Santana
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Carlos Santana, a Mexican-born American guitarist, popularly known as the leader of the band that bears his last name, which has toured and recorded successfully since the late '60s. He has also recorded a series of exploratory solo albums and collaborations with other musicians that expand upon his basic musical style.
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About
Devadip Carlos Santana was born on July 20, 1947 at Autlan de Novarra, Mexico. This man became famous in rock music industry with the tag of Carlos Santana. He grew up in Mexico. He followed the footstep of his father who is a mariachi violinist and also a music buff.
Sooner, the family moved to Tijuana. He began playing in clubs and bars. The family moved to San Franciso during the early '60s. At first, Santana remained in Tijuana, but he later joined them and attended Mission High School, he's graduating by June 1965 that time.
It was 1966 when Carlos hailed as one of the founders of the Santana Blues Band. It was being required to name a titular leader of the group in address to a provision of the musicians union, so despite of the name, the group was at first cooperative. The name was eventually shortened to Santana and the band debuted at the Fillmore West Theater in San Francisco on June 16, 1968.
To record a follow-up to the Super Session album, that September, Carlos played guitar at a concert held at the Fillmore West by Al Kooper that he even had featured him with Mike Bloomfield and Steve Stills. It was resulted with The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper, which manifest Santana's recording debut.
For the meantime, Santana signed up a contract with Columbia Records and had recorded his self-titled debit album. By that time, they were even became a sextet which consists of Carlos – guitar, Gregg Roli – keyboards and vocals, David Brown – bass, Michael Shrieve – drums, Jose “Chepito” Areas – percussion, and Michael Carabello – percussion. Prior to the release of the album, Santana toured the U.S, in August 1969, they made their notable performance at the celebrated Woodstock festival. On the same month, Santana was released, and even became a massive hit. In 1970 Abraxas was released and on 1971 Santana III was then released too. Right after the completion of their record and touring activities in connection with Santana III, unfortunately, the original Santana band broke up.
From then on, Carlos had remained the rights to the group’s name and he proceeded to lead a band called Santana. With the newly hired musicians, there is a constant change in the group. After the breakup, his first recording with singer/drummer Buddy Miles, an album titled “Carlos Santana & Buddy Miles! Live!” was released in June 1972. Due to consistent success of Santana band, the album achieved the Top Ten and event went platinum. In 1972, right after the release of the Santana band album “Caravanserai”, Carlos fashioned a duo with John McLaughlin, a famous guitarist from Mahavishnu Orchestra. They shared a spiritual leader in guru Sri Chinmoy, the one who granted Carlos his name Devadip, which means “the eye, the lamp, and the light of God.” It was June 1973 when their duo album “Love Devotion Surrender” was released. It even sores the Top 20 and finally went gold. After that release of another Santana band Project which was “Welcome”, Carlos next lined up with Turiya Alice Coltrane, another religious disciple, who was a widow of John Coltrane, for his third duo album. In September 1974, their album “Illuminations” was released which spent two months in the charts, hitting at the bottom quarter of the Top 100.
For the rest of 1970s, Carlos’ center of attention was Santana band, which then released a series of gold or platinum albums like: Borboletta (1974), Amigos (1975), Festival (1976), Moonflower (1977), and Inner Secrets (1978). February 1979, when he finally released his first real solo album “Oneness/Silver Dreams – Golden Reality, which is actually credited to Devadip. Just like “Illuminations” it also spent a couple of months in the chart and peaked the bottom quarter of the Top 100. He turned to solo work with the double-LP jazz collection “The Swing of Delight” in August 1980, just right after another gold Santana band album “Marathon” in 1979.
Carlos focused on Santana band for the rest of the 1970s, releasing a series of gold or platinum albums: Borboletta (1974), Amigos (1975), Festival (1976), Moonflower (1977), and Inner Secrets (1978). In February 1979, he finally released his first real solo album, the half-live, half-studio Oneness/Silver Dreams -- Golden Reality, actually credited to Devadip. Like Illuminations, it spent a couple of months in the charts and peaked in the bottom quarter of the Top 100. After another gold Santana band album, Marathon (1979), he returned to solo work with the double-LP jazz collection The Swing of Delight in August 1980. Guests featured were Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Ron Carter, which sold a little better compared to his previous solo album.
Until now, Santana’s passion for rock music is still reigning.
Original Band Members:
- Carlos Santana - Vocals & Guitars
- Gregg Rolie - Vocals & Keyboards
- Neil Schon - Guitars
- Armando Peraza - Percussions
- Jose Chepito - Percussions
- Michael Carabello - Conga
- Michael Shrieve - Drumms
Current Line-Up:
- Carlos Santana - Guitar & Vocals
- Chester Thompson - Keyboards
- Benny Rietveld - Bass Guitar
- Dennis Chambers - Drums
- Andy Vargas - Vocals
- Karl Perazzo - Timbales, percussion
- Raul Rekow - Congas, percussion
- Bill Ortiz - Trumpet
Awards & Certifications
Awards
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Grammy Award | Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "The Game Of Love" |
| 2003 | Radio Music Award | Song of the Year for "The Game of Love" |
| 2001 | BMI Urban Award | Song of the Year for "Maria Maria" |
| 2001 | Arthur M. Sohot Award | Award for Excellence |
| 2000 | Latin Grammy Award | Record of the Year for "Corazon Espinado" |
| 2000 | Touch Tunes Award | Most Performed Song for "Smooth" |
| 2000 | American Music Award | Favorite Pop/Rock Album for "Supernatural" |
| 2000 | California Music Award | Outstanding Single for "Smooth" |
| 2000 | California Music Award | Outstanding Album for "Supernatural" |
| 2000 | Amigo Award | Best International Band |
| 2000 | Grammy Award | Best Rock Performance by a Group for "Put Your Lights On" |
| 2000 | Grammy Award | Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "The Calling" |
| 2000 | Grammy Award | Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "El Farol" |
| 2000 | Blockbuster Entertainment Award | Favorite Artist or Group, Rock |
| 2000 | Latin Grammy Award | Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "El Farol" |
| 2000 | Latin Grammy Award | Best Rock Performance by a Group for "Corazon Espinado" |
| 2000 | Grammy Award | Album of the Year for "Supernatural" |
| 2000 | Grammy Award | Best Rock Album for "Supernatural" |
| 2000 | Grammy Award | Record of the Year for "Smooth" |
| 2000 | Grammy Award | Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "Smooth" |
| 2000 | Grammy Award | Best Pop Performance by a Group for "Maria, Maria" |
| 1975 | Latin New York Music Award | Latin Rock Band of the Year |
Certifications
| Year | Album | Certifications |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Santana | Certified 2x Platinum |
| 1969 | Abraxas | Certified 5X Platinum |
| 1971 | Santana III | Certified 2x Platinum |
| 1972 | Caravanserai | Certified Platinum |
| 1972 | Carlos Santana and Bubby Miles | Certified Platinum |
| 1973 | Love, Devotion, and Surrender | Certified Gold |
| 1973 | Welcome | Certified Gold Album |
| 1974 | Santana's Greatest Hits | Certified 7X Platinum |
| 1974 | Borboletta | Certified Gold |
| 1976 | Amigos | Certified Gold |
| 1976 | Festival | Certified Gold |
| 1977 | Moonflower | Certified 2x Platinum |
| 1978 | Inner Secrets | Certified Gold |
| 1979 | Marathon | Certified Gold |
| 1987 | Zebop! | Certified Platinum |
| 1982 | Shango | Certified Gold |
| 1988 | Viva Santana | Certified Gold |
| 1997 | Viva Santana | Certified Gold |
| 1997 | Moonflower | Certified 2x Platinum |
| 1998 | The Best of Santana | Certified Platinum |
| 1999 | Maria Maria | Certified Platinum |
| 1999 | Supernatural | Certified 15X Platinum |
| 1999 | Smooth | Certified Platinum |
| 2002 | Shaman | Certified 2x Platinum |
Chart Toppers
BILLBOARD CHART
| Year | Title | Chart | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Just Feel Better | Adult Contemporary | 28 | All That I Am |
| 2006 | Just Feel Better | Pop 100 | 99 | All That I Am |
| 2005 | I'm Feeling You | Adult Contemporary | 5 | All That I Am |
| 2005 | I'm Feeling You | Hot Digital Songs | 39 | All That I Am |
| 2005 | I'm Feeling You | Hot Digital Songs | 67 | All That I Am |
| 2005 | I'm Feeling You | Pop 100 | 53 | All That I Am |
| 2005 | I'm Feeling You | Pop 100 | 53 | All That I Am |
| 2005 | I'm Feeling You | The Billboard Hot 100 | 55 | All That I Am |
| 2005 | Just Feel Better | Mainstream Rock | 37 | All That I am |
| 2004 | Why Don't You & I | Adult Contemporary | 16 | Shaman |
| 2003 | Hoy Es Adios | Hot Latin Tracks | 26 | Rhapsody |
| 2003 | The Game Of Love | Adult Contemporary | 1 | Shaman |
| 2003 | Why Don't You & I | The Billboard Hot 100 | 8 | Shaman |
| 2002 | The Game Of Love | The Billboard Hot 100 | 5 | Shaman |
| 2000 | Maria Maria | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 1 | Supernatural |
| 2000 | Maria Maria | The Billboard Hot 100 | 1 | Supernatural |
| 1999 | Put Your Lights On | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 8 | Supernatural |
| 1999 | Put Your Lights On | Modern Rock Tracks | 17 | Supernatural |
| 1999 | Smooth | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 10 | Supernatural |
| 1999 | Smooth | Modern Rock Tracks | 24 | Supernatural |
| 1999 | Smooth | The Billboard Hot 100 | 1 | Supernatural |
| 1990 | Mother Earth/Third Stone From The Sun | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 14 | Spirits Dancing in the Flesh |
| 1987 | Vera Cruz | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 21 | Freedom |
| 1985 | Say It Again | Hot Dance Music/Club Play | 19 | Beyond Apperances |
| 1985 | Say It Again | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 15 | Beyond Apperances |
| 1985 | Say It Again | The Billboard Hot 100 | 46 | Beyond Apperances |
SWISS CHART
| Year | Title | Chart | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile) | 6 | Rhapsody |
| 2000 | Smooth (Santana feat. Rob Thomas) | 18 | Supernatural |
| 2000 | Maria Maria (Santana feat. The Product G&B) | 1 | Supernatural |
| 2000 | Corazon espinado (Santana feat. Maná) | 39 | Supernatural |
| 2001 | Put Your Lights On (Santana feat. Everlast) | 87 | Supernatural |
| 2002 | Dirty Dancin' (The Product G&B feat. Carlos Santana) | 53 | Havana Nights |
| 2002 | The Game Of Love (Santana feat. Michelle Branch) | 20 | Shaman |
| 2003 | Nothing At All (Santana feat. Musiq) | 74 | Rhapsody |
| 2005 | Just Feel Better (Santana feat. Steven Tyler) | 39 | All That I Am |
News
2009 Tour and Concerts
July 2009'
- Bucharest, Romania, B'estfest Festival
- Istanbul, Turkey, Kuracesna Arena
- Athens, Greece, Olympiako Stadium Athenas Spyros Louis
- Skopje, Macedonia, Skopje CityStadium
- Belgrade, Serbia, Youth Festival
- Croatia, Varazdin Festival
- Trieste, Italy, Trieste Piazza unita d'Italia
- Brescia, Italy, Piazza della Loggia
- Kitzbuehel, Austria, Festival
- Mainz, Germany, City Park Fair
- Straubing, Germany, Jazz on the Danube festival
- Halle, Germany, Gerry-Weber Arena
- Dortmund, Germany, Westfalenhalle
- Hamburg, Germany, Stadtpark
- Northamptonshire, Silverstone Race Track
Tours & Concerts
July - September 2006 Tour
- Atlanta, GA Chastain Park Amphitheatre
- Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre
- West Palm Beach, FL Sound Advice Amphitheatre
- Bristow, VA Nissan Pavilion
- Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Casino
- Wallingford, CT Chevrolet Theatre
- Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun
- New York, NY Cipriani
- Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
- Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
- Mansfield, MA Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts
- Marysville, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre
- Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
- Concord, CA Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord
- Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara County Bowl
- Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
- Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand
- Phoenix, AZ Crickett Pavilion
- San Diego, CA Bayside Concerts
- Osaka, Japan Izumi Otsu Phoenix
- Shizuoka, Japan Fuji Speedway
- Udine, Italy Stadio Friuli
- Perugia, Italy Arena Santa Giuliana
- Naples, Italy Neapolis Festival
- Lucca, Italy Piazza Napoleone
- Montreux, Switzerland TBA
- Leipzig, Germany Arena
- Oberhausen, Germany Kopi Arena
Discography
Albums
 Released:11/01/2005 Label:ARISTA |
 Released:12/16/2003 Label:ARISTA |
 Released:10/22/2002 Label:ARISTA |
 Released:10/22/2002 Label:SONY |
 Released:07/31/2001 Label:SONY |
 Released: Label:Arista |
 Released:06/15/1999 Label:ARISTA |
 Released:03/31/1998 Label:SONY |
 Released:03/31/1998 Label:SONY |
 Released: Label: |
 Released:08/25/1998 Label:SONY |
 Released:03/11/1997 Label:SONY |
 Released:08/08/1995 Label:SONY |
 Released:11/02/1993 Label:LONDON / PGD |
 Released:05/05/1992 Label:London / Pgd |
 Released: June 1990 Label:Sony |
 Released:10/25/1990 Label:SONY |
 Released: 04/14/1987 Label:COLUMBIA(USA) |
 Released:February 1985 Label:Sony |
 Released:10/25/1990 Label:SONY |
 Released:10/25/1990 Label:SONY |
 Released:10/25/1990 Label:SONY |
 Released:10/25/1990 Label:SONY |
 Released:09/30/2003 Label:SONY |
 Released:10/25/1990 Label:SONY |
 Released:08/20/1990 Label:SONY |
 Released:02/26/1991 Label:SONY |
 Released:05/29/1990 Label:SONY |
 Released:08/16/2005 Label:KALA |
 Released:09/30/2003 Label:SONY |
 Released:09/30/2003 Label:SONY |
 Released:10/19/2004 Label:SONY |
 Released:September 1971 Label:SONY |
 Released: September 1970 Label:Mobile Fidelity |
 Released:03/31/1998 Label:SONY |
SOLO PROJECTS
 Released: January 1987 Label:CBS/Sony |
 Released: January 1983 Label:Sony |
 Released:January 1980 Label:Sony |
 Released: January 1979 Label: Sbme Import |
 Released:January 1974 Label:Sony |
 Released: January 1973 Label:Sbme Import |
 Released: January 1972 Label:Columbia/Legacy |
Other artists
Similar artists
Influences
Contemporaries
Trivia
- "Havana Moon" was Carlos Santana's best selling album in the 80s.
- June 1, 1999 - when Santana's first album "Supernatural" for Arista Records, is released. It goes on to sell more than 21 million copies worldwide—13 million in the U.S. alone. Though released at midyear, 'Supernatural' is 1999's sixth best-selling album.
- It was September 4, 2000 when David Brown of Santana dies due to liver and kidney failure.
- On the 25th anniversary of the original Woodstock Festival held last August 14, 1994, Santana performs at Woodstock II.
- January 12, 1998, Santana is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the thirteenth annual induction dinner. John Popper, of Blues Traveler, is their presenter.
Reviews
Santana is one of my favorite rock musicians of all time. He is really a greatly skilled guitarist. Despite of his demise, he must be noted as one of the greatest guitarists ever. – Rjfortyfive 12-03-2007 11:00AM.
