Born to rock

Classic hits as well as spotlight songs from his latest album are what the crowd at the Floriana Granaries is to expect from guitar legend Carlos Santana tomorrow.

With the release of Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time (2010, Arista Records), the artist joined the Rolling Stones in Billboard chart history to score at least one Top 10 album in every decade from the 1960s through the present.

Born to a musically-gifted family in Mexico, Santana followed in the footsteps of his father, a mariachi violinist and his younger brother, a professional guitarist with an early appreciation for the arts, learning to play the violin at five and the guitar at eight.

After moving to San Francisco with his family, the young Santana got a chance to watch his idols perform live, most notably the legendary B.B. King. The already musically-attuned Santana was exposed to a variety of new influences from jazz to folk music which can be accredited for his later successes including the sounds of Santana’s first band titled the Santana Blues Band. Their infused sound blended a mix of musical influences featuring Latin-infused rock, jazz, blues, salsa and African rhythms which quickly earned them a following on the San Francisco club circuit and a memorable performance at Woodstock in 1969.

This performance signalled just the beginning of Santana’s career throughout which he released a staggering 21 studio albums, 21 compilations and seven live albums, as well as 13 collaboration albums.

Since recording his first album Santana has sold more than 100 million records and reached more than 100 million fans at concerts worldwide. To date, Santana has won 10 Grammy Awards, including a record-tying nine for a single project, 1999’s Supernatural (including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for Smooth). In 1998, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, whose website notes, “Guitarist Carlos Santana is one of rock’s true virtuosos and guiding lights.” Among many other honours, Carlos Santana has also been cited by Rolling Stone Magazine as No.15 on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

Guitar Heaven is Santana’s 29th Billboard Top 200-charting release, 12th Top 10 album debut, and third Top 10 debut in the past five years. It continues Santana’s collaboration with the legendary Clive Davis, with whom he co-produced, along with Howard Benson and Matt Serletic. The album’s 12 guitar-centric tracks feature a who’s-who of guest vocalists, with highlights including the first single, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, featuring India.Arie and Yo Yo Ma accompanying Santana.

• Tickets for tomorrow’s concert may be obtained from Vodafone outlets or www.nngpromotions.com. The concert is expected to start at 8.30 p.m.