How Carlos Santana ruled a historic Grammy night 25 years ago
Carlos Santana had no idea about the kind of otherworldly magic that his “Supernatural” album was going to conjure up when it swept the Grammys 25 years ago.
“I didn’t have any expectations, but I had what I call ‘willingness,’” the 77-year-old guitar god told The Post via email. “I just opened my heart to manifest blessings and miracles.
“Before the show, my kids were asking me about it,” he continued. “I was trying to stay grounded.”
But as the night went on at the newly built Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 23, 2000, “Supernatural” — the blockbuster LP by Santana’s namesake — was on its way to historic heights propelled by its smash singles “Smooth” (featuring Rob Thomas) and “Maria Maria” (featuring the Product G&B).
Santana would tie Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” record for the most Grammy wins by an artist in one night with eight victories. And the album “Supernatural” would go a step further with another win that brought its total to nine out of 11 nominations — sharing the record for the winningest album with U2’s “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.” And a quarter century later, both records still stand.
“It was really validating,” said Santana, who had only won one Grammy before in three previous nominations. “All I could think about was being that kid from Mexico and all I wanted to do was play with Michael Bloomfield and Jerry Garcia, and then to have the night unfold as it did was incredible. I know they were smiling down on me.”
Going into the 42nd annual awards, longtime Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich had a feeling that Santana and “Supernatural” — which led the nominees — would have a big night. He just didn’t know how big.
“I did try and handicap the show, and it was clearly a frontrunner,” he told The Post about the album, which featured an all-star array of guest artists, including Dave Matthews, Lauryn Hill and Eric Clapton. “It was very unique, different than pretty much anything else. But I don’t know that I thought it was going to sweep.”
But the night was shaping up to be a historic one when Santana won six awards in the the pre-telecast ceremony: Best Rock Album, Best Rock Instrumental Performance (“The Calling”), Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (“Put Your Lights On”), Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals (“Smooth”), Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Pop Instrumental Performance (“El Farol”).
The latter award was a particularly sweet victory for Santana.
“My son Salvador and I wrote [it] for my father José Santana, who was an incredible musician and inspiration to me,” he said. “He had recently passed. It was extremely elevating to honor him that way.”
After host Rosie O’Donnell introduced the show, the first award of the telecast — Best R&B Album — was presented by David Duchovny and Jennifer Lopez, who wore the iconic green Versace dress with the punching neckline.
“She came out with the dress and forever changed how people dressed for awards,” said Ehrlich. “There was not much left to the imagination. But the audience went crazy.”
Performances by Whitney Houston, the Backstreet Boys (alone and with Elton John) and TLC would follow, and there was a special tribute to Latin music featuring Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony and members of the Buena Vista Social Club.
“There was a major Latin presence on that show,” said Ehrlich, noting that Santana was part of that wave.
It was Thomas who accepted the Song of the Year award with his “Smooth” co-writer Itaal Shur.
Santana had to wait until later in the show for his first time onstage, when Record of the Year — another victory for “Smooth” — was presented by Vince Gill, Gloria Estefan and Neil Diamond.
Best New Artist nominee Britney Spears performed “From the Bottom of My Broken Heart” and “…Baby One More Time” before she lost that award to her fellow “Mickey Mouse Club” alum Christina Aguilera.
“I didn’t want to put her on,” said Ehrlich of Spears. “I got talked into that probably by the [Recording] Academy and obviously the network because she was so big.”
Then, in the last performance of the night, Santana and Thomas did “Smooth” in a crowning Grammy moment.
“I saved that performance to the end of the show, and by that time, Santana had already won a bunch of Grammys,” said Ehrlich. “It was promised to be one of the strongest numbers in the show.”
And then, Bob Dylan and Hill — who Santana had collaborated with on her 1999 AOTY winner “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” — presented the final award of the night: Album of the Year.
“It was really just a blur of emotions and smiling eyes,” said Santana. “All I could think was that I wanted to dedicate the night to John Coltrane and John Lee Hooker.”
And then the celebration began.
“Seeing Jeff Beck, Bob Dylan, Clive Davis and so many other amazing musicians and friends share in our collective joy was an incredible feeling,” said Santana. “There were so many people who contributed to making ‘Supernatural’ a masterpiece of joy, and many of us were able to soak in the moment together later that evening.
“I’ll always be grateful to everyone who gave me their hearts and contributed. That evening ignited a flame that we still carry today.”
