Cindy Blackman

Cindy Blackman (born November 18, 1959), known as Cindy Blackman Santana since she married guitarist Carlos Santana in 2010, is an American jazz and rock drummer performing since the 1980s. Blackman has recorded several jazz albums as a bandleader and has performed with Pharoah Sanders, Sonny Simmons, Ron Carter, Sam Rivers, Cassandra Wilson, Angela Bofill, Buckethead, Bill Laswell, Lenny Kravitz, Joe Henderson, Joss Stone and her husband Carlos Santana.

Early life and education Blackman was born November 18, 1959, in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Her mother and grandmother were classical musicians and her uncle was a vibist. As a child, her mother took her to classical concerts.

Blackman's introduction to the drums happened at the age of seven in Yellow Springs. At a pool party at a friend's house, she saw a drum set and began playing. "Just looking at them struck something in my core, and it was completely right from the second I saw them," says Blackman. "And then, when I hit them, it was like, wow, that's me." Soon after, Blackman began playing in the school band and persuaded her parents to get her toy drums.

When Blackman was 11, she moved to Bristol, Connecticut,

Blackman then attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she studied with Alan Dawson, While she was at Berklee, a friend recommended her for a gig with The Drifters, but also attended shows to listen to others play. Blackman said, "he really was like a father to me. I learned a lot just watching him. I asked him a lot of questions about the drums and music – and he answered all of them." Blackman and her band also recorded the instructional video Multiplicity.

In 2004, Blackman took a break from touring with Lenny Kravitz to focus on her own music. That year, she released Music for the New Millennium on her Sacred Sounds Label. and on November 30, 2007, Blackman and her quartet performed at Art After 5 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

In 2010, she released a first tribute album to her inspiration Tony Williams. Another Lifetime featured Mike Stern on guitar and organist Doug Carn following the line-up of the original Tony Williams Lifetime. As guest musicians appear Joe Lovano, Patrice Rushen and Vernon Reid. Reid is the lead guitarist on the second Williams tribute album Spectrum Road (2012), a collaboration between Blackman, Reid, John Medeski on organ and former bassist of Lifetime and Cream Jack Bruce. Bruce also sings on three tracks of the album and Blackman lends her voice to "Where", originally written by (then Lifetime guitarist) John McLaughlin and sung by Williams (Emergency!, 1969), which already appeared on Another Lifetime in an instrumental version. She appeared at the 2011 Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, where she played drums for husband Carlos's one-off reunion with John McLaughlin, after which she helped mix the sound for the video.

In 2020, she released a 17 track album titled Give the Drummer Some. On this album, she sings on 11 of the tracks. The album includes performances by John McLaughlin, Matthew Garrison, Vernon Reid, Kirk Hammett, Bill Ortiz, and Neal Evans.

Personal life

On July 9, 2010, Carlos Santana proposed to Blackman on stage during a concert at Tinley Park, Illinois. Blackman is Santana's touring drummer; he proposed immediately after her drum solo. They were married in Maui, Hawaii on December 19, 2010.

Blackman attended a Baptist church during her teenage years, but became a follower of the Baháʼí Faith at the age of 18; she also started studying Kabbalah in the 2000s. Blackman cultivates spirituality in her musicianship. "I believe that music is so sacred that once you're playing music you are doing the work of prayer, whether you're conscious of it or not, because you have a focused intent," says Blackman.

Blackman is a rarity as a female jazz percussionist. "In the past, there were a lot of stigmas attached to women playing certain instruments," Blackman says. "Any woman, or anyone facing race prejudice, weight prejudice, hair prejudice ... if you let somebody stop you because of their opinions, then the only thing you're doing is hurting yourself. I don't want to give somebody that power over me."

Discography As leader Arcane with Wallace Roney, Joe Henderson, Kenny Garrett, Larry Willis, Buster Williams, Clarence Seay (Muse, 1987) Code Red with Steve Coleman, Wallace Roney, Kenny Barron, Lonnie Plaxico (Muse, 1990 ) Telepathy with Antoine Roney, Jacky Terrasson, Clarence Seay (Muse, 1992 ) The Oracle with Gary Bartz, Kenny Barron, Ron Carter (Muse, 1996) In the Now with Ravi Coltrane, Jacky Terrasson, Ron Carter (HighNote, 1998) Works on Canvas with J. D. Allen III (tenor sax), Carlton Holmes (keyboards), George Mitchell (bass) (HighNote, 1999) A Lil' Somethin' Somethin' – The Best of the Muse Years (compilation, 32 Jazz, 2000) Someday... with Allen, Holmes, Mitchell (HighNote, 2001) Music for the New Millennium with Allen, Holmes, Mitchell (Sacred Sound, 2004) Another Lifetime with Mike Stern and Doug Carn featuring guests Joe Lovano, Vernon Reid, Patrice Rushen, Benny Rietveld and David Santos (4 Q, 2010) Give the Drummer Some (Present Future, 2020) Coherence (Present Future, 2026)

As co-leader or sidewoman With Eddie Allen Summer Days (Enja, 2000) With Bootsy Collins and Fantaazma

"Funk Not Fight" (Bootzilla Records, 2023)

With Santi Debriano and David Fiuczynski Trio + Two featuring Greg Osby and Jerry Gonzalez (Free Lance, 1991)

With Melinda Doolittle Coming Back to You (Hi Fi, 2009)

With Kali Z. Fasteau and William Parker An Alternative Universe (Flying Note, 2011)

With Russell Gunn Love Requiem (HighNote, 1999)

With The Isley Brothers and Santana Power of Peace (Sony Legacy, 2017)

With Rodney Kendrick The Colors of Rhythm (Impulse!, 2014)

With Lenny Kravitz 5 (Virgin, 1998) (track 5)

With Greg Lewis Organ Monk (Greg Lewis Music, 2010)

With Carlos Martins Passagem (Enja, 1996)

With Wallace Roney Intuition (Muse, 1988) The Standard Bearer (Muse, 1989) Obsession (Muse, 1990)

With Santana Corazón (RCA, 2014) Corazón: Live from México - Live It to Believe It (RCA, 2014) Power of Peace (2017) Africa Speaks (2019) In Search of Mona Lisa (2019) Blessings and Miracles (2021) Sentient (2025)

With Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin Live at Montreux 2011: Invitation to Illumination (DVD) (Eagle Rock, 2015)

With Saxemble Saxemble (Qwest, 1996)

With Sonny Simmons American Jungle (Qwest, 1997)

With Spectrum Road (Jack Bruce, Vernon Reid, John Medeski, Blackman Santana) Spectrum Road (Palmetto, 2012)

With Mike Stern Big Neighborhood (Heads Up, 2009)

With Joss Stone The Soul Sessions (S-Curve, 2003) Mind Body & Soul (S-Curve, 2004)

With Alicyn Yaffee Someone Else (Madman Junkyard / Little Green Butterfly, 2016)

With various artists Black Night – Deep Purple Tribute According to New York with TM Stevens, Stevie Salas, Corey Glover, Richie Kotzen (Revolver, 1997)