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The Universal Tone cover art

The Universal Tone

Written by: Carlos Santana, Ashley Kahn
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Carlos Santana (introduction)
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Publisher's Summary

The intimate and long-awaited autobiography of a legend.

In 1967 in San Francisco, just a few weeks after the Summer of Love, a young Mexican guitarist took the stage at the Fillmore Auditorium and played a blistering solo that announced the arrival of a prodigious musical talent. Two years later - after he played a historic set at Woodstock - the world came to know the name Carlos Santana, his sensual and instantly recognizable guitar sound, and the legendary band that blended electric blues, psychedelic rock, Latin rhythms, and modern jazz, and that still bears his name.

Carlos Santana's unforgettable memoir offers a pause-resisting tale of musical self-determination and inner self-discovery, with personal stories filled with colorful detail and life-affirming lessons. The Universal Tone traces his journey from his earliest days playing the strip bars in Tijuana while barely in his teens and brings to light the establishment of his signature guitar sound; his roles as husband, father, recording legend, and rock guitar star; his indebtedness to musical and spiritual influences - from John Coltrane and John Lee Hooker to Miles Davis and Harry Belafonte; and his deep, lifelong dedication to a spiritual path that he developed from his Catholic upbringing, Eastern philosophies, and other mystical sources. It includes his recording some of the most popular and influential rock albums of all time, up to and beyond the 1999 sensation Supernatural, which garnered nine Grammy Awards and stands as arguably the most amazing career comeback in popular music history.

It's a profoundly inspiring tale of divine inspiration and musical fearlessness that does not balk at finding the humor in the world of high-flying fame, or at speaking plainly of Santana's personal revelations and the infinite possibility he sees in each person he meets. "Love is the light that is inside of all of us, everyone", he writes. "I salute the light that you are and that is inside your heart".

©2014 Carlos Santana (P)2014 Hachette Audio

What the critics say

"One of rock's true virtuosos and guiding lights." - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" A thread runs through his multicultural, cross generational music: the unifying power of the human spirit." (John Roos, Los Angeles Times)
"Passion, soul, and that elusive thing called sabor come through the music of Carlos Santana. His is always a surprising sound, ahead of its time - true world music before the term was even invented, but uniquely American in its multicultural reach... Santana is an artist who transcends musical genres and touches the heart across all generations." (The Kennedy Center)

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Blessed is the Peacemaker

This is a great listen and story. I have always been drawn to the music of Carlos Santana, Bob Marley, and many other spiritual musicians. The Universal Tone is a great exploration for anyone else with that same draw. For those who seek peace in chaos this book may even help point you in some great paths.

While it suffers from the personal point of view which removes some of the spirituality of it all (ironically), the book still feels honest. It covers a lot of ground, and at points the jumps through time can be hard to keep track of, especially when listening to it. But these are minor and don't detract from the plethora of experiences and music history contained within this book.

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