Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana is a Mexican-American guitarist whose distinctive tone—sustained, singing, heavily influenced by Latin percussion rhythms—defined a fusion of rock and Afro-Cuban music.
His band Santana emerged from San Francisco in the late 1960s, and his performance at Woodstock launched decades of commercial success.
That guitar solo is pure Santana.
Recording achievement trophy
- iconPictorial screen symbol
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- influentialHaving considerable effect
Woodstock · 1969 · virtuoso · timeless · classic rock · inspiration · humanitarian · spiritual
Keep something going continuously
- toneQuality of sound
- melodicMusically pleasing to hear
- amplifierSignal-strengthening electronic device
- vibratoOscillating pitch effect
legato · fretboard · solo · distortion · effects · wah pedal · feedback · warm
Blues guitarist icon
- blues-rockGuitar-driven fusion genre
- soulfulExpressing deep emotion
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
- sustainKeep something going continuously
vibrato · tone · feeling · expressive · emotional · John Lee Hooker · melodic · phrasing
Beyond natural explanation
- salsaSpicy tomato condiment
- merengueLatin partnered dance
- cumbiaColombian folk dance genre
- mamboFast Cuban ballroom dance
samba · bossa nova · Afro-Cuban · congas · timbales · percussion · Latin Grammy · Columbia Records
Traditional international musical styles
- jazz fusionElectric rock-meets-improvisation genre
- crossoverGenre-blending work or transition
- genre-blendingMixing artistic categories
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
Herbie Hancock · collaboration · Eric Clapton · multicultural · global · African rhythms · instrumental · innovation
Grammy
Recording achievement trophy
influential · Woodstock · 1969 · virtuoso · timeless · classic rock · inspiration · humanitarian · spiritual · Journey
sustain
Keep something going continuously
- toneQuality of sound
- melodicMusically pleasing to hear
- amplifierSignal-strengthening electronic device
vibrato · legato · fretboard · solo · distortion · effects · wah pedal · feedback · warm · clean
B.B. King
Blues guitarist icon
- blues-rockGuitar-driven fusion genre
- soulfulExpressing deep emotion
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
sustain · vibrato · tone · feeling · expressive · emotional · John Lee Hooker · melodic · phrasing · bending
Supernatural
Beyond natural explanation
mambo · samba · bossa nova · Afro-Cuban · congas · timbales · percussion · Latin Grammy · Columbia Records · Tijuana
world music
Traditional international musical styles
- jazz fusionElectric rock-meets-improvisation genre
- crossoverGenre-blending work or transition
- genre-blendingMixing artistic categories
Herbie Hancock · experimentation · collaboration · Eric Clapton · multicultural · global · African rhythms · instrumental · innovation
- guitaristsJimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen
- Famous MexicansBenito Juarez, Frida Kahlo, Pancho Villa, Emiliano Zapata, Diego Rivera
- Latin StarsShakira, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Enrique Iglesias
- Latin RockMolotov, Zoe, Virus, La Bamba
- Latin AmericaArgentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Cuba
- Chicano CultureCesar Chavez, lowrider, barrio, Chicano murals, La Raza
Carlos SantanaJohnny Ramone
Angus Young · Ted Nugent · Keith Richards · AC/DC · The Ramones
Carlos SantanaSid Vicious
Ozzy Osbourne · Nikki Sixx · Keith Richards · Johnny Rotten · Marilyn Manson