Santana

From the Fillmore to Woodstock

Santana formed in San Francisco in 1966 around the Mexican-American guitarist Carlos Santana, the only consistent member, first as the Santana Blues Band; the name was shortened by the end of 1967. Wikipedia says they were fired from the Fillmore in 1967 after members arrived late, and Carlos rebuilt the line-up. The classic line-up of Santana, Gregg Rolie, Michael Carabello, David Brown, Jose Chepito Areas and Michael Shrieve stabilized in May 1969. They signed to Columbia in late 1968, and their Woodstock performance in August 1969 launched international fame. Santana (1969), Abraxas (1970) and Santana III (1971) brought "Evil Ways", "Black Magic Woman", "Oye Como Va" and "Samba Pa Ti". Caravanserai (1972) moved toward jazz fusion.

Welcome (1973), Borboletta (1974), Amigos (1976), Festival and Moonflower (1977), Inner Secrets (1978) and Marathon (1979, with Alex Ligertwood as lead singer) followed, and Zebop! (1981) went platinum. Sales declined through the 1980s, with a seven-year gap in recording while touring continued. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Supernatural (1999) reached number one, sold about 30 million copies and won eight Grammys including Album of the Year, and holds the Guinness record for the longest gap between US number one albums, since Santana III in 1971.

Later albums include Shaman (2002), All That I Am, Guitar Heaven and Shape Shifter, then a classic line-up reunion for Corazon (2014) and Santana IV (2016), Africa Speaks (2019, produced by Rick Rubin), Blessings and Miracles (2021) and Sentient (March 2025). Wikipedia counts over 47 million certified US sales, an estimated 100 million worldwide, 8 Grammys and 3 Latin Grammys, and Grammy Hall of Fame entries for Abraxas, Santana and Supernatural. Setlist.fm holds 4,253 setlists.