Named number 15 on Rolling Stones list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, Carlos Santana is one of the most iconic Latin rock artists to date. Over the years people both young and old have come to cherish Santana’s music as ethereal, enchanting, and hypnotic. Having come from a musical family background, Santana was taught the guitar by his father early on, and has since been inspiring people with his smooth, melodic guitar sound for more than forty years. I personally have been playing the electric guitar for the past 2 years and I have become a student of Santana’s music. Some of my favorite songs include Europa and Black Magic Woman!
Having grown up listening to Carlos Santana, I have always identified with his music. His career has spanned over some of the greatest classic rock eras of all time, from Clapton to Zeppelin. With influences like B.B. King and John Lee Hooker, he made a name for himself in the early 1960’s with The Santana Blues Band, incorporating elements of rock, jazz, and Latin music that would be his claim to fame for years to come.
For me, what resonates most about Santana’s music is his message. He has always been into spirituality and meditation; his musical presence gives off a seductive vibe infused with the spirit of love. His relationships with others are built on love and trust, and he is a big believer in being of service to humanity. While not all his records were equally well received, he has always been dedicated to providing the world with a cultural sound that “makes people jump with joy and cry at the same time.”
The biographer on Santana’s website had it right when he said Carlos’s music was like the “soundtrack for the world”. It has definitely been the soundtrack for mine!
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