Guitarists who emerged in the 1960s revolutionized their instruments — and got to know each other personally
Carlos Santana It is Jimi Hendrix They are two of the greatest guitarists of all time. And they were contemporaries. Santana’s first album, the same name, was released in 1969, just two years before the debut of Jimi Hendrix ExperienceAre You Experienced.
They also gained famous admirers throughout their careers. The Mexican musician, specifically, has already been publicly praised by names such as Miles Davis, Eric Clapton It is BB King — in addition to Hendrix himself, who tragically left us in 1970, at the age of 27.
In an interview with Forbes, Santana recalled the time he met Hendrix. At the time, the revolutionary of so-called Latin rock was still an emerging guitarist, while the late artist had already established himself as a giant.
“One of the things that gave me the most confidence at the beginning of my career was when I was with Jimi Hendrix. He arrived and said: ‘Santana, right?’ I say yes’. And he said, ‘I love your choice of notes.’”
The praise didn’t go much further than that. Despite this, the feeling was stimulating for Santana — who is such a fan of Hendrix to the point of placing him above another guitar revolutionary, Eddie Van Halen, in an interview with billboard (via Guitar World).
Carlos Santana and the compliments
As already highlighted, Miles Davis was also among Carlos Santana’s fans. The jazz legend, who left us in 1991, approached the musician to say that he “knows how to play properly”. The guitarist recalls:
“I was playing at the Concierto de Aranjuez and Miles Davis says, ‘You know how to do this right. Many people don’t know how to play properly’. When I receive a compliment from Miles Davis, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and BB King, then I must be really good. After a while you just accept that you really are good.”
Despite this, the Mexican artist did not feel comfortable with this type of approach.
“At first, I felt uncomfortable because I wasn’t used to receiving adulation and so much attention. Like most people, I didn’t have a deep sense of self-worth. It doesn’t mean you’re arrogant. It means you know you are priceless and precious because God loves you and believes in you.”
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
