Santana | |
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.png) The "classic" line-up in 1971. Left to right:Neal Schon,Gregg Rolie,Michael Shrieve,Michael Carabello,David Brown,Carlos Santana andJosé "Chepito" Areas. | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Santana Blues Band (1966–1967) |
| Origin | San Francisco,California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Labels | |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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| Website | santana |
Santana is an Americanrock band formed inSan Francisco, California in 1966 by Mexican-born American guitaristCarlos Santana.[10] The band has had various recording and performing line-ups in its history, with Santana being the only consistent member. After signing withColumbia Records, the band's appearance at theWoodstock Festival in 1969 increased their profile and they went on to record the critically acclaimed and commercially successful albumsSantana (1969),Abraxas (1970) andSantana III (1971). These were recorded by the group's "classic" line-up, comprising organist and lead vocalistGregg Rolie, percussionistsJosé "Chepito" Areas andMichael Carabello, drummerMichael Shrieve and bassistDavid Brown. Hit songs of this period include "Evil Ways" (1970), "Black Magic Woman" (1970), "Oye Como Va" (1971) and the instrumental "Samba Pa Ti" (1973).
Following a change in line-up and musical direction in 1972, the band experimented with elements ofjazz fusion onCaravanserai (1972),Welcome (1973) andBorboletta (1974). The band reached a new peak of critical and commercial success with their eighteenth album,Supernatural (1999), which included theBillboard Hot 100-number one singles "Smooth" (featuringRob Thomas) and "Maria Maria" (featuringThe Product G&B). The album peaked atop the charts in eleven countries and sold 12 million copies domestically. It won eightGrammy Awards at the42nd Annual Grammy Awards, a record tied withMichael Jackson and threeLatin Grammy Awards.[11] In 2014, the "classic" line-up—with the exception of Brown, who died in 2000, and Areas, who was not invited to participate[1]—reunited for theSantana IV album (2016) and tour.
Santana is one of thebest-selling groups of all time, with over 47 million certified records sold in the US and an estimated 100 million sold worldwide.[12][13] Itsdiscography includes 25 studio albums, 14 of which reached the US Top 10. In 1998, the line-up of Santana, Rolie, Carabello, Shrieve, Brown and Areas was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame.[14]
In 1966, Mexican-born American musicianCarlos Santana discovered San Francisco'shippie andcounterculture movement and found himself "wanting to be part of this new wave."[15] Later that year, he began to assemble his own band, the first line-up of which included Sergio "Gus" Rodriguez on bass, Danny Haro on drums, andMichael Carabello on percussion. In January 1967, the four were granted an audition spot for concert promoterBill Graham at theFillmore Auditorium on a bill with thePaul Butterfield Blues Band and theCharles Lloyd Quartet, and named themselves the Santana Blues Band.[16] Within a month, the group expanded with the addition of Tom Fraser on guitar and vocals, who also brought inGregg Rolie on organ and vocals.[15] The band stalled for several weeks, however, after Carlos was hospitalised withtuberculosis. In June 1967, Graham fired the group from performing at the Fillmore after some members turned up late for a gig supportingThe Who andLoading Zone. The incident drove Carlos to bring in new and committed musicians, keeping Rolie with him.[15] By the year's end, the band adopted the shorter name of Santana. Until early 1969, the band were joined byMarcus Malone on percussion, who left the group after being convicted of manslaughter.[15]
In late 1968, the group secured a record deal withColumbia Records, following a successful audition opening for theGrateful Dead. The band had caught the interest of Columbia andAtlantic Records, and an audition was organised for both labels, but Carlos refused to perform for Atlantic as he wanted to be on the same label asMiles Davis andBob Dylan.[17] In December, Santana performed a series of concerts at the Fillmore that were recorded for a proposed live album. Biographer Simon Leng said it marked Santana moving away from its blues and R&B roots towards the "Santana sound" with the addition of Afro-Cuban and jazz numbers into their sets.[18] After several line-up changes, the group finally stabilised in May 1969 with Santana, Rolie, Carabello,David Brown on bass,Michael Shrieve on drums, andJose "Chepito" Areas on percussion, which became known as the "classic" line-up.[19]
The band recorded their debut album,Santana, in San Francisco in May 1969. It was their third go at recording an album, after previous attempts failed to produce results they wanted. The sessions featured Alberto Gianquinto on piano, who also helped with the arrangements of the tracks. He quickly noticed the group's main problem: the solo spots were too long.[20] Graham agreed, and advised that the band needed to cut the lengthy jams and begin constructing songs. He also got the band to listen toWillie Bobo's version of "Evil Ways", and suggested they record their own version.[20] With the album recorded, Graham arranged for Santana to tour the Midwest as openers forCrosby, Stills and Nash, which expanded the group's profile outside the West Coast.[21] Around this time, Graham had been asked to help organise the upcomingWoodstock Festival and agreed to promote it on the condition that Santana would be added to the bill. Graham persisted, and the band were assigned a 45-minute set in the afternoon of August 16, the second day, for $2,500.[22] The performance launched the group to international fame, andSantana, released on August 30, peaked at No. 4 on the USBillboard 200. The first single, "Jingo", was followed by "Evil Ways", which peaked at No. 9 on theBillboardHot 100. In October 1969, Graham had Santana perform at theGold Rush rock music festival and onThe Ed Sullivan Show, further increasing the group's nationwide exposure.[21][23]
In April 1970, Santana returned to the studio to record its second album,Abraxas.[24] The album, highlighted by a reworking of "Black Magic Woman" byFleetwood Mac that peaked at No. 4 in the USBillboard Hot 100, was released in September 1970 and rose to number 1 on the USBillboard 200.
By 1971, the group were still struggling to maintain a strong musical direction.[19] From January to July they recordedSantana III. Released in September 1971, the album also reached number 1 on the USBillboard 200. At the peak of the band's popularity, the album was the last to feature its classic Woodstock era line-up. Santana explained that there was a lot of unnecessary internal resentment and that managerial problems contributed to the problem, leading to Graham's dismissal.[19] That year, they performed at a concert inAccra to commemorateGhana's 14thIndependence Day. The concert was filmed and released in theaters asSoul to Soul.[25] Matters came to a head shortly before theSantana III tour in September 1971 began, when Carlos wanted Carabello to leave the group, otherwise Carlos himself would quit. The band started the tour without Carlos, performing amidst shouts from the audience for the guitarist. After several gigs, Carlos reunited with the band to find Carabello, Areas, and manager/promoter Stan Marcum had quit, leaving the band to perform without percussionists.James "Mingo" Lewis was quickly brought in as a temporary replacement after he saw the band live and offered his services.[26] Santana's gig inLima, Peru in December 1971 brought further trouble, as the outbreak of violence resulted in their equipment being confiscated and the band deported from the country. The incident was a wake-up call for Carlos, who was determined to "bring the madness to an end."[26]
In 1972, Santana had been increasingly influenced by the music ofMiles Davis,John Coltrane, andJoe Zawinul, who had explored jazz fusion by this time.[19] The fourth album,Caravanserai (1972), marked a number of line-up changes; bassist David Brown left in 1971 before recording started and was replaced by Doug Rauch and Tom Rutley. Carabello was replaced with two percussionists, Armando Peraza and Mingo Lewis. Rolie was replaced byTom Coster on a few songs.Caravanserai debuted at number 8 in the US.
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13 months afterCaravanserai, Santana releasedWelcome.Welcome was the first of four consecutive albums to achieve gold certification, as opposed to the previous four, which all at least reached platinum status. The album peaked at number 25 on theBillboard 200, the lowest of the band's career so far. The next few albums contained a more experimental style than their previous work, beginning withBorboletta, which fared arguably worse than its predecessor, despite climbing five spots higher on the Billboard album charts in the US.
The group's 1976 release,Amigos, was far more successful. Reaching number 10 on the US charts, and also hitting the top 10 in France, Australia, New Zealand, Austria and the Netherlands, it was a return to the success of their early albums.Festival, did not obtain the same newfound success, but was followed by another successful album,Moonflower, released in 1977. The album was possibly the most successful sinceSantana III, achieving 2× platinum in the US, and being the first album since 1974'sBorboletta, to break the top 10 in the UK. It was characterized by a stylistic shift for the band, as it contained heavier influences from the more conventional sound of the group's early work, while still maintaining the experimental sound of their last few albums.
Their next two releases,Inner Secrets andMarathon, released in 1978 and '79, respectively, were a further musical shift for the band, moving away from the Latin-fused rock music that had characterized their work in the late 1960s and the majority of the '70s, to move towards a more album-oriented, conventional rock sound. These albums, however, fared poorly commercially, although both achieved gold status in the U.S.Marathon featured the debut of lead singerAlex Ligertwood, who would remain with the band off and on until 1994.
The 1980s started relatively brightly for Santana, with 1981's platinum-sellingZebop!, which also reached the top 20 in several countries, and continued the more conventional rock sound. The following year,Shangó was released; this album marked a steep decline in the band's commercial fortunes, although it still achieved gold status.
The group waited another three years to release the follow-up, the longest break for them so far. 1985'sBeyond Appearances was a commercial failure, and their first album not to achieve gold certification. Their following three releases all continued this commercial decline, with the last of these failing to break theBillboard top 100. In the midst of this commercial pitfall, the band stopped recording material for an unprecedented seven years but continued to tour.
In 1998, Santana was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame. The following year, their albumSupernatural (1999) debuted at number 19 on theBillboard 200 and reached No. 1 after eighteen weeks. Also reaching No. 1 were two singles: "Smooth", recorded withRob Thomas, and "Maria Maria" featuringThe Product G&B. The album was certified platinum 15 times by theRIAA and sold 30 million copies worldwide.[27][28] Santana's previous number one album had beenSantana III in 1971. According toGuinness World Records, this is the longest gap between number one albums.[29][30]
Supernatural won eight Grammy Awards, including the award forAlbum of the Year,[31] and also won threeLatin Grammy Awards.[32]
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The follow-up toSupernatural came three years later and was highly anticipated by international media and fans alike. On October 22, 2002,Shaman was released worldwide. Although it initially sold briskly (298,973 copies in the US in its first week) and debuted at number 1 on theBillboard 200, the album's appeal quickly wore off and it soon slid down the charts. Despite this, it went on to sell 2× platinum in the US, and achieved platinum status in several other countries including Australia. The first single released from the album, "The Game of Love", which featured vocals fromMichelle Branch, debuted at number 5 on the Hot 100. The album's next four singles failed to chart in most countries, but the final single, "Why Don't You & I", featuring the vocals ofAlex Band, reached number 8 on the Hot 100. Musically, the album was a return to a more conventional sound for the group, with a mainly Latin rock-based sound.
With their renewed appeal worn off, another three-year wait saw the release of 2005'sAll That I Am. The album debuted at number 2 on theBillboard 200 but fared worse internationally, and quickly lost appeal. The album, a continuation of the Latin-rock influenced sound ofShaman, achieved gold certification in the US. A five-year break from recording saw the release of another studio album,Guitar Heaven (2010). Musically it was a drastic change for the band, with a far heavier sound at its core and strongheavy metal influences. It debuted at number 5 on theBillboard 200 but marked another decline for the band, failing to achieve gold status.
In 2012 the group releasedShape Shifter, which returned to the conventional Latin rock sound and was completely album-oriented, as no singles were released from it. It debuted at number 16 on theBillboard 200.
In February 2013, Carlos Santana confirmed that he would reunite his classic line-up, most of whom played Woodstock with him in 1969. Santana stated that he was reuniting the group with the intention of recording new music. Confirmed for the reunion were Neal Schon, who was in the band in the early 1970s where he traded lead guitar work with Santana before leaving with founding Santana singer-organist Gregg Rolie in 1973 to formJourney; drummer Mike Shrieve and percussionist Mike Carabello. Santana said of Rolie, who played with Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band for the last two years, "I'm pretty sure Gregg's going to do it." In February 2013, Rolie told Radio.com, "it's (the reunion) just a matter of putting it together and going and doing it. I would do it. I think it's a great idea. People would love it. It could be great!"[33]
Before the reunion album was released, on May 6, 2014, the then-current lineup of Santana released a new studio album entitledCorazón. On September 9, 2014, this was followed by the release ofCorazón – Live from Mexico: Live It to Believe It, a live album (on CD, DVD and Blu-ray) of their December 14, 2013 concert in Guadalajara, Mexico.[34]
On April 15, 2016, Santana releasedSantana IV, the wildly anticipated studio album that reunited the late 1960s and early 1970s classic lineup of Carlos Santana (guitar, vocals), Gregg Rolie (keyboards, lead vocals), Neal Schon (guitar, vocals), Michael Carabello (percussion) and Michael Shrieve (drums). The album marked the first time in 45 years – since 1971's multi-platinum classicSantana III – that the quintet had recorded together.[35] The first single fromSantana IV, entitled "Anywhere You Want to Go", had been previously released on February 5, 2016.[36]
The origins of the reunion went back several years, when Schon suggested that he and Carlos Santana record together. Santana liked the idea but proposed that they recruit Rolie, Shrieve and Carabello for what would be called "Santana IV". After initial writing sessions and rehearsals took place in 2013, the group recorded throughout 2014 and 2015, amassing 16 new tracks that combined all their signature elements – Afro-Latin rhythms, soaring vocals, electrifying blues-psychedelic guitar solos, and irrepressible jubilant percussion work.
About the "Santana IV" team, Santana stated: "It was magical, we didn't have to try to force the vibe – it was immense. From there, we then needed to come up with a balance of songs and jams that people would immediately identify as Santana."[37]Santana IV features 16 all-new tracks written and produced by the band. Joining the core "Santana IV" band in the studio are current Santana members Karl Perazzo (percussion) and Benny Rietveld (bass), with vocalistRonald Isley guesting on two cuts.
On October 21, 2016, Santana releasedSantana IV: Live at the House of Blues Las Vegas on Eagle Rock Entertainment, a live album (on DVD/Blu-ray/2CD) of their concert on March 21, 2016 atHouse of Blues inMandalay Bay Resort and Casino on theLas Vegas Strip inNevada.
In early January 2019, Santana signed withConcord Records;[38] in late January, they releasedIn Search of Mona Lisa, a new five-track EP.[39] The day before, they also released a video for new single, "Do You Remember Me."[40] In March 2019, the band announced plans to release onAfrica Speaks, their new full-length album produced byRick Rubin, on June 7.[41]
2019 marked the 20th anniversary of Carlos Santana's albumSupernatural and the 50th anniversary of his performance at Woodstock. Santana headlined a multi-year residency at House of Blues. The band was expected to headline at bothWoodstock 50 (which was cancelled)[42] and Bethel Woods' half-centennial celebration in Bethel, NY, in August 2019.[43] The band toured in support of the latest album, from April to November 2019.[44]
On 18 and 20 August 2021, "Move" and "She's Fire", the first and second singles taken from Santana's (then) forthcoming new albumBlessings and Miracles, were released; it was announced that the album would be released on 15 October 2021 viaBMG Entertainment.
On 21 February 2025, it was announced the upcoming release (viaCandid Records) ofSentient, Santana's new studio album, a retrospective of 11 tracks featuring collaborations with other artists such asMichael Jackson,Smokey Robinson,Miles Davis,Paolo Rustichelli,Darryl "DMC" McDaniels andCindy Blackman Santana,[45] including "Whatever Happens" (a track from Michael Jackson's last album,Invincible), remastered tracks such as "Let the Guitar Play" (a re-work of "Song for Cindy" fromBlessings and Miracles featuring Darryl "DMC" McDaniels) or Grammy Awards winner "Blues for Salvador"... and 3 new tracks: Smokey Robinson's "Please Don't Take Your Love", "Coherence" (a track featuring Cindy Blackman Santana) and an instrumental live version of Michael Jackson's "Stranger in Moscow" recorded in 2012 with Carlos as guest ofNarada Michael Walden's band.[46] The album was released on 28 March 2025.[47]
On 16 April 2025 inHighland, CA (at the Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel), Santana embarked on the (8-date) Oneness North American tour which ended on 29 April 2025 inNashville, TN (at The Pinnacle).[48]
On 9 June 2025 inŁódź,Poland (at theAtlas Arena), Santana embarked on the (29-date) Oneness Europe and UK tour (including a show on 21 June 2025 inLondon,UK atThe O2 and a 7-date leg inSpain from 26 July to 4 August 2025) due to end on 11 August 2025 inCopenhagen,Denmark (at the Royal Arena).[48]
Santana has had various recording and performing lineups in its history, with Santana being the only consistent member.
The current[update] members of Santana are:
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) | Carlos Santana | 1966–present |
| all releases |
.jpg) | Benny Rietveld |
| bass |
|
.jpg) | Karl Perazzo | 1991–present |
| all releases fromMilagro (1992) onwards, exceptLive at the Fillmore 1968 (1997),The Very Best of Santana – Live in 1968 (2007) andThe Woodstock Experience (2009) |
| Andy Vargas | 2000–present |
| all releases fromAll That I Am (2005) onwards, exceptThe Very Best of Santana – Live in 1968 (2007) andThe Woodstock Experience (2009) | |
 | Tommy Anthony | 2005–present |
| all releases fromGuitar Heaven (2010) onwards |
| David K. Mathews | 2011–present | keyboards | all releases fromCorazón (2014) onwards | |
| Paoli Mejías | 2013–present | percussion |
| |
 | Cindy Blackman Santana | 2015–present | drums |
|
| Ray Greene | 2016–present |
|
|
In addition to Carlos Santana, the band's classic lineup of the band's early success included the following members.[19] It was this lineup that was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.[14]
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Gregg Rolie |
|
|
|
| Michael Carabello |
|
|
|
| David Brown |
| bass |
|
 | José "Chepito" Areas |
|
|
|
.jpg) | Michael "Mike" Shrieve |
|
|
|
Santana has won numerous awards, including eightGrammy Awards and threeLatin Grammy Awards.[50] The band was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998; three of Santana's albums have been inducted theGrammy Hall of Fame (Abraxas in 1999, the originalSantana in 2012, andSupernatural in 2025); and one song has been inducted into theLatin Grammy Hall of Fame ("Oye Como Va" in 2001).
Sources
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