The Boomer REport - Music Fun Facts

Santana - 10 Fun Facts

  1. Carlos Santana is Mexican-born – Born in Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco, Mexico, Carlos immigrated to the U.S. in the 1960s and formed his first band in San Francisco.
  2. He was originally inspired by violin, not guitar – Carlos played violin in his father’s mariachi band before switching to guitar under the influence of blues legends like B.B. King and T-Bone Walker.
  3. They were unknown before Woodstock – When Santana took the stage in 1969, they hadn’t even released their debut album. Their fiery performance of Soul Sacrifice turned them into instant stars.
  4. Carlos was high on mescaline at Woodstock – He later recalled trying to “keep the neck of the guitar from turning into a snake” while playing one of the most electrifying sets of the festival.
  5. They fused rock with Afro-Cuban rhythms – With congas, timbales, and Latin percussion, Santana's sound was unique among psychedelic and blues-rock bands of the era.
  6. Their debut album cover is a hidden image – The 1969 Santana album artwork features a lion made up of hidden human faces and imagery, a psychedelic classic.
  7. He had a huge comeback with Supernatural – In 1999, after years out of the spotlight, Santana released Supernatural featuring Rob Thomas, Lauryn Hill, and others. It won 9 Grammys and sold over 30 million copies.
  8. “Smooth” was almost cut from the album – The Rob Thomas-penned track was a last-minute addition and became one of the biggest hits of all time.
  9. He believes in music as healing – Carlos often says, “music is the spiritual expression of what we are,” and he uses his concerts to promote peace, unity, and inner transformation.
  10. He launched a charitable foundation – The Milagro Foundation, founded in 1998, supports underprivileged youth around the world through education and health initiatives.