— Carlos Santana
Born on this day in 1947 in the village of Autlán, Mexico, Carlos Santana plays music with fire in his soul. A third-generation musician, he learned early from his father, a mariachi violinist, and grew into his own sound—part rock, part blues, all heart.
As a young man, Santana was drawn to the electricity of music legends like B. B. King and John Lee Hooker. When his family moved to San Francisco in 1960, the city’s swirling cultures and rhythms lit a fuse that never dimmed.
He was just 19 when his band, Santana, took the stage at Woodstock in 1969. A year later came the breakout album Abraxas, with the unforgettable hits “Oye Como Va” and “Black Magic Woman.” The world was listening—and feeling it.
“I don't see myself playing black music or white music or gray music,” he once said. “I play rainbow music.” And that rainbow shines through every note, alive with creativity, soul, and raw emotion.
Santana's sound is fueled by meditation, dreams, and intuition. He encourages young musicians to listen deeply, learn from the greats, and then, like a snake shedding old skin, find their own truth.
He has been called “Soul Man #1” by Eric Clapton and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Yet Santana remains grounded, saying, “God made the world round so we can all have center stage.”
Music, to him, is a sacred act. A form of soul work. A celebration of life itself.
