Through talent, determination, and by his reckoning some divine intervention, a young boy from Jalisco, Mexico, became one of the most internationally recognized guitarists of our time. Classic-rock veteran Carlos Santana discusses his rise to worldwide stardom in an exclusive interview for the August/September issue of AARP the Magazine (ATM), as well as celebrating milestone anniversaries, shedding his years of wisdom on others, and looking ahead to a future full of music and love.
After discovering his unique sound as a young musician, Santana’s career skyrocketed, finding commercial success with hits such as “Evil Ways,” “Oye Como Va” and “Black Magic Woman.” Decades later, Santana remains a household name across the globe.
This year marks a couple of milestone anniversaries for the musician – the 50th anniversary of Santana’s groundbreaking Woodstock performance and the “comeback 20th” commemorating the release of 1999’s “Supernatural” album, featuring the chart-topping song, “Smooth.”
At 72-years-young, the GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY®-winning artist continues to sell records, perform for sold-out crowds and create new music. His messages of love and healing are ever-present in his latest album, “Africa Speaks,” which delves deeper into his roots and explores African rhythms with the help of sultry Spanish singer Buika.
Santana’s passion for sharing his professional and personal path to happiness goes hand in hand with his mantra to “reinvent yourself every day.” On self-fulfillment, he shares, “Three things: your spirit, your soul and your heart. If you find those and you really find them, you’re going to realize that innocence. Those things don’t leave you and you don’t misplace them or lose them. Those are the ingredients for you to have a glorious existence.”
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