Happy Birthday Carlos Santana

Today July 20, 2015 marks Carlos Santana's birthday and I plan to celebrate his birthday with lots of great music. It is a bonus to have back to back great guitarist birthdays like Brian May and Carlos. So I will open up the music with a song called "Winning."

He has won multiple Grammy Awards, the majority of them coming later in his career with collaborations like this one with Rob Thomas..

As you can see Carlos Santana has been very "smooth" over the years. his career has gone a long way since Woodstock when he performed "Soul Sacrifice"...

Here he is with Michelle Branch with "The Game of Love"..

I hope you enjoyed your visit. I will be back tomorrow with the winners post of my Battle of the Bands post.

A to Z: Orianthi

Okay for O I will blog about one of the better female guitarists out there. Her full name is Orianthi Panagaris but she is one of those artists that simply go by one name, Orianthi. The 28-year old guitarist has already had an incredible career. She has been a guitarist for Michael Jackson and Alioce Cooper. She has performed with some other great artists as well. She has had a big hit.

Elle Magazine named her one of the top female guitarists in 2009. Guitar International Magazine awardeed her the 2010 Breakthrough Guitarist of the Year. Paul Reed Smith guitars produces a signature guitar model for her. Not too shabby at all.

Here is her hit single "According to You"...

and her follow up hit...

Here she is with Alice Cooper...

Here is her guitar solo with Michael Jackson..

Here she is with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai...

I mean if she can hang with thwat group she must be alright. Well I will be back soon with another post...

On Meeting Paul Reed Smith

At the Western Maryland Blues Fest on Saturday I met most of the performers. I also met a guitar icon in Paul Reed Smith. He graced the stage with Davy Knowles and Backdoor Slam for a couple of songs. After the show I caught up with him backstage before he left.

Paul Reed Smith is more famous for his guitars than his guitar playing. He is the man behind Paul Reed Smith guitars sometimes referred to as PRS guitars. Davy Knowles uses his guitars as does Carlos Santana. I will never have the chance to meet Leo Fender or Orville Gibson. However, tonight I had the honor of meeting Paul Reed Smith even if it was just briefly.It topped off a pretty awesome guitar fan day.