Carlos Santana将be the subject of a new documentary directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Rudy Valdez and produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, a representative for the guitarist confirmed to The Chronicle.
The project, which is in production, is set to feature previously unreleased archival footage and music as it traces Santana’s life story from his early life in Tijuana, Mexico, where he struggled with poverty and sexual abuse, to his rise out of the San Francisco music scene in the 1960s and into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the 1990s.
“I am completely humbled by the opportunity to tell the Carlos Santana story,” Valdez said in a statement. “Taking this journey with Carlos has been inspiring. As historic a life that Carlos Santana has lived, he continually reminds us that greatness lives within us all and I can’t wait to share this story with the world.”
Santana was a resident of San Francisco’s Mission District for many years and attended Mission High School, before starting the Latin rock band Santana and gaining international acclaim with hits that include “Black Magic Woman” and “Evil Ways,” as well as 1999’s multiplatinum “Supernatural” album.
Now living in Las Vegas, where he recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of his residency at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Santana said he was “honored and grateful” to have the opportunity to have a visual companion to his 2014 memoir, “The Universal Tone: Bringing My Story to Light.”
“The intentionality of this film is to touch people’s hearts and to inspire people to reconnect with their own light that they may ignite blessings and miracles,” Santana, 74, said in a statement.
The film is being produced by Imagine Documentaries’ Sara Bernstein and Justin Wilkes, along with Lizz Morhaim and others.
“We’re thrilled that Carlos has entrusted us with bringing his incredibly inspirational story to life in this film,” said Imagine’s Justin Wilkes. “He is one of the greatest musicians of all time, and throughout his career, Santana has unapologetically broken down borders and reinvented a tone universally celebrated across the globe. Collaborating with Rudy Valdez again is an honor and we are excited for him to take us on a journey with Santana.”
Santana, who was forced to cancel a handful of concerts to recover from “an unscheduled heart procedure” in December, has won 10 Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammys.