Some coffee table books are meant to be admired from afar, but Carlos Santana: Love, Devotion, Surrender demands to be cracked open and explored. Measuring 11 x 15 inches and weighing 12 pounds, this mammoth volume by Jeff Tamarkin (Billboard, Creem, Relix) feels less like reading a biography and more like walking through a thoughtfully curated museum exhibit.
The book traces Santana’s evolution from a teenage mariachi player hustling in Tijuana clubs after dropping out of school to becoming one of the most influential guitarists in rock history. But what makes this retrospective special is how that story unfolds through hundreds of rare photographs, vibrant psychedelic poster art, and personal ephemera pulled directly from Santana’s archives.
Tucked between its pages are a wealth of artifacts: a family photo album from Santana’s youth, handwritten journal entries, letters and lyrics, facsimile performance contracts and hand-annotated calendars, nearly full-size album jackets, and even a copy of his passport. These inserted materials transform the reading experience into something tangible, interactive, and deeply personal.
Following a foreword by blues legend Taj Mahal, Tamarkin chronicles Santana’s artistic development, from picking up his first instrument (the saxophone), to attempting to follow in his father’s footsteps on the violin, to finding his voice on the guitar, all while absorbing influences as diverse as B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Tito Puente, Ray Charles, and Stevie Wonder. His journey from Tijuana to San Francisco’s exploding ’60s scene comes alive through beautifully printed photos and poster art from his early gigs.
One of the book’s most fascinating sections explores Santana’s spiritual awakening under the guidance of guru Sri Chinmoy, whom he met through John McLaughlin. The transformation from scruffy hippie to the clean-cut devotee known as Devadip marked a pivotal shift in both his personal life and musical direction—a moment that gets the nuanced treatment it deserves.
Throughout the book, there are new interviews and personal reflections from notable figures including record producer and music executive Clive Davis, original band members Gregg Rolie and Michael Carabello, collaborators Rob Thomas, John McLaughlin, and Steve Miller, Santana’s longtime drummer and wife Cindy Blackman Santana, and an exclusive interview with Carlos himself.
There are also pages dedicated to Santana’s guitars (for the gear nerds), his many accolades and awards, his complete discography, and a comprehensive list of live performances. The book concludes with a section on “Santana the philanthropist,” rounding out the portrait of an artist whose influence extends beyond the stage.
At $175, Carlos Santana: Love, Devotion, Surrender is a great value for what amounts to a museum-quality archive, biography, and collector’s piece wrapped into one. It’s an immersive journey through one of rock’s most enduring legacies—a must-have for any Santana fan and a perfect gift for music history buffs.
The book is available now via Insight Editions.
For serious collectors, a limited edition is also available. Each numbered and signed set includes the deluxe book plus exclusive extras: a hardbound sketchbook of never-before-seen drawings and artwork by Carlos, an original backstage pass from the Supernatural tours, three commemorative enamel pins, an art print of a rare 1968 archival photograph by Coni Beeson, and a signature card signed by Santana himself.
