Santana
Santana was born on July 20, 1947 in Autlan de Navarro, Mexico. His dad was a Violinist and Carlos learned to play the Guitar at age 8. In 1955 he moved to Tijuana and began to play in strip clubs. He was inspired by B.B. King, Little Richard, and Ray Charles. In the early 1960's he moved again to San Francisco where his father hoped to find work. In San Francisco he got the chance to see his idols, which made him want to practice more to become better. After several years of dishwashing in a diner he decided to become a full time musician. In 1966 he formed a band called the Santana Blues Band, with fellow street musicians bassist David Brown and keyboard player Gregg Rolie.
With their highly original blend of Latin-infused rock, jazz, blues, salsa, and African rhythms, the band which quickly became known simply as Santana gained an immediate following on the San Francisco club scene. The band's early success, capped off by a memorable performance at Woodstock in 1969, led to a recording contract with Columbia Records. Their first album, Santana which came out in 1969, spurred by a Top 10 single, "Evil Ways," that went triple platinum, selling over four million copies and remaining on the Billboard chart for over two years. Abraxas, released in 1970, went platinum, scoring two more hit singles, "Oye Como Va" and "Black Magic Woman." The band's next two albums, Santana III that came out in1971 and Caravanserai, which came out in 1972, were also critical and popular successes. As the band's personnel changed frequently, the band Santana came to be associated almost exclusively with Santana himselfwho soon became the only remaining member of the original trio. In addition to his work with his band, Santana recorded and performed with a number of other musicians, notably including the jazz drummer Buddy Miles, pianist Herbie Hancock, and guitarist John McLaughlin. Along with McLaughlin, Santana became a devoted follower of the...
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