A San Francisco band that started in the late 1960s, known for tracks like "Smooth" and "Oye Como Va."
If you want to hear what they're about, put on "Oye Como Va" for the early sound and "Smooth" for the later crossover. Both have that guitar front and center.
Santana's sound has always been about that guitar, Carlos Santana's playing weaves Mexican melodies into psychedelic rock, and it's the reason songs like "Game Of Love" or the classic "Evil Ways" stick around. They brought Latin rhythms into mainstream rock in a way that felt natural, not like a gimmick. Even their later collaborations, like "Illegal" with Shakira, keep that blend alive.
They formed in San Francisco in the late 1960s, with their self-titled 1969 album including "Evil Ways" and "Oye Como Va." In the 1990s, the "Supernatural" album brought in hits like "Smooth" with Rob Thomas, and more recent tracks feature artists like Steven Tyler on "Just Feel Better."
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
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