The boots are more than just boots.
Much like everything in Carlos Santanas life, they provide a lesson, a microcosm.
Carlos found the boots hes wearing this daylilac snakeskinon a recent visit to a shop in West Hollywood.
They werent for sale; they belonged to the shop owners son.
But with his rock-star charm, Carlos cajoled him into selling.
The universe will bring you an abundance of opportunities and possibilities.
Would you be open to receive it?
That sums up the 72-year journey ofCarlos Santana.
He became a pioneer of Latin rock primarily through talent and determination, of course.
But there was a large element of being in the right places at the right times.
He picked up the guitar instead.
But Carlos also couldnt resist the popular blues-guitar sounds coming from the U.S.
I wanted to sound likeB.
B. Kingand Otis Rush and all the people I loved, he says.
And then I didnt sound like them.
I sounded like me.
I didnt realize that it was a blessing instead of a curse.
The universe did bring Carlos abundance.
Among them were Evil Ways, Oye Como Va and Black Magic Woman.
It was a decided departure from convention.
And yet, more than 50 years in, Carlos Santana is still recording and performing and drawing crowds.
His melodies and solos are as catchy as a singers.
Somehow his fingers are an extension of his soul.
They have his stamp, and thats everything when youre an artist.
Another Carlos Santana hallmark is his way of talkingof thinking, reallyin metaphors, more than specifics.
He loves to dispense pearls of wisdom, not because he fancies himself a preacher or a shrink.
Quite the contrary; he says hes been to therapy maybe twice in his life.
Rather, its that hes figured out his path to happiness and wants to share the goods.
You stay relevant by trusting you have something people need.
Humans without romance become curmudgeons and predictable with misery.
Carlos believes his music helps.
I know that we bring something to the four corners of the world.
