LOS ANGELES (Carlos Santana/ www.santana.com) -
Music icon
Carlos Santana has been on the road with the
Santana Band for most of this year, playing for hundreds of thousands of fans at concerts in South
America (their first tour there in over a decade), Europe, Japan and the western United States. Just prior to
Santana 2006 World Tour's final east coast U.S. leg, which began on 9/15,
Carlos made the journey to his birthplace, Autlan, Mexico in the western foothills of the
Sierra Madres (home to approximately 60,000 people), for a celebration in his honor.
The festivities marked the first public viewing of Centro Comunitario Tiopa Tlanextli (Santuario de Luz) - which means "Sanctuary of Light" - the new non-profit health clinic and community center for the people of Autlan that was funded by Carlos Santana and his wife, author Deborah Santana. Both Carlos and the Mayor of Autlan, Presidente Municipal Carlos Meillon Johnston, spoke to crowds assembled for the project's inauguration and an evening of entertainment at Plaza Carlos Santana (and adjacent Avenue Carlos Santana), named for the musician at a ceremony in 2001 when he also received the keys to the city.
Carlos conceived of the center as a way to give something meaningful back to the underserved and poor people of Autlan, where he first experienced music through his father, a virtuoso mariachi violinist. Initial seed money was raised at a Santana benefit concert in Guadalaraja, Mexico last year and the project broke ground in November, 2005 on land donated by the city of Autlan; it will be fully operational by the end of 2006. Carlos worked with Dr. Martin Sandoval Gomez - another Autlan native, now residing in Oakdale, CA - to guide the project to fruition. Tiopa Tlanextli will be run by a volunteer steering committee overseeing a team of doctors, nurses, dentists and counselors who will provide services - including traditional, alternative healing and western medical treatment - on a sliding scale basis, with an emphasis on serving the children, women and elderly of the Autlan area. The community center section will house a library - 1,200 books have already been donated - as well as a computer room and other meeting rooms.
Carlos and the Santana Band are now back in full swing tour mode for the final leg of their 2006 World Tour, which kicked off September 15 in Mansfield, MA with a concert featuring guitar legend Jeff Beck as the bill's opener. All other east coast dates spotlight the Salvador Santana Band opening and Los Lonely Boys as the second act, with engagements including September 16 at Nikon at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, NY, September 20 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT, September 23-24 at the Atlantic City's Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Event Center, September 26 at Bristow, VA's Nissan Pavilion at Stone Ridge and September 28 at the Sound Advice Amphitheater in West Palm Beach, FL. The itinerary concludes with a September 30 show at Atlanta, GA's Chastain Park Amphitheatre (Los Lonely boys are not on the 9/30 bill).
On Monday, September 18, Carlos and Deborah Santana will also co-chair (along with Samuel Jackson, Alfre Woodard, Denzel Washington and others) the U.S. celebration of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's 75th birthday. The event, taking place in Beverly Hills, CA, benefits Artists For A New South Africa (ANSA) and their groundbreaking programs working with people with HIV/AIDS, children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and at-risk youth in South Africa and the U.S. Proceeds from the evening will specifically support two South African charities, personally selected by Archbishop Tutu, that serve disadvantaged children. Musical acts confirmed to perform are Angie Stone and South African-born singer-songwriter Jonathan Butler. Also on the evening's program are appearances and performances by Alfre Woodard, Samuel L. Jackson, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Christina Ricci, Alexandra Paul, CCH Pounder, Blair Underwood and others.
Following the conclusion of Santana's World Tour, Carlos Santana will travel to South Africa for Archbishop Tutu's birthday festivities there, after which he will take a break to spend time with his family. For more information, visit https://www.santana.com
SEPTEMBER - EAST COAST U.S. dates featuring Salvador Santana Band opening and Los Lonely Boys as second act (for all dates except 9/30, when SSB is sole opener):
September 20 Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
September 22 Wallingford, CT - Chevrolet Theater
September 23-24 Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Event Center
September 26 Bristow, VA - Nissan Pavilion at Stone Ridge
September 28 West Palm Beach, FL - Sound Advice Amphitheater
September 29 Tampa, FL - Ford Amphitheatre
September 30 Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park Amphitheatre
