About Jorge Santana
Lived 1951 – 2020 (aged 68). Jorge Santana was an American and Mexican guitarist and musician.
Guillermo "Jorge" Santana (13 June 1951 – 14 May 2020) was a Mexican guitarist, brother of musician Carlos Santana.
Early life Jorge was born Guillermo Santana on 13 June 1951 in Autlán, in Jalisco, Mexico. His parents were Josefina and Jose Santana. and younger brother of Carlos Santana, Jorge started playing guitar in San Francisco when he was a teen. who had a top twenty hit in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with "Suavecito" in 1972. He released two solo albums on Tomato Records, Jorge Santana and It's All About Love, featuring former Malo members. In the mid-1970s he played with the Fania All-Stars. The band, Malo, which means "bad" in Spanish, played a combination of laid-back fusion of jazz, rock and a variety of forms of Latin music, similar to the sound of Carlos Santana, his brother. The band's debut album, called Malo was released in 1972 and included the song "Suavecito". The song, which had a smooth, melodic sound, made it to No.18 on the Billboard singles chart, and became a popular song for fans of Latin rock. until they broke up and Santana embarked on a solo career and played with the New York-based band the Fania All-Stars.
After a long split, Santana toured with his brother, Carlos. The album Sacred Fire: Live in South America was recorded in Mexico City on this tour, featuring Jorge Santana, who played a personalized orange Paul Reed Smith guitar.
In 1994 he recorded an album with his brother and Carlos Santana's nephew, Carlos Hernandez, called Santana Brothers.
Sound According to WBGO radio host, musician and band leader Bobby Sanabria Jorge Santana's sound with Malo can be summed up thus: "Picture Blood Sweat & Tears fused with Chicago, fused with Afro-Cuban rhythms and guitar driven rock. It was Santana on steroids." He was survived by his brother Carlos and another brother, Antonio. He also had four sisters: Lety Santana, Laura Porras, Irma Santana, and Maria Vrionis. He was married to Donna with whom he had a son, Anthony and a daughter, Michelle. He also had one grandson. Santana Brothers (1994) Here I Am (2009) Gracias Madrecita (2011) Restoration (2020)
Malo Malo (1972) Dos (1972) Evolution (1973) Ascension (1974)
Santana Sacred Fire: Live in South America (1993)
Fania All-Stars Latin-Soul-Rock (1974)
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Important facts
People in Jorge Santana's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Jorge Santana's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Jorge Santana?
Mexican guitarist, brother of musician Carlos Santana (1951–2020)
When was Jorge Santana born?
Jorge Santana was born on 13 June 1951 in Autlán de Navarro Municipality.
When did Jorge Santana die?
Jorge Santana died on 14 May 2020 in San Francisco.
What was Jorge Santana's occupation?
Jorge Santana was a guitarist and musician.
What nationality was Jorge Santana?
Jorge Santana was American and Mexican.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jorge Santana. https://biography.guide/jorge-santana/
MLA: "Jorge Santana." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jorge-santana/.
Chicago: "Jorge Santana." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jorge-santana/.
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