Flashback Soul: The Tale of Santana’s “Maria Maria (feat. The Product G&B)”

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    In 1999, the classic rock and fusion guitarist Carlos Santana was in danger of extinction.  Coming to his rescue, as he had for other artists in need of reinvention, was the label impresario Clive Davis, who arranged for Santana to mix it up by collaborating with more contemporary artists and producers across a variety of genres. The result was the wildly successful, multi-platinum album Supernatural, which reached #1 on the Billboard 200, won eight Grammy awards including Album of the Year, and brought Santana fully back into the spotlight. 

    We feature here the track “Maria Maria,” produced by Wyclef Jean and featuring The Product G&B, a R&B duo composed of vocalists David McRae and Marvin Moore-Hough. The track is a magnificent blend of R&B and hip hop rhythms, soulful vocals, and just-right Latin and rock accents by Santana on nylon-stringed and electric guitars.  Enjoy.    

    In 1999, the classic rock and fusion guitarist Carlos Santana was in danger of extinction.  Coming to his rescue, as he had for other artists in need of reinvention, was the label impresario Clive Davis, who arranged for Santana to mix it up by collaborating with more contemporary artists and producers across a variety of genres. The result was the wildly successful, multi-platinum album Supernatural, which reached #1 on the Billboard 200, won eight Grammy awards including Album of the Year, and brought Santana fully back into the spotlight. 

    We feature here the track “Maria Maria,” produced by Wyclef Jean and featuring The Product G&B, a R&B duo composed of vocalists David McRae and Marvin Moore-Hough. The track is a magnificent blend of R&B and hip hop rhythms, soulful vocals, and just-right Latin and rock accents by Santana on nylon-stringed and electric guitars.  Enjoy.    

    By Robb Patryk

    (In the interest of full disclosure, the author has a cherry-red Fender Telecaster guitar, named “Monaquita,” after the “Spanish Harlem Monalisa” of the hit song “Smooth,” also on this album.)