FREE//GRATUITO
PUBLISHED BY ACCIÓN LATINA
Vol. 51 No. 22
Alexis Terrazas
A
November 4-17, 2021
MISSION MURAL PAYS HOMAGE TO SANTANA FAMILY’S MUSICAL LEGACY MURAL EN LA MISIÓN RINDE HOMENAJE AL LEGADO MUSICAL DE LOS SANTANA El Tecolote
s Michelle Santana stood at the base of the sprawling mural at 24th and Osage streets, the one commemorating her iconic musical and Mission-rooted family, the memories of her late father, Jorge Santana, came flooding back. “We did everything together,” reminisced Michelle, standing in the very same neighborhood that raised not only her father Jorge, but his virtuoso brother Carlos as well. “And of course, we would look at all the beautiful murals. I mean, they’re breathtaking.” It was in 2019 when Jorge—a Latin Rock legend in his own right—beamed with the excitement of a child on Christmas morning when he broke the news to his wife Donna and their children Anthony and Michelle that a Mission mural immortalizing him and his family was in the works. But he would never live to see it. On May 14, 2020, Jorge died of natural causes. He was 68. “I’m moved. I’m emotional. When I look at the mural, I feel a sense of peace and love, and I’m just beyond grateful,” said Michelle. “Even in this moment, I feel him. I feel my dad. And the feeling I get is joy.” The Santana family, along with dozens of community members, musicians and politicos that included Mayor London Breed and community organizer Roberto Hernandez, gathered at the 24th and Mission Street BART Plaza on Oct. 29 for the blessing and unveiling of the 60-foot mural stretched across Osage Street. The mural, painted by San Francisco artists Crayone and cartoonist Mark Bode, incorporates sketch designs provided by Randolph Bowes and Jorge Santana. Supervised by Lisa Brewer of the Mission Art 415 gallery, Dr. Annie Rodriguez and Latin Rock historian Dr. Bernardo Gonzalez, the mural depicts Carlos Santana, eyes closed and head tilted towards the heavens, jamming on his guitar. Next to Carlos is his late baby brother Jorge, lovingly called “Memo” by those who knew him best. To Jorge’s right are his parents, Josefina and Jose, and finally, Carlos’ son Salvador playing the keyboard. The words, “La Familia Santana,” are emblazoned at the very top. “If Don Jose, my grandfather, didn’t come up here and settle down with his family...who knows what would have happened,” said Salvador. “We were meant to be here, right here in this beautiful part of the world.” But despite all of the planning and organizing, the mural could not have been possible without Josefina and Jose. The couple that migrated from Jalisco, Mexico, to San Francisco’s Mission District in the 60s unknowingly set in motion the proverbial wheels that would forever alter music history, their sons blazing the path for a music genre that had never been heard before. “Without my mother, this would not have happened,” said Carlos. He’s right. It was Josefina who in 1962 convinced her then 15-year-old son to leave his cozy nightclub gig in Tijuana, one where he would play music for an hour, all the while watching prostitutes undress. “Being a kid, I was like, ‘Man, this is great,’” Carlos recalled. But in the end, Josefina prevailed. Carlos See MURAL, page 8
Los primos Salvador Santana (hijo de Carlos Santana) y Michelle Santana (hija de Jorge Santana) se abrazan frente al mural ‘La Familia Santana’ de 18 metros de largo ubicado en las calles 24 y Osage. El mural presenta al padre de Michelle y leyenda del rock latino, Jorge Santana, quien murió en mayo de 2020. Cousins Salvador Santana (son of Carlos Santana) and Michelle Santana (daughter of Jorge Santana) embrace in front of the 60-foot La Familia Santana mural at 24th and Osage streets. The mural features Michelle’s late father and Latin Rock legend, Jorge Santana, who died in May 2020. Photo: Alexis Terrazas Alexis Terrazas
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El Tecolote
uando Michelle Santana se paró en la base del extenso mural en las calles 24 y Osage, el que conmemora a su icónica familia musical y arraigada en la Misión, los recuerdos de su difunto padre, Jorge Santana, brotaron. “Hicimos todo juntos”, recordó Michelle, de pie en el mismo vecindario que crió no solo a su padre Jorge, sino también a su virtuoso hermano Carlos. “Y, por supuesto, miraríamos todos los hermosos murales. Quiero decir, son impresionantes”. Fue en 2019 cuando Jorge, una leyenda del rock latino por derecho propio, se emocionó como un niño la mañana de navidad cuando informó a su esposa Donna y a sus hijos Anthony y Michelle el trabajo en proceso de un mural en la Misión que los inmortalizaría a él y a su familia. Pero nunca viviría para verlo: el 14 de mayo de 2020, falleció por causas naturales a la edad de 68 años. “Estoy conmovido, emocionado. Cuando miro el mural, siento una paz y amor, y estoy más que agradecida”, reconoció Michelle. “Incluso en este momento, lo siento. Siento a mi papá. Y la sensación que tengo es de alegría”. La familia Santana, junto con docenas de miembros de la comunidad, músicos y políticos que incluían a la alcaldesa London Breed y al organizador comunitario Roberto Hernández, se reunieron en las calles 24 y Misión afuera de
Carlos Santana, la leyenda del rock latino, quien creció en el distrito Misión de San Francisco, recibe bendiciones por parte de danzantes aztecas durante la celebración inaugural del mural dedicado a la familia Santana, el 29 de octubre de 2021. Latin Rock legend Carlos Santana, who was raised in San Francisco’s Mission District, is blessed by Danzantes Aztecas during the celebration of La Familia Santana mural at 24th and Osage streets, Oct. 29, 2021. Photo: Alexis Terrazas la plaza del BART el 29 de octubre para ben- bocetos proporcionados por Randolph Bowes decir e inaugurar el mural de 18 metros que se y Jorge Santana. extiende hasta el otro lado de la calle Osage. El Supervisado por Lisa Brewer de la galería mural, creado por los artistas locales Crayone y Mission Art 415, por Annie Rodríguez y el hisel dibujante Mark Bode, incorpora diseños de Vea SANTANA, página 8