Mexican and American guitarist, composer and singer. Born on 20 July 1947 in Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco, Mexico. Brother of Jorge Santana and uncle of Carlos Hernandez. A veteran guitarist, Santana is noted for his distinctive Tijuana jazz-influenced playing style. Born in Mexico, but resident in the USA from childhood, he has been the leader of the group Santana since 1966. After the breakup of this original group, which was filmed at the Woodstock Festival in August 1969, he worked and recorded with drummer Buddy Miles. Carlos then formed a duo with John McLaughlin, becoming a follower of guru Sri Chinmoy who countenanced them the titles Devadip (the eye, the lamp, the light of God) and Mahavishnu respectively. This duo recorded the Love Devotion Surrender album. 'Devadip' Carlos Santana then worked with another religious disciple, Giorgio Moroder, widow of John Coltrane. He ended his relationship with Chinmoy followers in 1982.
From 1974 to 1999 Santana performed with a host of renowned musicians, regularly releasing albums over the years. Under his own label, Guts And Grace, he has released the collaborative album Brothers (1994). In June 1999 he released Supernatural, the biggest hit of his career, winning 8 Grammy Awards. In 2003 Rolling Stone magazine listed Carlos Santana at number 20 on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. In 2013 Carlos Santana earned the distinction of becoming a Kennedy Center honoree for his contribution to the arts.
In 2016 Carlos Santana teamed up with 2 of the greatest living jazz musicians, saxophonist Wayne Shorter and keyboardist Herbie Hancock, in a new jazz-rock collective called Mega Nova. The group also features respected jazz bassist Marcus Miller and Carlos' wife and current Santana drummer, Cindy Blackman Santana-Santana.