Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana was born in Autlan de Navarro, Mexico on July 20, 1947. He studied in Mexico and in the 1960s he later moved to San Francisco, where he formed a band called the Santa Clause Blues Band. In the 1970s to early 80s, the band released a number of successful hits, which saw the members receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Things became better for the band, and in 2013 it became the recipient of Kennedy Center Honors. As a teenager, Carlos started performing in strip clubs in Tijuana, inspired by blues and American rock & roll artists such as Little Richard and Ray Charles. On arriving in San Francisco, Santana was introduced to a number of new musical influences, like international folk music as well as jazz. He played for spare change on San Francisco’s streets before becoming a full-time musician, forming the band with fellow street artists, Gregg Rollie and David Brown.

Career Accomplishments

Santana gained an instant following in the club scene of San Francisco, with memorable performances such as the Woodstock in 1969. Their first album known as Santana included a single, Evil Ways, which made it to the top 10 Billboard chart, selling over 4 million records. In 1970 the band released Abraxas, which went platinum and gave them popular success. As the personnel of the band changed frequently, the band came to be associated with Santana himself, who with time became the only member of the original trio. In addition to the incredible work he had done with his band, Carlos went ahead to record and perform with several other artists, notably guitarist John McLaughlin, pianist Herbie Hancock, and drummer Buddy Miles. Together they marked a popular jazz album titled Love Devotion in 1973. Carlos Santana earned critical acclaim particularly for his solo album entitled Blues for Salvador, which he released in 1987. This album would later see him land the very first Grammy Award for the Best Instrumental Performance. The popularity of the album gave him a chance to tour extensively and be involved in tours such as the 1986 Amnesty International and 1985 LiveAid. Nominated in 9 different Grammy Awards categories including Song of the Year, Record of The Year, and Album of the Year, Santana clinched awards in every category. The interesting thing is that he tied the 1983 Michael Jackson’s record for most Grammy Awards in one year.

Most Known for

Guitarist Carlos Santana is best known for his jazz hits throughout the 70s and 80s. He is the leader of a band, Santana, whose music blends African rhythms, salsa, jazz, and Latin-infused rock. Some of the band’s singles that made it to the charts include Evil Ways, Black Magic Woman, and Oye Como Va.

Where is he now

Santana together with his wife Cindy Blackman lives in the city of Las Vegas. Although he doesn’t release any more hits, he is actively involved with music, having a particular interest in Jazz music. His uniquely recognizable sound is definitely legendary.