If one were to sculpt sound into soulful landscapes, the sculptor might resemble Carlos Santana. From his mystical riffs to the timbre of musical tradition resonating from his guitar, Santana is a virtuoso whose artistry transcends simple genre classifications. Whether you hear the opening bars of “Black Magic Woman” or the spellbinding collaborations in Supernatural, you’re hearing the heartbeat of an artist whose contributions to music are, frankly, immeasurable. Speaking of measurements, though, the monetary yardstick hovers at an impressive $50 million in 2023, according to IdolNetWorth.
The world first felt the full force of Santana’s artistry at Woodstock in 1969, and, boy, did it resonate. His eponymous band’s debut album Santana would follow shortly, unleashing hits like “Evil Ways” that gained instant acclaim. Through the 1970s and beyond, his virtuosity only continued to blossom. Take Abraxas, the album that gifted us “Oye Como Va,” or the aforementioned Supernatural, which won nine Grammy Awards and delivered the iconic track “Smooth” featuring Rob Thomas. This is not a curriculum vitae; it’s a tapestry of culture and emotion woven into sound.
The man behind the music is intriguingly spiritual, influenced by metaphysical philosophies and Eastern spiritual practices. He’s been happily married to drummer Cindy Blackman since 2010, and he fiercely advocates for educational efforts through the Milagro Foundation, which he established with his then-wife Deborah in 1998.
One might think that Santana’s business repertoire would strictly be musical, but the man’s a maestro in diversification. There’s a line of women’s shoes, a chain of upscale Mexican restaurants called Maria Maria, and a range of Santana-branded musical instruments. He’s also a philanthropist of note, with the Milagro Foundation contributing millions to underprivileged children for their education, health, and welfare.
Carlos Santana’s life is not merely a tale of musical excellence; it’s an ode to diversity, a tribute to spirituality, and a testament to the richness that results when one remains committed to both craft and community.
The world leader, who has repeatedly faced criticism for featuring songs from artists who do not want their music connected to his political views, shared a viral clip of We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love) that focused on the lyric: “Me and my truth we sit in silence.”
The footage shows Trump at a rally while the statement “Men can’t have babies and should never compete in women’s sports” appears on screen.
The Team Trump TikTok account posted the video with the caption: “This shouldn’t be controversial! #trump #arianagrande #maga.”
Ariana responded in a comment that was later removed, saying: “Never use my music again. Also, your truth is false.”
Trump has a well known record of opposing transgender rights, and the US Supreme Court recently ruled that states can prohibit transgender women from taking part in women’s sports. In a 6 to 3 ruling, the justices determined that such laws do not breach Title IX or the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause.
The decision in June came after several other actions by the Trump administration involving transgender policies. Earlier in May, the Supreme Court also permitted the administration to continue with its “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness” order, which would prevent transgender individuals from serving in the US military.
Ariana’s statement arrived soon after Taylor Swift also took steps to stop Trump from using her music on TikTok. Trump had featured a number of her songs in his social media posts, including a video of him and his wife Lady Melania Trump watching fireworks accompanied by August.
The song was later taken off the post and replaced by a notice that read: “This sound isn’t available.”
Trump appeared to deliberately select Taylor’s track, adding the message: “I’m sure @Taylor Swift is going to be super excited we used her song!”
He also responded to the Team Trump video with: “Mood because it’s August and Donald Trump is your president.”
Other Taylor Swift songs that were removed from Trump’s TikTok content included The Fate of Ophelia and Father Figure.
Trump previously made headlines when he wrote “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” on Truth Social after the singer publicly announced that she planned to support Kamala Harris in the previous presidential election.
