Artist Profile: Carlos Santana

Artist Profile
Carlos Santana
By Hunter60

"The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart. The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace."

Carlos Santana

With ear piercing sustain and notes held to an almost impossible length riding on the strength of a wild mix of salsa, conga, jazz and Latin rhythms, Carlos Santana and the band that bears his surname, had been one of the primary forces behind "world music" long before the term had gained the legitimacy it now carries. Now in his fourth decade as a guitar legend, Carlos Santana has become the master of something else. He is the master of re-inventing himself and his music. He is a true survivor in an industry known for leaving a long trail of innovators in its wake.

Born in Autlan de Nacarro, Mexico on July 20th, 1947 as the son of a professional mariachi violinist, Carlos Augusto Alves Santana began to learn the violin from his father. At the age of eight, when his family moved to Tijuana, he switched to the guitar. In interviews, Carlos has said that he was heavily influenced by the sounds of blues and rock and roll drifting over the U.S. / Mexico border on American radio. He gladly acknowledges his musical influences as B.B. King, John Lee Hooker and T. Bone Walker as well as Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. In 1960, his family relocated to San Francisco but Carlos stayed behind in Tijuana where he was working as a musician in local clubs and busking along the dusty streets. In 1961, Carlos made the journey himself, catching up with his family in the United States.

The time he spent in San Francisco as a young guitarist helped shape him, not just musically but spiritually and politically. At the time, he worked as a dishwasher while earning a little change playing on the streets but he watched and he listened carefully to what was happening in the scene around him. He saw many of his idols perform in San Francisco, everyone from Albert and Freddie King to Howling Wolf to international folk musicians, jazz artisans and flat out rock and roll outfits. In 1966, he decided to become a full-time musician and formed The Santana Blues Band (quickly becoming Santana) which developed a rather loyal local following. Carlos has said in many interviews that he felt he never felt that he was in charge of the band but rather lent his name to the band to comply with union rules at the time that required each band have a designated leader.

Mixing their Latin-infused rock, jazz, blues, salsa and Afro-rhythms, the band was "found" by legendary Bay area promoter Bill Graham (who later became the bands manager) who provider the band their "debut" at his vaunted venue Filmore West in 1968. In September of that year, Carlos played guitar at a Al Koopers concert at the Filmore. Kooper was recording a follow-up to his Super Session album (featuring Mike Bloomfield and Steve Stills). The album was titled "The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper". This marked Santana's recording debut.

Within a year, the band had been signed to Columbia and had recorded their debut album. Before the album was released, they were playing at Woodstock where their fiery version of "Soul Sacrifice" (captured on the documentary of the fabled concert) became one of the surprise performances of the legendary show. Their self-title debut album, released in October 1969, went platinum and gave the band their first hit "Evil Ways". In 1970, the band released what is considered by many to be one of the finest psychedelic albums of all time "Abraxas" which went quadruple platinum and gave the band three more huge hits: "Black Magic Woman", "Oye Como Va" and "Samba Pa Ti".

The band scored well both commercially and critically in both 1971 and 1972 with their next two albums, Santana III (which featured a second guitarist, the then 16 year old, Neal Schon – later of Journey) and Caravanserai. In 1972, Carlos made his first recordings outside of the band, doing a live album with Buddy Miles and "Love, Devotion and Surrender" with jazz stars John McLaughlin, Jan Hammer, Billy Cobham, Stanley Clarke and Larry Young. It was becoming clear that Carlos was not just another rock guitarist but rather someone who was in midst-evolution, something that was to continue throughout his career.

In the late 70's, Santana tightened up his band and began to move it along a more funkier groove all the while still dropping out on occasion to guest on others jazz albums, the band was still viable in rock circles, scoring in 1977 with a remake of The Zombies "She's not there" and 1981's "Winning" which was written by former Argent front man Russ Ballard.

Santana kept resurfacing in rock circles, playing at Live Aid in 1985, The Amnesty International Festival in 1986 and in 1987 scored a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for his eighth solo album "Blues for Salvador". But his re-emergence and one of the most spectacular come backs in rock came about in 1997 when he jumped from Polydor to Arista Records. Under the direction of Clive Davis (the then President of Arista), recorded "Supernatural". Released in 1999, "Supernatural", Santana's thirty –fifth album, was heavy with guest stars including the likes of Rob Thomas, Lauren Hill, Wclef Jean, Dave Matthews and Eric Clapton, became one of the biggest selling albums of all time. By early 2000, on the strength of the single "Smooth", the album had sold over ten million copies and garnered the guitarist nine Grammy Nominations and eight wins, tying Michael Jacksons 1983 record for the most Grammy's won in a single year. The album has gone on to sell over twenty-five million copies.

He followed up "Supernatural" with "Shaman", another critics darling with another load of talented folks pitching in including Mary J. Blige, Los Lonely Boys and Steven Tyler.

He continues to record and produce under his own label, Guts and Grace.

Aside from being a musical virtuoso, Santana is a very spiritual man and a noted philanthropist. As recently as 2003, Carlos and his wife Deborah, donated all of the proceeds to the 2003 "Shaman" tour to helping fight AIDS. His signature sound comes from his PRS guitar that he plays straight with only an occasional routing through a Wah peddle, opting for technique and passion as opposed to effects.

In the latest issue of Rolling Stone, Carlos said in response to a question from interviewer David Fricke "You have to give yourself chills before anyone else gets them. I became less of a ringmaster. I forget to correct anyone onstage. I just go into my guitar. I can see the rest of the musicians going. "Yep, he's hungry, and he's helping himself"".