Carlos Santana (b. 1947)

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Biography

Carlos Santana is a Dominican-American professional baseball first baseman and catcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cleveland Indians / Guardians, Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, and Chicago Cubs. He plays with the Dominican Republic national team internationally, winning the gold medal in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Santana was both an All-Star selection and Silver Slugger Award winner in 2019 with Cleveland. In 2024, he won a Gold Glove with Minnesota.

Timeline

The story of Carlos Santana, told in moments.

1969 Event

Plays Woodstock before releasing a single album. The band's set, especially "Soul Sacrifice," is captured on film. The conga-driven jam introduces Latin rock to 400,000 people standing in the mud.

Playing Woodstock before releasing an album. Were you terrified? Did 400,000 people in the mud feel real?

1970 Event

Abraxas is released. It includes "Black Magic Woman" and "Oye Como Va." Both are covers. Fleetwood Mac wrote the first. Tito Puente wrote the second. Santana makes them sound like they were always his.

Both songs were covers. Did making them yours feel natural? Did Tito Puente approve of your 'Oye Como Va'?

1998 Event

Releases Supernatural with Clive Davis at Arista Records. The album sells 30 million copies worldwide. "Smooth" with Rob Thomas stays at No. 1 for 12 weeks. He wins eight Grammys in a single night, tying Michael Jackson's record.

Thirty million copies of Supernatural. Did you expect a comeback that big? Eight Grammys in one night. Was that joy or disbelief?

1998 Event

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York. He's 51 years old and about to have the biggest album of his career.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame the same year as your biggest album. Poetic timing? At fifty-one, did the best years feel behind or ahead?

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