Supernatural Guitarist

Carlos Santana, born in Mexico in 1947, has been a driving force in the guitar world for almost five decades.   His virtuoso lead guitar riffs have mesmerized listeners with releases such as “Smooth”, in 1999.  That one hit grossed sales of  over 27 million units for the Supernatural album.   Santana’s blend of latin rock and good old fashioned blues keeps him constantly on tour, such is the demand for his music. There is an interesting story behind his rise to fame.

He was a gifted guitar prodigy even before he was a teenager. Then,  when his family emigrated to San Francisco, he started up small bands in his neighbourhood.  His soaring guitar riffs  could hold a crowd, and he knew it.  By the late sixties he was fronting a band named The Santana Blues Band.

When they released their first album in early 1969, they named it simply SANTANA.  Two songs in particular, Evil Ways and Soul Sacrifice, drove the album to success.  Their release of ABRAXAS, in 1970, was even more successful. The songs Black Magic Woman, Oye Como Va and Samba Pa Ti were heard constantly on the radio and on vinyl.

Santana first played a Gibson SG, then in the mid-70′s switched to Yamaha. In 1976 he endorsed the Yamaha SG-2000, which boosted sales of that guitar in a big way. In the 1990′s he switched to Paul Reid Smith guitars and now plays them exclusively. The PRS Santana MD was just introduced in 2008.

A large percentage of his royalties go to the charity he founded, the Milagro Foundation.  Santana has become renowned for his capacity to give back.  A humble musician,  he protests being named one the world’s top guitarists and insists this type of competition can spoil the simple act of enjoying your own music.  Keeping strong to his Latin tradition, he also plays virtuoso classical guitar.

Here is a clip of Carlos Santana playing ‘Curacion’ or Sunlight on Water.  It’s great to hear that SANTANA SOUND, that perfect, distinct, edgy voice from the strings!

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