Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana, inspired by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, brought a distinct Latin flavor to the rock scene of the late ’60s, becoming the first Hispanic guitar icon after a groundbreaking performance at Woodstock. His band, Santana, infused mambo standards with funky undertones and transformed blues classics into Latin-jazz explorations. Santana's versatile sound evolved through spiritual influences in the ’70s, leading to collaborations with a diverse range of artists on his hit album Supernatural in 1999. While the chart-topping success of "Smooth" marked a shift towards pop stardom, his 2014 Spanish-language release, Corazón, reaffirmed his deep connection to his Latin roots.