Santana to Celebrate `SUPERNATURAL'

Mon. May 22, 2000 12:00 AM by Business Wire

San Rafael, CA - Eight-time Grammy Award winner Carlos Santana continues to celebrate a phenomenal year on many fronts, including network television.

On Wednesday, May 31, he brings the party to FOX Television with the airing of "A Supernatural Evening with Santana," an all-star concert special featuring artists from his record-setting Arista album, "SUPERNATURAL."

Taped a couple of months after this year's Grammy Awards ceremonies where the album earned a record nine wins, the concert features several current songs, plus other Santana favorites. Highlights include live performances of the hit singles "Smooth," with Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty), and "Maria Maria" with Wyclef Jean proteges, the Product G&B.

Additional artists include Lauryn Hill (performing with Cee-Lo on "Do You Like the Way") Dave Matthews (joined by DMB drummer Carter Beauford on "Love of My Life") and Everlast ("Put Your Lights On"). The concert also features performances by special guests Sarah McLachlan, who will team with Carlos for a version of her hit "Angel," and long-time friend and collaborator, saxophonist Wayne Shorter.

The concert announcement comes just as the current single, "Maria Maria," became the longest running No. 1 song of 2000, hitting its eighth consecutive week at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. That builds upon the success of the triple Grammy-winning "Smooth," which was the longest-running No. 1 single of last year, staying atop the charts for 12 consecutive weeks.

Overall, the album has been in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 Album chart for more than 30 weeks, ranking No. 1 for a total of 12 weeks. And, that has meant "SUPERNATURAL" sales. The album recently earned RIAA Diamond (10 million) certification to 12-times platinum in the United States, and has sold nearly 20 million copies worldwide.

"SUPERNATURAL," which was co-produced by Carlos and Clive Davis, also continues to earn awards. In addition to receiving Record and Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Rock Album titles at this year's Grammy Awards, "SUPERNATURAL" was named "Best Album of the Year" at "Premio Lo Nuestro -- La Musica Latina." Produced by Univision and celebrating its 12th year, the event is considered to be the most distinguished Latin music awards show in the world.

And, Santana also was named "Favorite Artist or Group in Rock" by fans voting in the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards. Presented in ceremonies in Los Angeles on May 9, the awards show will air on FOX Television sometime in June.

More of Santana's Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking fans worldwide will have a chance to see and hear Carlos with the announcement that StarMedia(R) Network Inc. (Nasdaq:STRM), the leading Internet media company (3.3 million accounts) targeting Latin America and other Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries worldwide (www.starmedia.com), will serve as the exclusive title sponsor for Santana's Supernatural Summer Tour in the United States.

Using state-of-the-art Webcast technology, StarMedia Broadband will provide its users with unique interactive access to Carlos Santana, his music and his concerts. The official Santana/StarMedia Web site, www.starmedia.com will feature Webcasts of select concerts, behind the scenes activities, unique touring information, interviews and historical footage of Carlos and the band.

In addition, StarMedia users will be able to chat directly with Carlos and band members at specific times and enter contests to win concert tickets. Santana's Supernatural Summer Tour presented by StarMedia (with Macy Gray as the opening act for the first leg of the tour) launches at the Coral Sky Pavilion in West Palm Beach, Fla., on July 20, and will include 46 shows in 36 cities in the United States and Canada.

While preparing for the upcoming European leg of his 2000 concert schedule (May 18 through June 14 -- for information, visit www.santana.com/OnTour), Santana has announced that Brown Shoe Company Inc. (NYSE:BWS) has signed a licensing agreement to produce a line of men's and women's fashion footwear under the "Carlos" label.

A portion of the proceeds from each sale will be donated to the Milagro Foundation, which was launched by Carlos and his wife, Deborah, in 1998, to support educational efforts to help deserving children live healthy, literate and culturally enriched lives.

The shoe line, which features cutting-edge fashion and multicultural influences, will debut at the World Shoe Association trade show in August, in Las Vegas. The "Carlos" collection will be available at leading retailers in Fall 2000.

For the past 31 years, Carlos Santana and the Santana Band have continuously built and maintained a growing audience that, today, spans generations all over the world. His legacy includes more than 50 million albums and performances before tens of millions of people -- and those numbers continue to grow.

Crossing all ethnic, geographic and political boundaries, Santana fans have claimed Carlos' music and universal message of compassion, love and understanding as their own. In addition, he is a role model for Latinos and other Spanish-speaking communities around the world, and continues to support worthy causes that support education and the needs of children. In 1998, Santana was inducted into the Rock `n Roll Hall of Fame.

News, photos provided by Business Wire.

 

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