A Collaborator’s Dream
In essence, Supernatural paired Santana with a host of — mostly younger — artists and producers. (Though Santana and Davis produced the entire album, the individual songs were produced by a host of people. See list below for details.) The final product was, indeed, supernatural.
From the hip-hop/rap raw energy of “Maria Maria” to the Latin-pop drive of “Smooth,” featuring Rob Thomas, the passionate riffs of overture “(Da Le) Yaleo” to the bluesy coda of “The Calling,” (with Eric Clapton), Supernatural struck just the right chord at the right time. More than any album in it’s decade, it crossed generational and stylistic lines with an ease that seemed almost magical. What he uses currently, as well as the history of the amps, guitars, effects, and more that he has been using throughout his career.
Carlos’ Gear
Effects of Supernatural
In the ensuing decade, Carlos Santana, now in his sixties, has enjoyed a career Renaissance for which most artists would give their eyeteeth — at any age. His next three albums, Shaman, All That I Am, and Ultimate Santana, while not recreating the phenomenal success of Supernatural, have kept the Santana sound alive for at least three generations of listeners.
Commercially, his branded fragrance and clothing lines have placed him in the pantheon with celebrities that transcend their particular idiom to pervade popular culture.
His new found visibility has also allowed him to increase the awareness and good works of The Milagro Foundation, founded in 1998 with his then wife Deborah Santana. The Milagro Foundation “benefits under-represented and under privileged children around the world.”
Quite an accomplishment for a guitar player who — as a young boy in Tijuana — used to solicit pay for his music with the entreaty, “Song, mister; 50 cents a song.” 50 cents a song indeed! Check out the new video for this guitar and percussion-driven song by the leading Santana Tribute and Latin-rock band.
Latin-Rock Video
Supernatural’s Grammy Awards
| Award | Song/Album | Artists |
|---|---|---|
| Album of the Year | Supernatural | Santana (Arista Records) |
| Pop Duo or Group with Vocals | Maria Maria | Santana |
| Pop Collaboration with Vocals | Smooth | Santana featuring Rob Thomas |
| Pop Instrumental | El Farol | Santana |
| Record of the Year | Smooth | Santana featuring Rob Thomas |
| Rock Duo or Group with Vocals | Put Your Lights On | Santana featuring Everlast |
| Rock Instrumental | The Calling | Santana featuring Eric Clapton |
| Rock Album | Supernatural | Santana (Arista Records) |
| Song of the Year | Smooth | Itaal Shur and Rob Thomas, Songwriters |
Supernatural Song Info
| Song | Featuring | Producers | Writers |
|---|---|---|---|
| (Da Le) Yaleo | Carlos Santana | S. Ra, C. Santana & C. Polloni | |
| Love of My Life | Dave Matthews & Carter Beauford of the Dave Matthews Band | Stephen M. Harris & Carlos Santana | C. Santana & D. Matthews |
| Put Your Lights On | Everlast | Dante Ross and John Gamble | E. Schrody |
| Africa Bamba | Carlos Santana | I. Toure, S. Tidiane Toure, C. Santana & K. Perazzo | |
| Smooth | Rob Thomas | Matt Serletic | Itaal Shur & Rob Thomas |
| Do You Like the Way | Lauryn Hill & Cee-Lo | Lauryn Hill | L. Hill |
| Maria Maria | The Product G&B | Wyclef Jean & Jerry “Wonder” Duplessis | Wyclef Jean, J. Duplessis, C. Santana, K. Perazzo & R. Rekow |
| Migra | K. C. Porter & Carlos Santana | R. Taha, C. Santana & T. Lindsay | |
| Corazon Espinado | Mana | Fher Olvera & K. C. Porter (Alex González, co-producer) | F. Olvera |
| Wishing It Was | Eagle-Eye Cherry | The Dust Brothers (John King, Michael Simpson), (Charles Goodan & Art Hodge, T-Ray, co-producers) | Eagle-Eye Cherry, M. Simpson, J. King & M. Nishita |
| El Farol | K. C. Porter | C. Santana & K. C. Porter | |
| Primavera | K. C. Porter (JB Eckl, associate producer) | K. C. Porter & J. B. Eckl | |
| The Calling | Eric Clapton | Carlos Santana | C. Santana & C. Thompson |
| Day of Celebration |
