Carlos Santana Honors Lifelong Photographer Friend Jim Marshall With Napa Exhibit
NAPA (KPIX 5) -- Fifty years ago, a photographer was asked to take a picture of a young up-and-coming guitarist. Little would either man know that 50 years later, they would be not only life-long friends, but legends.
Now, the legendary Carlos Santana is honoring his photographer friend - the late, great Jim Marshall.
Marshall died of natural causes in 2010.
But over the course of his career, the San Francisco native photographed some of the most famous moments in music history.
"He was right in the thick of it," said Santana, "He had the tenacity you know and the conviction to take the shot because that's what it is, you got to take the shot."
In a tribute, and with the help of Amelia Davis, the beneficiary of the Marshall estate, Santana handpicked 40 photographs that were taken by the great photographer.
The mix was eclectic and fascinating to Davis who was Marshall's assistant and a photographer in her own right.
"It did surprise me very much what Carlos picked but in a delightful way," remarked Davis.
The 40 photographs are part of a new exhibit at the Mumm Napa, the winery famous for its bubbly.
Many of the images have never been seen before.
"Jim Marshall didn't think when he took shots. He didn't it all went on intuition autopilot you know and trust," explained Santana.
There are lots of shots of Santana - in the studio, with a swami, and at the infamous Altamont "Free" Concert of 1969, that ended in violence.
But interspersed with the Santana photos are photographs of Santana's heroes.
As to why he picked these images, Santana explains that "Their music transcends the era."
He picked a phenomenal photograph of the brilliant blues-rock guitarist Michael Bloomfield; jazz pioneer John Coltrane, and some amazing photographs of the American jazz musician Miles Davis.
When it comes to letting Marshall into their lives, Santana explained it all comes down to mutual trust.
"So we trust him and he trust us.. and therefore you have masterpieces," said Santana.
At the exhibit opening, Santana brought his wife Cindy, and other relatives to see the photographs.
"I miss Jim and I miss Bill graham and of course I miss Michael Bloomfield and Jerry Garcia. But at the same time, they just changed zip code - - they're still around. It's a different zip code whenever I want to access them, I see the pictures, turn on the music," explained Santana.
The exhibit can be seen from now till May 1016.. It coincides with the release of a new sparkling wine inspired by Santana's music and made by Mumm. Proceeds from the sale of this limited release called Santana Savor will go directly to Santana's Milagro Foundation, which benefits underserved and vulnerable children.