Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 91 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
Exclusive to OpEd News:
Life Arts    H4'ed 4/12/19

Missing Man of Change Your Evil Ways, Baby

By       (Page 1 of 2 pages)   3 comments
Follow Me on Twitter     Message Allan Wayne
Become a Fan
  (7 fans)

This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.


Santana - Evil Ways 1969 .Woodstock. Live Video Sound HQ Santana - Evil Ways (Album 1969) Live from Woodstock Music Festival 1969, New York USA.
(Image by YouTube, Channel: NEA ZIXNH)
  Details   DMCA

Recently, Carlos Santana said, "We play Black Music for White People."

I always thought his song Evil Ways, Baby (Woodstock 69) that launched his career, was Latin rock, but I was wrong; not about the Latin part, wrong because it is not his song. Besides, Woodstock is about bringing people together, not dividing them into musical genres.

The real author, Sonny Henry, a brilliant jazz guitarist, wrote and recorded the song. I cannot find a single photo of him. His story, however, is amazing.

Imagine: a young black boy, 15 years old, imprisoned in 1947 in New York City, for second degree manslaughter, and writes (after ten years in a jail cell) You've Got to Change Your Evil Ways, Baby.

When he got out, he recorded it in 1967 with Latin Jazz Musician, Willi Bobo.

Give Santana credit; in 1969, he made Sonny's song a cult classic and got full fame. Sonny Henry had to sue Santana in 1976 to get credit.

So I suppose Evil Ways could be black, or Afro Latin music, since the author is black. But Santana's other musical claim to fame, Black Magic Woman, was written by Peter Green, a founding member of Fleetwood Mac. He is as lily white a blues singer as you can find. And British, to boot.

Also, the lead singer for Santana's version of both Evil Way s and Black Magic Woman is Greg Rolie, a founder of the band Journey (the power ballad band known for high-flying falsettos). That's as lily white an American band you will find. Everything is not black and white. Santana should know; he sued Budweiser, once, King of Beers, for playing his arrangement of Sonny's song.

Still, Santana, a Tijuana transplant real deal, is one of my favorite guitarists, no matter how he wants to identify.

Sonny, on the other hand, went on to play for Dizzy Gillespie, the jazz musician great, and many others, from Michigan to California, but never hit it big. In 75, he applied for disability in NYC, but was denied.

On May 10, 1997, he died in the Bronx. Little else is known of him.

Sonny's story, however, is an inspiration for any kid. Maybe US Rep. AOC will erect a Sonny Henry statue, a boy with a guitar, in the Bronx, and have Alicia Keys sing Empire State of Mind: Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made Of.

Sonny's original Evil Ways:

Next Page  1  |  2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Must Read 1   Well Said 1   News 1  
Rate It | View Ratings

Allan Wayne Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Conceived on west coast, born on east coast, returned to northwest spawning grounds. Never far from water.


Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Follow Me on Twitter     Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

A Stroll Along the Russian-Chinese-North Korean Border

Missing Man of Change Your Evil Ways, Baby

Desert Chic?--or Death in the Dunes? Obama Walks a Fine Line.

Tribal Girls on Pak-Afghan Border

Hatching Charlie: A Psychotherapist's Tale

OCCUPY D.C.1932. The Bonus Army. 17,000 Veterans. 26,000 Others. 500 Infantry. 4 dead, 1,017 injured. 69 Police Injured.

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend