Carlos Santana: “I Am Not What Happened to Me”

About this episode

Carlos Santana is celebrated worldwide as the guitar visionary whose fusion of Latin rhythms, rock, blues and jazz created one of the most distinctive sounds in popular music. From Santana’s unforgettable appearance at Woodstock in 1969 to classics such as “Black Magic Woman,” “Oye Como Va” and “Evil Ways,” and the spectacular revival sparked by Supernatural, “Smooth” and “Maria Maria,” his music has crossed generations, genres and cultures. In this deeply personal episode of A Breath of Fresh Air, Carlos joins Sandy Kaye for a conversation that goes far beyond his extraordinary musical career. He speaks candidly about the sexual abuse he endured as a child and the anger, fear and mistrust that followed. Carlos explains how forgiving the person who abused him became an essential part of his recovery, allowing him to understand that he was not defined by what had happened to him. Carlos traces his spiritual awakening to 1972, when Autobiography of a Yogi, John McLaughlin and the teachings of Sri Chinmoy opened the door to a new way of thinking. He also acknowledges the influence of Aretha Franklin, John Coltrane, George Harrison and Carole King, whose music helped him find wha