Carlos Santana playing in Evansville. His thoughts on Woodstock, retirement and today's music

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From the first note, Carlos Santana’s mellifluous guitar style ringing through the speakers is so distinctive, you know it’s him. Instantly.

From “Black Magic Woman” to “Smooth,” from Woodstock to “Supernatural,” Santana is regarded as one of the most accomplished guitarists in rock history.

So modest you would never know he’s a living legend, Santana will bring his trademark guitar stylings to Ford Center, performing with his band as part of his Blessings & Miracles tour at 7 p.m. on April 13.

Santana gained international acclaim after performing at Woodstock in 1969. He enjoyed a wealth of success into the mid-1980s. After a lull of several years, Santana rejoined forces with Clive Davis, who originally signed him to Columbia in '69. He brought him to Arista in the late '90s with remarkable results.

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They reached an agreement — Santana had to make a radio-friendly record with musicians who were hot at the time, including Rob Thomas, Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Dave Matthews and Everlast, plus Eric Clapton. The formula worked beautifully. "Supernatural" sold nearly 27 million copies worldwide and won eight Grammys, including album of the year and record of the year ("Smooth", sung by Thomas).

Legendary guitarist Carlos Santana will perform at the Ford Center on April 13.
Legendary guitarist Carlos Santana will perform at the Ford Center on April 13.

Born in Mexico and raised in San Francisco, the naturalized American citizen has revolutionized music, seamlessly fusing rock 'n roll, jazz, soul and Latin music — his psychedelic guitar solos seemingly have no boundaries.

Enshrined into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, Santana's 2014 memoir "The Universal Tone: Bringing My Story to Life" chronicles his personal journey, spirituality and optimism. Still creative after all these years, Santana released his latest album, "Blessings and Miracles" in 2021.

"Love is the light that is inside of all of us, everyone," he writes in his memoir. "I salute the light that you are and that is inside your heart."

Following is a Q-and-A with Santana, named No. 15 on Rolling Stone's list of "100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time." It has been edited for length and clarity.

How did you develop such a fluid guitar style? I understand that B.B. King and T-Bone Walker were major influences.

I was influenced by everybody. It’s a mix of God and my mom and dad, their essence. I learned from my dad, who was a violin player. All of my life, I have looked at myself as a composite of B.B. King and Aretha (Franklin). I tried to be my best Otis Rush. I’m closer to them. It’s a composite, that’s the main thing.

I understand you were quoted at 70 as saying that you were "retired from being retired." Is that still true, at age 74?

Yeah, I think that a lot of people who retire, die. It's a death sentence. I always want to be proactive and creative. If you see it, paint it. If you hear music, you have to play it.

Was Woodstock everything it was made out to be? Was it really a life-changing event for those who attended and our society at large? It has been blown out to be something of mythological proportions, thanks in part to the movie.

The first thing is the collective consciousness and commonality, it's comparable to the Berlin Wall coming down and Nelson Mandela being freed from jail. It was a testament to how we can live together in harmony.

Carlos Santana during a September 2021 performance in Augusta, Georgia.
Carlos Santana during a September 2021 performance in Augusta, Georgia.

How did "Supernatural" come together? I understand you and Clive Davis came to an understanding if you were to join his Arista label? Through the years, musicians complained to me about being cheated by record companies and executives. But Davis is a notable exception.

My ex-wife Deborah set up a meeting with Clive. I was on a German label, Polydor/Island, with Chris Blackwell. Clive said when that contract expired he would have something for me. He said, 'Let me be your ringmaster. Do you have the discipline and focus to make a record that could be played on the radio' and I said, 'Yes.' All the artistic concerns, from the producer and engineer to the musicians, everybody got together for the common good.

Are you proud of the way you've been able to revolutionize music, seamlessly crisscrossing so many styles? I saw you in the early 1980s at Poplar Creek in suburban Chicago and I had never seen such a blend of people at a concert, white, Black and Hispanic.

You go to a Grateful Dead concert and everybody (in the audience) is white. You go to an Earth, Wind and Fire concert and everyone is Black. (Legendary rock promoter) Bill Graham said everything comes with you. That's something that is great to have.

A colleague of mine said I should ask you about the music of today, if anything will make a lasting impact.

You still feel the power of the Doors, John Coltrane, Billie Holiday and Quincy Jones. Today, with computers, even plumbers can play music. Billie Holiday, Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Traffic and Jimi Hendrix (will last forever). So much music now only sounds as deep as a spoon and I don't listen to a spoon.

Any closing thoughts?

Santana: I'm grateful to be alive. Bill Graham and Jerry Garcia are cheering for me. I want to represent them and represent them well.

Contact Gordon Engelhardt by email at gordon.engelhardt@courierpress.com and follow him on Twitter @EngGordon.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Guitarist Carlos Santana to perform live at Ford Center in Evansville