Carlos Santana: Back on Top

by Marc Shapiro

Carlos Santana took the music world by storm back in 1969 with his thrilling performance at the Woodstock festival. He was the first guitarist to skillfully blend fiery rock riffs with Latin, blues and sensuous Afro-Cuban rhythms to create a unique and unforgettable sound. His vision to create innovative melodies has earned him a magnitude of critical praise and acclaim over his illustrious career. But, the road to success has been a rocky, uphill climb.

The middle child of seven children, Carlos Santana was born on July 20, 1947 in a tiny Mexican village where the homes were comprised of brick and mud, and there was no running water or lights. But, what his parents couldn't give in material wealth, they heaped upon their children in love. It was after the family moved to Tijuana that twelve year old Carlos developed his talent for the guitar and his reputation as a formidable musician spread.

In 1968 Columbia Records signed on the Santana Blues Band and they began in earnest to work on an album that would include such popular Latin and soul favorites as "Black Magic Woman," "Evil Ways," and "Oye Como Va". On August 15, 1969, the Santana band was given the opportunity to play Woodstock before the release of their first album and this performance would forever be etched in fans' minds as a key moment in rock history. The Santana Blues Bands went from obscurity to instant recognition. Shortly thereafter, rumblings of discontent were echoed within the group with the volatile mixture of drug abuse, personality clashes, and the frustrations over the musical direction the band, ultimately leading to the demise of the group.

Following the breakup, Carlos Santana delved deeper into the meditative arts and spirituality. The succession of albums that followed were greeted with critical acclaim, but moderate success. In the late 90's, Santana begin working on a new album under the creative direction of Clive Davis, head of Arista Records. In a brilliant union of collaborating with younger artists as Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Rob Thomas, the album, Supernatural was a commercial smash. It sold over thirteen million copies, and appealed to both the baby boomers and the teenage crowd. Carlos Santana became the star of the 2000 Grammys, and Supernatural won several awards including, Best Rock Album of the Year, Song of the Year for "Smooth", and Album of the Year. With a career that spans three decades, Carlos Santana p0has proven that talent, determination, and passion are the keys to longevity in a business that is obsessed with youth and beauty. Against the odds, he has defied the rule of convention and made an incredible comeback. His story is timeless, inspirational, and he has undoubtedly proven himself to be the king of the guitar.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 25, 2000

About the author

Marc Shapiro is the author of the New York Times bestselling biography, J.K. Rowling: The Wizard behind Harry Potter, and more than a dozen other celebrity biographies. He has been a freelance entertainment journalist for more than twenty-five years, covering film, television, and music for a number of national and international newspapers and magazines.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/marcsh...

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a man with his own sound. He embraced his heritage and inspirations and wove that into the blues. The Latin rhythms behind the blues are distinctly Santana. He had a big box of musical heroes and constantly listened to and dissected albums. He played in the backing of many many bands, played with everyone. Another person who taped his performances and studied them. A great example of living “in the scene” and participated in life actively, “drink in the sunlight with you eyes and love with supreme integrity.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I picked up this book, I didn't know much about Carlos Santana except he is considered one of the world's best guitar players, and that friends of mine have traveled to see his shows. I learned he is a complex person with a rollercoaster past. Born in Mexico to a musical family, he rebeled by choosing guitar over playing violin in the family band, and forged his own path, including struggles with addiction, losses, and acclaim. I discovered a lot of great music and musicians through references in this book, and became a Carlos Santana fan.

[Taunia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up listening to Santana so of course I listened to the albums while reading this book, good decision. Back on Top is a biography about this master guitarist Carlos Santana. His story begins in Tijuana where he was born and raised. While there he overcame poverty, molestation and so much more but he also discovered his love for music there as well. He made his huge musical debut at Woodstock in 1969 but in the years that followed that and his first few successful albums he struggled with his musical career. Carlos never gave up though, he continued making music and touring, eventually winning a Grammy and receiving a star on the Walk of Fame. Today he is a living legend, the king of the guitar. He proves that perseverance, that never giving up and always staying true to yourself is where inner peace is found. He is a true inspiration. “To live is to dream. To die is to awaken. Please don’t wake me up.” ~Carlos Santana

[Brent Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carlos Santana was a good boy - hard working, respectful of his elders, passionate in pursuit of his dreams. In spite of years of strained relationship with his family due to his lifestyle, his values are time-tested and enduring.

Santana's story is about finding one's voice - in this case, from American Blues to soulful Latin-style, jamming rock-n-roll. The cool part of the book came for me when Carlos and his band reconnected to Latin rhythms. "What do you play with conga drums," they asked!

Growing up just outside the Bay Area in the 60s, I was a big fan and could identify with lots of the story. Certain figures loom large: Bill Graham, BB King, Miles Davis, Gavor Szabo - all of whom I followed and respect enormously. I'm so glad Carlos had a big hit with "Supernatural" (1999), which gave him the financial security he deserves!

[Cicero · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a dense read, one that vacillates between a lot of facts and details and introspective moments that makes one want to grab a pencil and jot down quotes. I enjoyed the historical aspects and the glimpses into this man's life but found the recollections tedious at times with the minutia of details that did not seem integral to the story. Of course that is a purely subjective opinion but I did finish the book as I was curious as to where Santana is now, emotionally. With all that being said, I finished the book and feel as if I know a bit more about this magical musician who helped to enlarge the face of music in this century.

[Brandon]

a good look at the rise and stardom of Santana and Carlos as a solo musician in later years. a great read for any Santana fans