Rewind album: 'Abraxas' by Santana
There isn't much doubt as to who the world's most famous Mexican musician is - even if he has been a naturalised US citizen since 1965.
There isn't much doubt as to who the world's most famous Mexican musician is - even if he has been a naturalised US citizen since 1965.
Carlos Santana was born in Autlan de Navarro, Jalisco, Mexico, and brought up there and in Tijuana before moving to San Francisco, where the original Santana band came together. Like a lot of teenagers in the city at that time, Santana wanted to play rock and blues, but his formative years south of the border had also shaped his musical personality.
Santana's father was a professional classical and mariachi violinist, and Carlos also started on violin before switching to guitar.
At the dawn of the heavy metal era, when most electric guitarists were obsessed with fast flashy lead guitar playing and thundering riffs, his Mexican musical heritage made Santana something different.
His violin training had taught him the value of expression and sustain rather than speed, and he wanted to incorporate Latin rhythms into the rock tunes he played. Santana's debut album and career-making performance at the first Woodstock festival introduced the world to the idea of Latin rock, and the soulful sound of his lead guitar playing, which has remained a musical constant.