← Takin' A Walk - Music History with Buzz Knight
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- [00:00]
Carlos Santana
This is an Iheart podcast.
- [00:05]
LG X Boom Advertiser
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- [00:31]
Chase Sapphire Reserve Advertiser
Bring the boom xboom this episode of Taking a Walk is brought to you by Chase Sapphire Reserve. Whether I'm booking my next vacation or going to a concert, Chase Sapphire Reserve is my gateway to the world's most captivating destinations. When I use my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, I get eight times points on all the purchases I make through Chase Travel and even access to one of a kind experiences like music festivals and sports events. And that's not even mentioning how the card gets me into the Sapphire Lounge by the club at select airports nationwide. No matter where I'm walking, travel is more rewarding with Chase Sapphire Reserve. Discover more@chase.com Sapphire Reserve cards issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank, NA member FDIC subject to credit approval terms apply.
- [01:29]
Carlos Santana
Taking a Walk People start asking me, what kind of amplifier do you use? What kind of guitar is that the amplifier or the guitar is me? I'm the sound. You know, I'm an accumulation of a lot of things that I think and feel.
- [01:42]
Buzz Knight
I'm Buzz Knight and I'm thrilled you're here for the Taking a Walk podcast. I am over the moon excited to welcome one of the most iconic guitarists in music history, Carlos Santana. Carlos is still creating groundbreaking new music on releasing Let the Guitar Play, a collaboration with Darrell run DMC McDaniels. Santana is also coming to a venue near you with their Oneness Tour 2024 with the counting Crows. Carlos, it's an honor to have you on the Taking a Walk podcast.
- [02:16]
Carlos Santana
Thank you. It's a joy to be with you.
- [02:18]
Buzz Knight
So it's amazing your never ending in your work. Congratulations on Let the Guitar Play the collaboration with Run dmc. How did that collaboration come about?
- [02:32]
Carlos Santana
You know, it's like the same answer for since the beginning. I found out since I was born, even before I was born, someone is orchestrating behind the scene for each individual to have a glorious existence. My path was set with my mom and dad and even before the later on when I got to San Francisco because of Bill Graham and Clive Davis and Mimi King and Tito Puente because all of them saw Something in me. And they kind of like adopted me and they invested emotionally and financially and believing in me and they encouraged me. So where I am today is still an extension of what I learned from Bill Graham and Clyde Davis. Just show up and compliment whatever gets the product.
- [03:30]
Buzz Knight
You excited about the Oneness tour with the Counting Crows that's going to be hitting 29 cities across North America?
- [03:38]
Carlos Santana
I am very excited because, you know, once I made a decision in 1972 not to be a victim mentality rock star, you know, because when I started really seeing the rock stars, you know, they kind of. They kind of smell rancid and they look. They look like they were not having a good time. And I said, you know, everybody wants to be like a rock star. But when you hang around rock stars, they're really. Well, they're really miserable people, you know. And I says, I want to do something different. Instead of doing this shivering up or snorting or drinking, I was going to go like this. I'm going to visit my light, my own divinity away from religion and I'm going to do something different. And as soon as I did was like West Point discipline. It was like we're greens. Because it was the discipline. My tone changed. People started asking me, what kind of amplifier do you use? What kind of guitar is that? The amplifier or the guitar is me? I'm the cell, you know, I'm an accumulation of a lot of things that I think and feel. So here's the thing. I made a conscious decision to become a significant musician person than a rock star. You know, if you want to sell stuff, you can say, you don't have to be a rock star to be radiant. And so you have the attire that makes you look like a rock star or shoes or whatever, you know. But as I said, hanging around rock stars, I find that to be really, really depressing and frustrating because they're always complaining, you know, they're always, everything's not enough, you know. And I said, damn, this stuff is boring, you know, it's got to be another way. So hanging around John McLaughlin and we found a guru, a spiritual teacher from India. And he had a different perception, which is what it is on life. And so that helped me change words. Like, it's not a job, it's a gift. It's not work, it's wonderment. That's why change words. And it stimulates me. I have more energy than what I eat. I have more inspiration than money in the bank. I found that there's another form of energy that I can bring out of myself. And I received a lot of compliments from Miles Davis to Stevie Ray to Jocko to Eric Clapton, African musicians. And one of the best compliments I ever got was from a gentleman named Moricante. And he said to me, he says, you, belly is full, but you're hungry to feed the people. And I was like, wow, thank you so much. You know, so it means that no matter what the world gives me, I feel better when I'm sharing it. Like, when we played in Woodstock, everybody got fed, you know, I'm planning to do. Because Bill Graham and Michael Language, they're on the other side now. They left the body. So I want to create a global Woodstock. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Unity, harmony, oneness with selective artists. Selected songs since China, Russia and Korea. They're talking about nuclear war in the Middle east against the United States. And remember in the 50s, when people say, just, you know, we're having a drill, go get under your desk, you know, just in case they drop the bomb, like that's going to help you, you know? And I used to go, this is fucking stupid, man. You know, they dropped the bomb going, after this. That ain't going to help me, you know? So that stuff is trying to come back again because people try to sell you fear, which is what the media does. Fear, fear, fear. I enjoy watching scary movies on Fridays when I was young. Dracula, Frankenstein, you know, all that. But after a while, it got boring, you know, I got bored really, really quick with the Exorcist. I got bored with that frequency. I get excited more with the positive possibilities of knowing that I can make a difference. I can show up in a room with a lot of people, and I had a Mick Jagger or Bob Dylan. People would look at me because they know that I'm bringing something to the table that is uplifting and encouraging, you know, Santana is a language of light, enjoy and love. And, you know, there's not that many bands that can go to Ireland or Africa or Japan and still be like this with the family, you know? So after all these years, I learned that I am significant, meaningful, precious, and priceless. This is not my ego speaking. This is my soul affirming that if God created the constellations, the universe, the galaxy, the Milky Way, since He created all that and he created you and me, we must be pretty good, you know, because God don't create garbage, you know, we create garbage by thinking trash, you know? And so being a musician is more than just playing the guitar, you know, People say, well, why don't you learn from Jerry Garcia? What did you learn from Michael Bloomfield? What did you learn from this? And what did you learn from that? You know, I'd say I learned just compliment. Just compliment, compliment. Not BSing, but complimenting is that. That makes me 7. I'm 70 something. I think I might be 77 already, but I'm still relevant, you know, I could walk around the streets of Amsterdam at night and hear a car coming around, you know, with the windows open and they're playing loud music. I'm like, damn. You know? So it makes me feel grateful that I'm living a life where I can make my mother and my father proud. That, to me, is everything. Amen to that.
- [09:55]
Buzz Knight
Yeah. August 10, 1969, I was privileged to be able to see Santana open for the Jefferson Airplane and a free concert in Central park, which blew my mind. What do you remember about that experience?
- [10:16]
Carlos Santana
I remember constantly winning a battle over fear. You know, being from California, you come to New York, you know, it's a different energy, you know, and sometimes people can be very, very edgy in New York, you know, and then I realized if I just walk like I own the place, you know, from. From the Village all the way to Central park, then they can intimidate. And then now I'm one of them, you know, because people can read body language. If I'm walking around like I'm nervous Nelly, you know, then they want to come after me. But if I walk around like, you don't show me, man. You know, like I. I belong here, you know, it's something that need. People need to be taught. Like someone may teach you how to body surf, you know, someone can teach you how to navigate or speak the language. Coming to New York, there should be like a. A procedure that teaches you before you get out of the play, a conduct how to carry yourself. So I have in my mind and in my heart a lot of things that I want to do. Bring a curriculum to schools. You know, teach people compassion, kindness, mercy, forgiveness. Just like you teach history or 1, 2, 3, or ABC. Teach people compassion, kindness, mercy, forgiveness. You know, those are the main ingredients, elements, nutrients for world peace. You know, and it's something that if your parents don't teach it, a lot of church, churches, they self fear, you know, they. They. I don't deal so much with the Bible because a lot of it is Godzilla. And I don't vibe with Gazelle. I vibe with God. God is unconditional love. I follow that. That is Jesus. Unconditional love, forgiveness, anything to do with you screw up and, you know, you got to go through Checkpoint Charlie and you're not measuring out because you miss, you know, you screw up with the 10 commandment, 10 commandos, you know you're going to go to hell forever. I let you know I'm a spiritual adult. You don't need to scare me to heaven. And by the way, we drove it to heaven, it was scary to heaven, you know, because I didn't want to work. And so as a musician, I find that other musicians want to hang around with me because they can see it when I walk in. But I bring something in, cocaine or heroin or this or that or lick it, you know, I bring it in a different energy that has nothing to do with making the drug dealer more. You know, if they depend on me, they want to start to that, you know. Same thing with the casinos, you know, I don't gamble. I believe in grace. I don't believe in lot, fortune or any of that, you know, so just the way that I was built, it shows up in my play. And I'm happy. I'm very, very happy that I have become consistent with specificity of showing up and bringing light and love, reminding people. And I'm going to level. You're worthy, your precious is priceless. You're significant and meaningful. Carry yourself like, you know, and that to me is. I mean, anybody can play needles. You can train people to play music just like you train people to shovel cards. But the kind of music that I play is the kind of music that ignites your chromosomes and your molecular structure to believe one more time, believe it only and own it. I am a spiritual being. I can create blessings and miracles. It's not just Trijesus or Krishna or Ada or Buddha or the Pope. I can create less 10 variables too, because I've been in view before. I was born with that gift. And the more you remind people of this, it spreads. My consciousness spreads, and this is the best way to put it, to conclude this conversation. One positive thought creates billions of positive vibrations. That was John Coltrane who said that.
- [14:42]
Buzz Knight
Can you explain to somebody what it feels like when you're on stage, performing in front of a large group of people, and you're hitting that note so brilliantly? What is that feeling like from your perspective?
- [14:58]
Carlos Santana
It's a spiritual orgasm. When you have a spiritual orgasm, it's more than emotion, because emotion, you know, like the roller coaster, you go up and you come down, you know, one minute you feel good, next thing you feel miserable because you feel guilty. But when you play Music, you have a. What we call a spiritual orgasm. For me, I'm looking at the people, as I always see people who are. They get off their seat and it's like a spiritual revival. They start crying and laughing and dancing, and they're actually crying and laughing and dancing at the same time. It's like the Holy Ghost took over it in their bodies. Just like a revival at church, you know? And when I see that, I look at the band, I go, hey, we're doing it. You know, there's a proof right there. They say proof is in the puddle. Look at her and look at him. Look at the way they're dancing. They're like. And that's what music does, whether it's from Beethoven or the Rolling Stones or whoever. Music supposed to uplift you to a place. I call it Supreme Wonderland.
- [16:05]
Buzz Knight
Love that. Can you share three quintessential albums that to this day have still impacted you.
- [16:14]
Carlos Santana
I love Supreme, Joe Coltrane, My Love, Lame, Sketches to Spain, the first three albums from Jimi Hendrix, probably all of the albums by Bob Dylan. I love everything by Motown, Marvin Gaye, But I especially love one love. All you need is love blowing in the wind. I gravitate to those songs that I call them today's A list, because when you play those songs back to back to back. What a Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong, over the Rainbow, you know, when you play the songs they're assigning a design to, don't worry about a thing. Bob Marley, Three Little Birds. There's music to play on the radio. Shopping malls and parking lots to make people not be suicidal or homicide. We can rescue people from feeling like they're going to suicide. Music will do that. Music will pull you out of the misery ditch. And so that's what I focus every day. You know, I do read a book that's called A Course in Miracles. Every day there's a lesson, you know, and it's. It's the book that shows you with all respect that a lot of the stuff in the Bible is upside down. And I know a lot of people get upset with that, because a lot of people become. If you don't believe what they believe, they just send you to hell immediately. You know, it's like. It's like. It's like being over to the top, patriotic, you know. Patriotic to me is like a monkey that pees out of tree and said, this is my tree. I peed on it. That's. That's what's called patriotic to me, you know, Just because you peed on it. No you know, I I patriotic to me is pretty historic, you know, because I'm a hippie, so I look at the whole world like it's a womb and we're all debating complicated, you know, and so therefore I'm able to play music that when we show up in London or we show up wherever we show up, people are like, damn, Santana's got something different, man. He got everybody elated going out and we celebrate people. What do you celebrate? We celebrate our light and we celebrate our spirit and our divinity. That's what we celebrate.
- [18:44]
Buzz Knight
Carlos, thank you so much for all you continue to give us. Thanks for being on Taking a Walk. Good luck on the tour. Thank you so much and I'm so grateful that we got to talk.
- [18:54]
Carlos Santana
Stay precious and thank you. Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a Walk podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts.
- [19:16]
LG X Boom Advertiser
Stop settling for weak sound. It's time to level up your game and bring the boom. Hit the town with the ultra durable LG X Boom portable speaker and enjoy vibrant sound wherever you go. Elevate your listening experience to new heights because let's be real, your music deserves it. The future of sound is now with LG XBoom and for a limited time save 25% at LG.com with code Fall25. Bring the Boom X Boom.
- [19:46]
Chase Sapphire Reserve Advertiser
This episode of Taking a Walk is brought to you by Chase Sapphire Reserve. Whether I'm booking my next vacation or going to a concert, Chase Sapphire Reserve is my gateway to to the world's most captivating destinations. When I use my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, I get eight times points on all the purchases I make through Chase Travel and even access to one of a kind experiences like music festivals and sports events. And that's not even mentioning how the card gets me into the Sapphire Lounge by the club at select airports nationwide. No matter where I'm walking, travel is more rewarding with Chase Sapphire Reserve. Discover more@chase.com Sapphire Reserve cards issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank NA member FDIC subject to credit approval terms apply.
- [20:40]
Carlos Santana
This is an I heart podcast.