| When we think of all the great guitarists throughout | | | | collaboration, Illuminations, was released in September |
| time, many names come to mind - Carlos Santana is | | | | 1974; it spent two months in the charts, peaking in the |
| one of them. In August 2003, Santana was named | | | | bottom quarter of the Top 100. |
| fifteenth on Rolling Stone magazine's "List of the "100 | | | | During the 1970s, Carlos Santana released a series of |
| Greatest Guitarists of All Time". And rightly so. This | | | | gold or platinum albums: Borboletta (1974), Amigos |
| Mexican-born American guitarist has toured and | | | | (1975), Festival (1976), Moonflower (1977), and Inner |
| recorded successfully since the late '60s. In the 90s he | | | | Secrets (1978). In February 1979, he finally released his |
| was rediscovered by a new generation with his album | | | | first real solo album, the half-live, half-studio Oneness |
| Supernatural, which involved well-known artists such as | | | | Silver Dreams -- Golden Reality, actually credited to |
| Rob Thomas and Eric Clapton. | | | | Devadip. |
| Carlos Santana got his roots in Mexico, where he | | | | During the 80s, songs that got more radio time began |
| grew up. He spent a great amount of time around | | | | making their appearances included "Winning" in 1981 |
| music as his father was a mariachi violinist. Santa took | | | | and "Hold On" (a remake of Canadian artist Ian |
| up the violin at five, but at eight switched to the guitar. | | | | Thomas' song) in 1982 both reached the top twenty. |
| Later when the family moved to Tijuana, he began | | | | Santana again paid tribute to his early rock roots by |
| playing in clubs and bars. By the early '60s, the family | | | | doing the film score to La Bamba, which was based |
| moved to San Francisco and Santana followed. In | | | | on the tragically short life of rock and roll legend Ritchie |
| 1966 Santana created the Santana Blues Band. | | | | Valens and starred Lou Diamond Philips. |
| Despite the name, the group was at first a collective; it | | | | Carlos spent almost five years away from recording, |
| was required to name a nominal leader due to a | | | | not returning until June 1999 when he issued |
| provision of the musicians union. The name was | | | | Supernatural on Arista Records. The Santana band |
| eventually shortened to Santana and the band | | | | album featured many tracks co-written by guest stars |
| debuted at the Fillmore West Theater in San Francisco | | | | such as Rob Thomas of matchbox 20, Eric Clapton, |
| on June 16, 1968. Soon after, Santana recorded the | | | | Lauryn Hill, and others. Paced by the number one |
| album Super Session that had featured himself with | | | | singles "Smooth" and "Maria Maria," the album became |
| Mike Bloomfield and Steve Stills. The result was The | | | | the biggest hit of Santana's career, selling upwards of |
| Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper, | | | | ten million copies. It also won Santana eight Grammy |
| which marked Santana's recording debut. | | | | Awards. |
| Santana's career only evolved from here. He toured | | | | In 2002, Santana released Shaman, revisiting the |
| the U.S. prior to the release of the album, including a | | | | Supernatural format of guest artists including P.O.D. |
| notable appearance at the celebrated Woodstock | | | | and Seal. Although the album was not the runaway |
| festival in August 1969 that was filmed and recorded. | | | | success its predecessor had been, it produced two |
| Santana was released the same month, and it | | | | radio-friendly hits. "The Game of Love" featuring |
| became a massive hit, as did its follow-ups Abraxas | | | | Michelle Branch, rose to number five on the Billboard |
| (1970) and Santana III (1971). After completing recording | | | | Hot 100 and spent many weeks at the top of the |
| and touring activities in connection with Santana III, the | | | | Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. |
| original Santana band broke up. | | | | Other albums followed including Possibilities and All |
| Carlos retained rights to the group's name Santana | | | | That I Am. In 2008, Santana started working with his |
| that consisted of himself and a constantly changing | | | | long-time friend, Marcelo Vieira, on his solo album |
| collection of hired musicians. His first recording after the | | | | Marcelo Vieira's Acoustic Sounds, which is due to be |
| breakup of the original group was a live show | | | | released at the end of the year. It features tracks |
| performed in Hawaii with singer and drummer Buddy | | | | such as "For Flavia" and "Across the Grave", the later |
| Miles. The album reached the Top Ten and eventually | | | | featuring heavy melodic riffs by Santana. |
| went platinum. Following the release of the Santana | | | | In addition to his music notoriety, Santana also |
| band album Caravanserai (1972), Carlos formed a duo | | | | oversees several business ventures including the |
| with John McLaughlin, guitarist for the Mahavishnu | | | | Milagro Foundation, which has donated nearly $3 million |
| Orchestra. The two shared a spiritual leader in guru Sri | | | | to help disadvantaged youth; his women's shoe line, |
| Chinmoy, who bestowed upon Carlos the name | | | | Carlos by Carlos Santana, which has racked up $100 |
| Devadip, meaning "the eye, the lamp, and the light of | | | | million in sales; his signature brand of sparkling white |
| God." Devadip Carlos Santana and Mahavishnu John | | | | wine; his partnership in Maria Maria, a chain of high-end |
| McLaughlin's duo album Love Devotion Surrender was | | | | Mexican cantinas; and his upcoming documentary |
| released in June 1973. It reached the Top 20 and | | | | called Architects of a New Dawn, which advocates |
| eventually went gold. After releasing another Santana | | | | global change through the power of positive thinking. |
| band project, Welcome, Carlos next teamed up with | | | | What will this 100 greatest guitarists do next? One can |
| another religious disciple, Turiya Alice Coltrane, widow | | | | only imagine. |
| of John Coltrane, for a third duo album. Their | | | | |