Carlos Santana has released a collaboration with Steve Winwood on “Whiter Shade of Pale,” from his next album, Blessings and Miracles. The release, coming October 15, 2021, via BMG, also includes a reunion with Rob Thomas who sang on the Santana smash hit, “Smooth.” Listen to both tracks below. Others joining the album include Chris Stapleton and Kirk Hammett.
The classic rock legend turned 74 on July 20.
Santana is on tour with dates through December, including his residency at the House of Blues Las Vegas. Meanwhile, his band’s tour where they are to be supported by the powerhouse R&B institution Earth, Wind & Fire, originally announced in February 2020 for summer of 2020, has been moved to 2022. It will now begin almost to the day, two years later. The dates (listed below) mark the first time that the two bands have toured together.
Santana recalls how he and Winwood were at a show in London’s Hyde Park, and he went up to him and suggested they record the Procol Harum classic. “I said, ‘You and I have to do it, but we’re going to do it very sexy, like a Hare Krishna but with congas.’ I played the components in his ear, and he said, ‘I hear it, Carlos. You’re right.’ So that’s what we did – it’s Santana, Cuban, Puerto Rican in an African way. And man, you talk about sexy. Steve’s voice is so sexy and beautiful.”
Listen to Santana and Winwood perform “Whiter Shade of Pale”
Santana’s latest collaboration with Rob Thomas was released on Aug. 18.
Listen to Santana and Thomas on “Move”
Santana U.S. 2021 Tour (Tickets are available here and here)
9/21 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
9/22 – Simpsonville, SC – CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park
9/24 – Tuscaloosa, AL – Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
9/25 – Augusta, GA – The James Brown Arena
9/26 – Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater
9/28 – Chattanooga, TN – Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium
9/29 – Franklin, TN – First Bank Amphitheater
10/1 – Tulsa, OK – Paradise Cove at River Spirit Casino Resort
10/2 – Durant, OK – Choctaw Grand Theater
11/3, 5-7, 10, 12-14 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues Las Vegas
12/1, 3-5, 8, 10-12 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues Las Vegas
The “Miraculous Supernatural” tour with EW&F will commemorate two very important milestones in the guitarist’s career: the 21st anniversary of his groundbreaking, multiple Grammy-winning album Supernatural and the 52st anniversary of 1970 album Abraxas.
Santana North American 2022 Tour with Earth, Wind and Fire
6/17 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
6/18 – Los Angeles, CA – Banc of California Stadium
6/21 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
6/22 – Concord, CA – Concord Pavilion
6/24 – Ridgefield, WA – Sunlight Supply Amphitheater
6/25 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
6/28 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
6/29 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center
7/01 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
7/02 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
7/05 – Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre
7/06 – Burgettstown, PA – S&T Bank Music Park
7/08 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
7/09 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
7/10 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater – Summerfest Grounds
7/15 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
7/16 – Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
8/06 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
8/07 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
8/10 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
8/13 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
8/13 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
8/14 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
8/17 – Syracuse, NY -St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
8/18 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavilion
8/20 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
8/21 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
8/24 – Atlanta, GA – Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood
8/26 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre at the South Florida Fairgrounds
8/27 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds
Related: Our Album Rewind of 1970’s Abraxas
Says Carlos Santana in the original EW&F tour press release, “When you come to a Santana concert, the miraculous happens. Miraculous means, transforming darkness into delight. I feel like a 20-year-old on stage playing with this band, and they deliver high energy on every song. When we hit the stage, we know we will touch your heart and make you dance, sing, cry, laugh and leave your baggage behind. Our vision-mission is designed to elevate, transform and illumine consciousness to make you want to embrace your own light and allow for miracles and blessings to flow from your own heart.”
Santana’s wife Cindy Blackman Santana has released a video of her cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” featuring her husband. It’s included in her recent album, Give the Drummer Some.
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1 Comment
Well, maybe the first in a long time…Santana toured Britain with Earth Wind and Fire in 1975 – I know because I saw them at the Glasgow Apollo, and met Carlos afterwards at a CBS post-concert party with both bands.