Carlos Santana is on the mend after he collapsed during a performance in Clarkson, Mich., on Tuesday night. The performer passed out during the Pine Knob Music Theatre show due to heat exhaustion and dehydration. The incident left fans shocked and concerned, with many documenting the jarring moment on social media. But according to representatives for the star, he is recovering well.
The 74-year-old was roughly 20 minutes into his set when he sat on a drum riser as the song “Joy” began and fell backward. As a medical team attended to the musician, those in attendance were alarmed when the crowd was asked to “pray for him” as he endured a “serious medical issue.”
Santana waved to fans as he was taken from the outdoor amphitheater, wheeled offstage, and taken to the emergency department at McLaren Clarkston hospital for observation. Late on Tuesday, Santana posted a Facebook message to his fans, thanking them for their support and blaming a lack of water for his collapse. He also shared that he and his wife, drummer Cindy Blackman, were “taking it easy” and offering “blessings and miracles to you all.”
Santana underwent a heart procedure last December, leading to his residency in Las Vegas being pushed back. He later continued the residency and embarked on a U.S. tour in March. He is currently headlining the “Miraculous Supernatural 2022” tour with Earth, Wind & Fire. The tour launched last month is set to continue through August. His run at the House of Blues in Las Vegas will continue through the end of September and return for additional dates in November. The iconic guitarist’s Wednesday show at The Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown, Pa., has now been postponed, with a later date to be announced soon.
Santana rose to fame in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band Santana, which pioneered a fusion of rock and roll and Latin American jazz. Its sound featured his melodic, blues-based lines set against Latin American and African rhythms played on percussion instruments not generally heard in rock, such as timbales and congas. He experienced a resurgence of popularity and critical acclaim in the late 1990s. In 2015, Rolling Stone magazine listed him at No. 20 on their list of the 100 greatest guitarists. He has won 10 Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards and was inducted along with his namesake band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
No doubt, collapsing on stage can be scary, especially at Santana’s age. As a fan, it must’ve been terrifying to see one of your favorite musicians collapse on stage, not knowing if he’ll be okay. Santana gave a thumbs up to the crowd, but they were still worried about him. However, the prayers of his fans reached God’s ears, and thankfully Santana is on the mend. As for shows in the future, it would probably be best if Santana sat out for a while and rested. Pray for Santana and his health as he goes forward.