Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana - Hispanic Men, Timeline and Personal Life

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Carlos Santana Biography Stories 

Carlos Santana's Personal Details

Carlos Santana is a world-famous Mexican-American musician

InformationDetail
BirthdayJuly 20, 1947
NationalityAmerican
FamousHispanic Musicians, Hispanic Singers, Philanthropists, Musicians, Guitarists, Hispanic Men
SpousesCindy Blackman
SiblingsJorge Santana
Known asCarlos Augusto Alves Santana
ChildrensSalvador Santana
Universities
  • James Lick Middle School Mission High School
Birth PlaceAutlán de Navarro, Jalisco, México
Height177
GenderMale
FatherJosé Santana
MotherJosefina Barrangán
Net Worth$40 Million as of Jan 15,2017
Sun SignCancer
Born inAutlán de Navarro, Jalisco, México

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Carlos Santana's photo

Who is Carlos Santana?

Carlos Santana’s name has become synonymous with some of the most important genres of music today - jazz, Latin, salsa, blues and rock. From a very young age, he was taught the importance of music and how it brought together cultures, religions, and people from around the world. Apart from native music, he was also introduced to a number of musical influences, including international folk music; which is widely seen in his large repertoire of works today. He is a famous guitarist, musician, singer and band-leader, who helped form the concept of ‘world music’ by his experimentations with mixing many styles of music from a host of cultures. He shot to fame after the legendary performance at Woodstock Music and Art Festival and after the formation of the band, ‘Santana’. There has been no stopping this legendary musical hurricane ever since. His exclusive and familiar sound is fabled, through which his audiences recognize him. He is also well-known for using percussion instruments and other native instruments like the congas and the timbales; which is not very popularly used. Rolling Stone magazine has listed Santana as one of the ‘100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time’. He is also the recipient of a number of Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards.

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Childhood & Early Life

Carlos Augusto Alves Santana was born in Autlan de Navarro, in Mexico. He and his younger brother, Jorge Santana, were heavily influenced by music from a very young age.

At the age of five, he learnt how to play the violin, followed by the guitar. He was greatly inspired by the works of musicians including Ritchie Valens.

He studied at James Lick Middle School and Mission High School. He was also accepted in California State University, Humboldt State University and Northridge, but he turned down their offers.

In the 60s, he was greatly influenced by the music of B.B King and was introduced to a variety of music styles. He also witnessed the proliferation of the hippie movement that was a central movement in San Francisco at the time.

Career

He started off as a musician with a number of accidental breaks. There was an incident in 1966, when he was assembled in an impromptu band replacing Paul Butterfield’s band. During these accidental sessions, his guitar playing abilities were noticed by a wide audience and also his peers.

The ‘Santana Blues Band’ was formed in 1966 with other musicians, including Gregg Rolie and David Brown. After their original blend of Latin-infused rock, African rhythms and jazz, they gained an immediate fan following in San Francisco after a foot-tapping performance at Woodstock in 1969. The band immediately changed their name to ‘Santana’.

This immediate success led him to sign a contract with CBS Records. Santana then went onto record their debut album. A self-titled album, it was released in 1969, the release for which was already given a head start with their unforgettable performance at the Woodstock Festival. This album and their performance at the festival, catapulted them to international acclaim.

The band released ‘Abraxas’, their second album, the following year. This was followed with ‘Santana III’, the band’s second self-titled album in September, 1971. The album was also sometimes referred to as ‘Man with an Outstretched Hand’.

Tensions within the band propelled due to which he started to resent a number of members in his band. He then decided to get together with a few of his old band-mates and recorded ‘Carlos Santana & Buddy Miles Live, which released in 1972. The same year the band ‘Santana’ released their fourth album, ‘Caravanserai’.

He was a huge fan of the fusion group, ‘The Mahavishnu Orchestra’. He was soon introduced to the guru of one of the guitarists of the fusion group - Sri Chinmoy. Santana was given the name ‘Devadip’ and he went on to record the album, ‘Love, Devotion, Surrender’ with the guitarist, in 1973.

He further experimented with jazz fusion with ‘Santana’s fifth studio album, ‘Welcome’, released in 1973. This was followed by another album, ‘Lotus’, which released the following year.

From 1974 to 1978, he was a part of the albums, ‘Illuminations’, ‘Borboletta’, ‘Amigos’, ‘Moonflower’ and ‘Inner Secrets’.

He started on a solo career in 1979, funded by CBS. He released, ‘Oneness: Silver Dreams-Golden Reality’ and then ‘The Swing of Delight’ the following year. It was during this time, he was under tremendous pressure to balance his rock music life along with the spiritual life by his guru, Sri Chinmoy.

Through the 80s he was a part of a number of singles and also released a few albums including ‘Shango’, ‘Beyond Appearances’ and ‘Freedom’. He also provided the soundtrack for the 1987 American film, ‘La Bamba’, based on the life of his icon, Ritchie Valens.

In 1988, he organized a reunion with his former band-mates and CBS records to compile the band’s accomplishments in an album titled, ‘Viva Santana!’ The same year, he formed an all-instrumental group.

In 1990, he left Columbia Records after twenty-two years and signed on a new record deal with Polygram. In the beginning of the 90s, his record sales were very low. He released another album with a number of international artists titled, ‘Supernatural’ in 1999, which brought him back into the limelight.

From 2002 to 2005, he released ‘Shaman’ and also contributed to albums by other artists like ‘Possibilities’, ‘Oral Fixation Vol. 2’ and finally his own album, ‘All That I Am’, that primarily consisted of his collaborations with other musicians. Through the next year, he toured Europe with a number of musicians.

At the end of 2008, he was working on his solo album, ‘Acoustic Demos’, which released at the end of the year and also performed for the American Idol finale, which aired the next year.

In 2009, he performed live at the Athens Olympic Stadium with his 10-member band as a part of his ‘Supernatural Santana - A Trip through the Hits’ tour.

In 2012, he released the album, ‘Shape Shifter’, which was the 22nd album by Santana, by a new record label, Starfaith Records.

Major Works

His 1969 album, ‘Santana’, which was also his debut studio album, was destined to have one of the biggest releases for a newcomer, due to the band’s pivotal performance at The Woodstock Festival. The songs, mainly instrumental, went on to have a huge impact on fans and charted at the number 4 position of the U.S. Top 10 and the Billboard 200. Rolling Stone magazine also listed the album as one of the ‘500 Greatest Albums of all Time’.

‘Santana III’, released in 1971, experimented more with jazz influences and the album featured two hit singles; ‘No one to Depend on’ and ‘Everybody’s Everything’. It charted the no. 1 position on the Billboard 200.

‘Supernatural’, the 17th album released by ‘Santana’ in 1999, went on to win 9 Grammy Awards including ‘Album of the Year’. It also went on to win three important Latin Grammy Awards. The album hit the no.1 spot in 10 countries around the world and stayed on the Billboard 200 countdown for over 18 weeks. The album has been certified Platinum countless times and has also been given the certification of Diamond.

Awards & Achievements

He won the CBS Crystal Globe Award for ‘First Band with over 5 million record sales worldwide’, in 1977.

In 1996, he won the Billboard Century Award.

He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which was presented to him, in 1997.

In 1999, he was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

He won the American Music Awards for the category of ‘Favorite Pop/Rock Album’ for ‘Supernatural’, in 2000.

He has been mentioned in the ‘Guinness Book of World Records’ for ‘Most Grammy Awards in a single year’ and three other times.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1965, he became a naturalized American citizen.

He married Deborah King in 1973 and they have three children. He founded the non-profit organization, ‘Milagro’ with his wife. The two divorced after 34 years of marriage, in 2007.

He married Cindy Blackman in 2010 and currently lives with her in Las Vegas.

Trivia

This 9-time Grammy Award-winner became the first Hispanic to win a Grammy for ‘Record of the Year’.

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Carlos Santana's awards

YearNameAward

Grammy Awards

2003Best Pop Collaboration with VocalsWinner

Carlos Santana biography timelines

  • // 20th Jul 1947
    Carlos Augusto Alves Santana was born in Autlan de Navarro, in Mexico. He and his younger brother, Jorge Santana, were heavily influenced by music from a very young age.
  • // 1965
    In 1965, he became a naturalized American citizen.
  • // 1966
    He started off as a musician with a number of accidental breaks. There was an incident in 1966, when he was assembled in an impromptu band replacing Paul Butterfield’s band. During these accidental sessions, his guitar playing abilities were noticed by a wide audience and also his peers.
  • // 1966 To 1969
    The ‘Santana Blues Band’ was formed in 1966 with other musicians, including Gregg Rolie and David Brown. After their original blend of Latin-infused rock, African rhythms and jazz, they gained an immediate fan following in San Francisco after a foot-tapping performance at Woodstock in 1969. The band immediately changed their name to ‘Santana’.
  • // 1969
    This immediate success led him to sign a contract with CBS Records. Santana then went onto record their debut album. A self-titled album, it was released in 1969, the release for which was already given a head start with their unforgettable performance at the Woodstock Festival. This album and their performance at the festival, catapulted them to international acclaim.
  • // 1969
    His 1969 album, ‘Santana’, which was also his debut studio album, was destined to have one of the biggest releases for a newcomer, due to the band’s pivotal performance at The Woodstock Festival. The songs, mainly instrumental, went on to have a huge impact on fans and charted at the number 4 position of the U.S. Top 10 and the Billboard 200. Rolling Stone magazine also listed the album as one of the ‘500 Greatest Albums of all Time’.
  • // 1970 To 1971
    The band released ‘Abraxas’, their second album, the following year. This was followed with ‘Santana III’, the band’s second self-titled album in September, 1971. The album was also sometimes referred to as ‘Man with an Outstretched Hand’.
  • // 1971
    ‘Santana III’, released in 1971, experimented more with jazz influences and the album featured two hit singles; ‘No one to Depend on’ and ‘Everybody’s Everything’. It charted the no. 1 position on the Billboard 200.
  • // 1972
    Tensions within the band propelled due to which he started to resent a number of members in his band. He then decided to get together with a few of his old band-mates and recorded ‘Carlos Santana & Buddy Miles Live, which released in 1972. The same year the band ‘Santana’ released their fourth album, ‘Caravanserai’.
  • // 1973
    He was a huge fan of the fusion group, ‘The Mahavishnu Orchestra’. He was soon introduced to the guru of one of the guitarists of the fusion group - Sri Chinmoy. Santana was given the name ‘Devadip’ and he went on to record the album, ‘Love, Devotion, Surrender’ with the guitarist, in 1973.
  • // 1973
    He further experimented with jazz fusion with ‘Santana’s fifth studio album, ‘Welcome’, released in 1973. This was followed by another album, ‘Lotus’, which released the following year.
  • // 1973 To 2007
    He married Deborah King in 1973 and they have three children. He founded the non-profit organization, ‘Milagro’ with his wife. The two divorced after 34 years of marriage, in 2007.
  • // 1974 To 1978
    From 1974 to 1978, he was a part of the albums, ‘Illuminations’, ‘Borboletta’, ‘Amigos’, ‘Moonflower’ and ‘Inner Secrets’.
  • // 1977
    He won the CBS Crystal Globe Award for ‘First Band with over 5 million record sales worldwide’, in 1977.
  • // 1979
    He started on a solo career in 1979, funded by CBS. He released, ‘Oneness: Silver Dreams-Golden Reality’ and then ‘The Swing of Delight’ the following year. It was during this time, he was under tremendous pressure to balance his rock music life along with the spiritual life by his guru, Sri Chinmoy.
  • // 1987
    Through the 80s he was a part of a number of singles and also released a few albums including ‘Shango’, ‘Beyond Appearances’ and ‘Freedom’. He also provided the soundtrack for the 1987 American film, ‘La Bamba’, based on the life of his icon, Ritchie Valens.
  • // 1988
    In 1988, he organized a reunion with his former band-mates and CBS records to compile the band’s accomplishments in an album titled, ‘Viva Santana!’ The same year, he formed an all-instrumental group.
  • // 1990 To 1999
    In 1990, he left Columbia Records after twenty-two years and signed on a new record deal with Polygram. In the beginning of the 90s, his record sales were very low. He released another album with a number of international artists titled, ‘Supernatural’ in 1999, which brought him back into the limelight.
  • // 1996
    In 1996, he won the Billboard Century Award.
  • // 1997
    He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which was presented to him, in 1997.
  • // 1999
    ‘Supernatural’, the 17th album released by ‘Santana’ in 1999, went on to win 9 Grammy Awards including ‘Album of the Year’. It also went on to win three important Latin Grammy Awards. The album hit the no.1 spot in 10 countries around the world and stayed on the Billboard 200 countdown for over 18 weeks. The album has been certified Platinum countless times and has also been given the certification of Diamond.
  • // 1999
    In 1999, he was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
  • // 2000
    He won the American Music Awards for the category of ‘Favorite Pop/Rock Album’ for ‘Supernatural’, in 2000.
  • // 2002 To 2005
    From 2002 to 2005, he released ‘Shaman’ and also contributed to albums by other artists like ‘Possibilities’, ‘Oral Fixation Vol. 2’ and finally his own album, ‘All That I Am’, that primarily consisted of his collaborations with other musicians. Through the next year, he toured Europe with a number of musicians.
  • // 2008
    At the end of 2008, he was working on his solo album, ‘Acoustic Demos’, which released at the end of the year and also performed for the American Idol finale, which aired the next year.
  • // 2009
    In 2009, he performed live at the Athens Olympic Stadium with his 10-member band as a part of his ‘Supernatural Santana - A Trip through the Hits’ tour.
  • // 2010
    He married Cindy Blackman in 2010 and currently lives with her in Las Vegas.
  • // 2012
    In 2012, he released the album, ‘Shape Shifter’, which was the 22nd album by Santana, by a new record label, Starfaith Records.

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Carlos Santana's FAQ

  • What is Carlos Santana birthday?

    Carlos Santana was born at 1947-07-20

  • Where is Carlos Santana's birth place?

    Carlos Santana was born in Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco, México

  • What is Carlos Santana nationalities?

    Carlos Santana's nationalities is American

  • Who is Carlos Santana spouses?

    Carlos Santana's spouses is Cindy Blackman

  • Who is Carlos Santana siblings?

    Carlos Santana's siblings is Jorge Santana

  • Who is Carlos Santana childrens?

    Carlos Santana's childrens is Salvador Santana

  • What was Carlos Santana universities?

    Carlos Santana studied at James Lick Middle School Mission High School

  • How tall is Carlos Santana?

    Carlos Santana's height is 177

  • Who is Carlos Santana's father?

    Carlos Santana's father is José Santana

  • Who is Carlos Santana's mother?

    Carlos Santana's mother is Josefina Barrangán

  • What is Carlos Santana's sun sign?

    Carlos Santana is Cancer