The middle child of seven children, Santana was born on July 20, 1947, in a tiny Mexican village where the homes were comprised of brick and mud, with no running water or electricity. But what his parents couldn't give in material wealth, they heaped upon their children in love. It was after the family moved to Tijuana that twelve-year-old Carlos developed his talent for the guitar and made his reputation as a formidable musician.

In 1968 Columbia Records signed on the Santana Blues Band and they began in earnest to work on an album that would include such popular Latin and soul favorites as "Black Magic Woman," "Evil Ways," and "Oye Como Va". A year later, the Santana band was given the opportunity to play Woodstock before the release of their first album, and this performance would forever be etched in fans' minds as a key moment in rock history. The Santana Blues Band went from obscurity to instant recognition. Shortly thereafter, rumblings of discontent echoed within the group, aggravated by the volatile mixture of drug abuse, personality clashes, and the frustrations over the musical direction of the band, ultimately leading to its demise.

Following the breakup, Carlos Santana delved deeper into the meditative arts and spirituality. The albums that followed were greeted with critical acclaim, but moderate success. In the late '90s, Santana, under the creative direction of Arista Records head Clive Davis, begin working on an album that became a brilliant collaboration with younger artists such as Lauryn Hill...