For Carlos Santana, music is a kind of witchcraft, an alchemy that transforms his guitar into something he ardently seeks to seduce rather than tame. “When you get inside the note, it’s like the most beautiful woman in the room gives you a French kiss,” he passionately expresses. “When you get a French kiss, man, it always gets your attention.”
Carlos Santana has captivated audiences for decades, cultivating a lasting career akin to the sustenance of a perfectly held note. “I’m a multi-dimensional motherf****r who can grace any stage and elevate the energy to an entirely new level,” he boldly states.
At the age of 22, Santana astounded fans at Woodstock with a solo performance that announced the arrival of yet another guitar deity of the ’60s. During that time, he recalls, “Everybody was going home, putting on Bob Dylan records and smoking weed.” Prompted by Cowan’s curiosity, Santana is asked about the effect his music has on people. With a smile, he confidently states, “Make sex.”
Even at the age of 52, Santana continued to have a profound impact. His 1999 album “Supernatural” tied Michael Jackson for the most Grammys ever won in a single night. The chart-topping song “Smooth” held its reign for an incredible 12 weeks. Another standout track for Santana was “Maria Maria.”
Santana possesses a life that could easily inspire Hollywood films, but he has typically declined such offers. “I’m going to take ownership of my life,” he asserts. “I don’t want to borrow my life to showcase it to someone else. This is my path, and you can either join me or leave.”
However, when executive producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, alongside Imagine Documentaries, approached Santana with a unique offer that allowed him creative input, he decided to collaborate on “Carlos,” a film that debuts this week.
The film portrays Santana’s journey, beginning with his upbringing as a young boy in Mexico playing the violin alongside his father’s mariachi band. Switching to the guitar at just 13 years old, he found himself performing in the vibrant nightclub scene of Tijuana, often surrounded by strippers. When asked about this experience, Santana fondly reminisces, “When I first started working there, it was like discovering the Cirque du soleil or something, only it was more fun!”
Santana’s transition to adulthood was far from smooth. He was subjected to abuse during his early years, an experience he courageously revealed to Rolling Stone in 2000. He explains, “I wanted to come clean with that because there were many people who had similar experiences, and some even contemplated suicide. Numerous individuals wrote letters thanking me for speaking out. It truly served as a form of psychological and emotional support and acted as a healing balm.”
Another aspect of Santana’s life that needed cleansing was his struggle with drugs, alcohol, and the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. Recognizing the detrimental effect it had on his music, he turned to meditation, under the guidance of an Indian guru, to regain his focus. As he embraced this new path, he adopted a transformative persona by cutting his hair, dressing in white, and fully immersing himself as a disciple.
When questioned about whether replacing drugs with spirituality provided the same euphoric high, Santana confidently answers, “Oh yeah, because there’s nothing higher than God.”
Although Santana generally spreads a message of spirituality and oneness, he faced criticism after a concert in New Jersey for seemingly targeting the trans and non-binary community. In an effort to clarify his intentions, Santana explains, “I didn’t mean to offend anyone. I hold no animosity towards anyone. I don’t wish to belittle or discriminate against anyone. Being Mexican, I have personally experienced discrimination as a child, so I want to ensure that I don’t inflict that pain on others. Be happy and have fun.”
When “Sunday Morning” catches up with Santana at the House of Blues in Las Vegas, his focus is redirected to the music and its ability to heal. He shares, “People around the world are in need of healing, and that’s what we strive to provide.”
This marks the 11th year of Santana’s Las Vegas residency, during which he has been accompanied by esteemed drummer Cindy Blackman. Blackman has made a name for herself performing with various artists, including Lenny Kravitz. In 2010, she joined Santana’s band and a few months later, they married. Santana even proposed to her during one of their shows, with her father present in the audience.
Together, they create a musical synergy that has breathed new life into Santana, inspiring him to create original works rather than rely solely on his past successes. “I have no interest in becoming a mere relic on a jukebox,” he affirms. “I refuse to be confined to the past. I want to exist in the present.”
At the age of 76, Santana hopes to remain in tune with the popular pulse. While he may have been shaped by the times he lived in, he has also played a vital role in shaping the world around him.
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