Carlos Santana Joins Rolling Stones As Only Musicians To Have Top 10 Album In Each Decade Since ‘60s

Carlos Santana is once again making history. The Mexican guitarist released his new album “Corazón,” his first Latin album, back in May 6. Leila Cobo from Billboard.com described it as more than just Latin, but “a global mixtape.” Santana’s new record brings together different artists from different genres like Gloria Estefan, Lila Downs, Niña Pastori, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Pitbull, Diego Torres, Romeo Santos, Miguel and more, and so far it’s had great success on the charts.

“Corazón” has made an appearance in popularity charts of 24 countries; it’s been number 2 in 10 nations and has remained on the Top 10 of 59 territories. Not to mention it’s been the number one of the Latin Billboard charts for four weeks in a row since its release. This has made Santana the second musician to have an album reach the Top 10 in every decade since the ‘60s, following The Rolling Stones.

It all began with Santana’s first album “Santana,” released in August 1969. It reached #4 on the US album charts, with the catchy single "Evil Ways" reaching number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. His second album, “Abraxas,” released in September 1970, included two of Santana's most enduring and well-known hits, "Oye Como Va," and "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen." The album spent six weeks at #1 on the Billboard chart at the end of 1970.

“Santana III” released in 1971 was another success of the ‘70s, reaching #1 on the album charts, selling two million copies, and yielding the hits "Everybody's Everything" and "No One to Depend On." It was “Zebop!” in 1981 that would close a series of successful releases, reaching #9 in the Billboard 200, and becoming Santana’s last significant album until “Supernatural” in 1999. He almost missed that decade if it hadn’t been for this particular record.

“Supernatural” included collaborations with Everlast, Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, Eric Clapton, Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Cee Lo Green, Maná, Dave Matthews, K. C. Porter, J. B. Eckl, and others. Supernatural reached number one on the US album charts, sold over 15 million copies in the United States, making it Santana's biggest sales success by far.

Then came “Shaman” in 2002. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, followed by “All That I Am,” released in 2005. This one debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200. Now with “Corazón,” released in 2014, Santana has placed an album (sometimes two) in the Top 10 each decade since the '60s. He’s also the number 20 of Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, has 10 Grammy Awards to his name, and three Latin Grammy Awards.