Carlos Santana turns 66 on July 20 and Global Village marks the occasion by featuring his music throughout the entire month.
The Santana band formed in 1967, emerging from the heady San Francisco scene playing a new, distinctive and energetic blend of Latin rock, unusual for the time and a harbinger of later 'world music' sounds and experiments.
The band's appearance at Woodstock in 1969, followed shortly thereafter by the release of their self-titled debut, put the group on the national map. Hits like "Evil Ways," "Oye Como Va," and "Black Magic Woman" and the next two albums, Abraxas and Santana III, cemented the group's place among the top bands of the '70s and established Carlos Santana as one of the top rock guitar heroes.
Santana at Woodstock with "Soul Sacrifice" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqZceAQSJvc
Over the next decades, the band would explore both adventurous projects and mainstream pop and rock sets, and Carlos Santana would also record as a solo artist, with Buddy Miles and John McLaughlin, and as a guest artist on a wide variety of projects as well.
Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin live at Montreux, 1991 -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBnHDqdXh84
Though the '80s and '90s were relatively quiet decades, in 1998 Santana was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame and the next year released one of its most successful albums, Supernatural (with the hit, "Smooth"), which became a multi-million seller and took home a record-tying nine Grammys. Four more albums have followed since and earlier this year Carlos Santana announced he would be reuniting the classic lineup that appeared with him at Woodstock. His autobiography is due for publication next year.
Santana at Woodstock '94 with "Oy Como Va" -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9KL9yZBCrI
In all, Santana has sold over 100 million records, won 10 Grammys and 3 Latin Grammys, received the Billboard Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Award, and was number fifteen on the Rolling Stone list of "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."
Throughout July, Global Village highlights music of Santana - from the breakthrough debut, through classic and hit recordings, solo projects, guest appearances and more. Get daily feature and program updates, along with world music news, music videos, new release information, playlists and more on the Global Village Facebook page.
