Biography for
Carlos Santana (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

20 July 1947, Autlan, Jalisco, Mexico

Birth Name

Carlos Augusto Santana Alves

Height

5' 9½" (1.77 m)

Mini Biography

Carlos Santana is a guitarist, composer, singer and band-leader who helped to shape the concept of "world music" by his experiments with blending many styles of music from a multitude of ethnic sources.

He was born Carlos Augusto Alves Santana on July 20, 1947, in Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco, Mexico. He is one of six children born to Jose Santana and Josefina Barragan. From the age of 5 young Santana learned the violin from his father, a professional mariachi violinist. He switched to guitar at the age of 8, when the family moved to Tijuana. During the late 50s he was playing gigs at clubs and bars with various bands up and down the Tijuana Strip. In 1961 he moved to San Francisco, California, joining the family, which moved there the previous year. In 1966 he made his debut with the newly formed Santana Blues Band. In 1968 Santana was promoted by Bill Graham to play at the famous Fillmore West in San Francisco. The first album, self-titled 'Santana', was released in 1969.

Santana shot to fame after the legendary performance at Woodstock Music and Art Festival in 1969. His surprise appearance was captured in the film 'Woodstock' which vastly increased Santana's popularity. The psychedelic second album titled 'Abraxas' (1970) reached No.1 on the album charts and went on to sell over four million copies worldwide. Three songs from that album: 'Black Magic Woman', 'Oye Como Va', and 'Samba Pa Ti' became huge international hits. Then he collaborated with poet and guru Sri Chinmoy and jazz guitarist John McLaughlin in a spiritual and musically innovative album 'Love, Devotion, Surrender' (1973).

After years of touring, Santana participated in the first-ever joint US-Soviet "Rock'n Roll Summit" in 1987. At that time Santana evolved to become a multi-faceted artist and prepared to re-emerge as a conscientious member of society. He contributed to the benefit of San Francisco Earthquake Relief, Doctors Without Borders, Indigenous People Fund, Hispanic Media & Education Group, Amnesty International, LA Museum of Tolerance, and other charitable causes. In 1998, Carlos Santana and his wife Deborah started the Milagro Foundation which contributed 1,8 million dollars to help underprivileged youths. Santana also contributed the profits of his 2003 'Shaman' tour to fight AIDS.

'Supernatural' (1999) is considered by many to be Carlos Santana's greatest work. It became the Album of the Year, received eleven Grammy awards, and sold over 25 million copies worldwide. It included such hits as "Smooth" and "Maria Maria" and featured guest artists Rob Thomas, Wyclef Jean, Eric Clapton, and Dave Matthews among others. Santana continued collaboration with various artists in his next albums, 'Shaman (2003) and 'All That I Am' (2005), and also contributed to the 2005 album of Herbie Hancock. He received the Latin Recording Academy's honor as "Person of the Year" in 2004.

During the four decades of his career Santana has been a true multi-cultural artist. He contributed to shaping the concept of "world music" by his experiments with blending many styles and genres of music from a multitude of ethnic sources. His instantly identifiable blend of Latin, salsa, blues, rock, and Afro-Cuban styles has been evolving with the inclusion of elements from jazz, fusion, and world beat. Santana's high-pitched and clean guitar sound has been coming out of his custom-made PRS guitars. His unique and instantly recognizable sound is legendary: "With one note people know me..." says Carlos Santana.

A street and public square in his native town of Autlan de Navarro is bearing his name. Carlos Santana is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He has sold more than 90 million records, and performed to over 100 million people globally.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Steve Shelokhonov

Spouse

Deborah King

(21 April 1973 - present) (filed for divorce) 3 children

Trade Mark

Melodic blues-based guitar

PRS Santana II

Moustache

Often wears hats onstage

Trivia

Guitarist

Has six siblings: Antonio, Laura, Irma, Leticia, Jorge and Maria

Moved to San Francisco, CA in 1961

Father of Salvador, Stella and Angelica

Has, together with wife Deborah, founded a nonprofit organisation called "The Milagro Foundation" that worldwidely provides financial aid for educational, medical and other needs of children

Learned to play the guitar when he was 8 years old; father was a professional violinist.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 (as a member of Santana.

Won the 2003 Pop Collaboration with Vocals Grammy for his collaboration with Michelle Branch on the song, "The Game of Love".

Became the first Hispanic to win a Grammy for "Record of the Year" in 2000 when he shared the honor with Matchbox 20 lead singer Rob Thomas for the song "Smooth." His 1999 album, "Supernatural," won 9 Grammies that year.

Says he doesn't even remember giving his (well-received) performance at Woodstock in 1969; with his band not scheduled to appear for several hours, he'd taken a dose of LSD, only to have his band bumped up on the schedule as it was taking effect.

He was voted the 90th Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artist of all time by Rolling Stone.

Is part of the songwriting organization BMI, and is a BMI icon.

Shares with Michael Jackson and Norah Jones the record for most Grammys won in one year, with eight.

Resides in San Francisco.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7080 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

Personal Quotes

First of all, the music that people call Latin or Hispanic is really African. So Black people need to get the credit for that. Number two, Latin people are very passionate, and the music that we love is definitely Afro-rooted -- whether it's Bob Marley or Afro-Cuban -- because it deals with rhythms. (In response to the use of the term "Latin Explosion" in TV Guide, 19-25 February 2000 issue, Vol. 48, No. 8, 40-42.)

You can take things that Jimi Hendrix took, from Curtis Mayfield or from Buddy Guy for example, because we are all children of everything, even Picasso. But if you want to stand out, you have to learn to crystallize your existence and create your own fingerprints. With one note people know me, or Eric, or Jeff Beck, or Jimi Hendrix. I would say to him or her: learn to develop your own voice. It's like someone said: if you take from just one person, it's stealing. But take from everyone, and it's research.

I think if Jimi had had the right person, she would have said: 'Let's go to Hawaii and get rid of Jimi for a week. You need to crystallize your existence and achieve that clarity of vision. This is the word that separates human beings from gods: willingness. Most people don't have that willingness to break bad habits. They have a lot of excuses and they talk like victims. And, like Jim Morrison or Jimi Hendrix or Marvin Gaye, they die as victims. But John Coltrane didn't die as a victim.

Gene Simmons is not a musician, he's an entertainer. A musician is Coltrane (John Coltrane), Bob Marley. KISS is Las Vegas entertainment. A musician doesn't need the mask.

If I was going to pass the baton to somebody, she (Orianthi) would be my first choice.

Where Are They Now

(August 2002) Is on the Supernatural tour with Santana who are also in the meantime making another album.

(2005) Release of his wife, Deborah,'s memoir, "Space Between the Stars".

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