'Smooth' Santana to rock Israel this summer

After his 2010 cancellation, the Latin rock sensation announces long-anticipated concert scheduled for July 30 in Tel Aviv's Hayarkon Park.

By DAVID BRINN
Updated: MARCH 17, 2016 23:45
Carlos Santana (photo credit: Courtesy)
Carlos Santana
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Carlos Santana has announced a performance with his band at Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park on July 30.
Santana, who rose to fame after an incendiary performance at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, last appeared in Israel in 1987. A return show in 2010 was canceled due to scheduling conflicts, although the BDS Movement attempted to take credit for it.
“Carlos Santana is a citizen of the world and he plays his music and spreads his message of love, light and peace wherever he goes,” said Santana manager Michael Vrionis in a press release. “Carlos believes the world should have no borders so he is not detoured or discouraged to play anywhere on this planet. We look forward to performing in Israel this summer.”
Tickets to the show, promoted by Shuki Weiss and Mario Mendrzycki, will go on sale Friday at eventim.co.il.
With Latin-tinged hits like “Evil Ways” and “Black Magic Woman,” Santana achieved more commercial success than many of his San Francisco contemporaries like The Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane.
After a career lull in the 1990s, the band enjoyed a resurgence at the end of the decade with his album Supernatural and hit single “Smooth.”
The 68-year-old, 10-time Grammy winning guitarist and his namesake band are celebrated as one of the best-selling artists in the world with more than 100 million record sales worldwide. Santana was cited by Rolling Stone as #15 on their list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.”
Next month will see the release of Santana IV, a studio album that reunites the revered early ‘70s Santana lineup with Carlos, Gregg Rolie, Neal Schon, Michael Carabello and Michael Shrieve. The album marks the first time in 45 years – since 1971’s multi-platinum classic Santana III – that the quintet has recorded together.
Santana’s show will add to the list of legendary acts coming to Israel this summer, as he joins Brian Wilson, Foreigner, Elton John and Deep Purple on the oldies but goldies circuit.