-style. In 1966 he formed a band with his friends Gregg Rolie, Gus Rodriguez, Michael Carabello, naming it The Santana Blues Band. The band flew like a rocket to the sky of rock'n roll, and they found themselves performing in the legendary Woodstock festival in 1969. The legend of Carlos Santana was born. The time of recording a debut album was at hand. It was named after Santana, made in Columbia Records label and was an instant success spawning such hits as "Jingo" and "Evil Ways". Four out of five subsequent albums, Abraxas (1970), Santana III (1972), Caravanserai (1972) and Welcome (1973) were similar successes, selling either gold or platinum. |
From these albums can be found big hits as "Black Magic Woman" and "Oye Como Va". Then at least from commercial point of view, Santana's musical career started to flounder as he expanded his musical style more towards jazz. But at least he didn't sell his soul to get success. There were however many great moments: He was voted several times as the best poprock-guitarist in the Playboy magazine and was the first to receive CBS Records' Crystal Globe Award for selling more than 5 million records internationally (1977). He also got humanitarian and civic commendations like the Arthur M. Sohcot Award for Public Service and Excellence in Performance(1997) and the Golden Eagle Legend in Music Award from Nosotros(1997). By collaborating with songwriters as Dave Matthews, Everlast, Eagle Eye Cherry and Layryn Hill, he made a fantastic comeback with Supernatural(1999), getting nine grammy awards. The album has sold over 1.25 million copies this far. No-one can deny that Carlos has over the years developed very unique and interesting musical style mixing jazz, latino and rock-music by being very truthful to his own personal visions and ideas. And this magic works, believe it or not! |
Realaudio examples of Carlos Santana's guitarplaying |
|
Stylish intro |
Elegant solo in |
Santana |
1969 |
Abraxas |
1970 |
Santana III |
1971 |
Carlos Santana & |
1972 |
Caravanserai |
1972 |
Welcome |
1973 |
Love Devotion Surrender |
1973 |
Illuminations |
1974 |
Borboletta |
1974 |
Lotus(Live) |
1974 |
Greatest Hits |
1974 |
Amigos |
1976 |
Festival |
1977 |
Moonflower |
1977 |
Inner Secrets |
1978 |
Golden Realities |
1979 |
Marathon Oneness: Silver Dreams |
1979 |
The Swing of Delight |
1980 |
Zebop! |
1981 |
Shango |
1982 |
The Sound of Carlos |
1982 |
Havana Moon |
1983 |
Beyond Appearances |
1985 |
Live |
1985 |
Freedom |
1987 |
Blues for Salvador |
1987 |
Viva Santana! |
1988 |
Early Magic |
1989 |
Persuasion |
1989 |
Spirits Dancing in the Flesh |
1990 |
Milagro |
1992 |
Sacred Fire: Santana |
1993 |
Santana Jam |
1994 |
Soul Sacrifice |
1994 |
Jingo-Go-Lo-Ba |
1994 |
Light Dance |
1995 |
Brothers |
1995 |
Live at the Fillmore'68: |
1997 |
Awakening |
1998 |
Acapulco Sunrise |
1999 |
Supernatural |
1999 |
Shaman |
2002 |
