IVOX RADIO Presents ● The Story & Music of Santana

Santana / The "Classic" line-up in 1971. Left to right: Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, Michael Shrieve, Michael Carabello, David Brown, Carlos Santana, José "Chepito" Areas - Columbia Records / Publicity Photo - Billboard, page 16, 25 December 1971

Santana is a rock band which combines Latin rock and several other styles of rock and jazz fusion.  It was formed in 1966 in San Francisco, California by Mexican-American guitarist/ songwriter Carlos Santana, born Carlos Humberto Santana Barragán in Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco on July 20, 1947.  Since its formation as The Santana Blues Band, Santana has been the only consistent member.  The band consisting of guitarist Neal Schon, percussionist Michael Carabello, singer/keyboardist Gregg Rolie, drummer Michael Shrieve, bassist David Brown and percussionist Jose “Chepito” Areas formed the so-called “classic lineup” heard on their first three albums.  The lineup was reunited in 2013.  

Signed to Columbia Records in 1969 which shortened the band’s name to simply “Santana,” their self-titled debut album released in August 1969 was largely instrumental but yielded the singles “Jingo” and “Evil Ways.”  Manager Bill Graham agreed to help organize the Woodstock Festival, but only if Santana was added to the lineup.  They were a hit at the festival with an eleven-minute-long instrumental, “Soul Sacrifice.”  The performance was captured on film to become part of the 1970 documentary, Woodstock and was featured on the event’s soundtrack album. 

Carlos Santana Publicity Photo - 1995

Photo Credit: Michael Collophy

Their second album, Abraxas, was released in 1970 and became their first number one album.  It yielded the singles “Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen” with vocals by Gregg Rolie, a cover of the 1962 Tito Puente hit “Oye Como Va,” “Hope You’re Feeling Better” and the instrumental “Samba Pa Ti.”  The album was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry of The Library of Congress in 2015.

Santana Abraxas Station Album Cover CBS 1970

The number one album Santana III was released in 1971 and their fourth album, the jazz fusion-influenced Caravanserai, featured some lineup changes and debuted at number eight. The period between 1973 to 1979 was marked by further experimental styles, resulting in relatively poor showings on the album charts.  Albums in 1976 and 1977, Amigos and Moonflower fared well.  From 1980 to 1997, Santana experienced both a commercial decline and a seven-year hiatus from recording. 

Santana’s fortunes changed in 1998 with induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the 1999 release, Supernatural.  The album soon reached number one as did its two singles: “Smooth” with Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty and “Maria Maria” with R&B duo, The Product G&B.  The album went platinum fifteen times, sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and nine Grammy Awards including Album of the Year.  The album marked its 20th anniversary in 2019, the 50th anniversary of their Woodstock performance and the start of a multi-year residency at House of Blues in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Santana / Supernatural / Station Album Cover

Santana’s latest album, Blessings and Miracles, was released on October 15, 2021.  Among the guests on the album are the son of Carlos Santana, singer/composer Salvador Santana, country music artist Chris Stapleton, rock band American Authors, a return appearance by Rob Thomas, musician/songwriter Steve Winwood, singer Ally Brooke and in one of his final performances, jazz pianist Chick Corea.     

IVOX RADIO Presents ● “The Story and Music of Santana” today at 5pm hosted by Louie Comella, on KWXY Music Radio 92.3FM ● 1340AM ● streaming at kwxy.com and ivoxradio.com