Santana Where: Hard Rock Hotel When: 8 p.m. Nov. 11, 13-15, 18 & 20-22 Cost: $51 and up Info: (866) 80-SHOWS

It is easy nowadays in the era of the Internet, iPhone and satellite TV to forget that not too long ago we humans were not so interconnected. This crossmixing of cultures, influences and styles has few greater zones of creation than in music. Fusion musical styles are omnipresent, now. But 40 years ago, when a man named Carlos Santana burst onto the scene, this cross-pollination was far from common.

Mexican-born and trained in rock, salsa, jazz and blues, Carlos Santana wowed the world with 1969's Santana and a star-making performance at Woodstock. Commercial and critical successes, he and his band went on to tour with the Grateful Dead and Eric Clapton.

Through the '70s he remained atop the charts, earned numerous awards and won legions of fans. As the '80s came to pass his popularity waned only to surge back, riding the wave of 1999's Supernatural, a 15-times platinum album that introduced Santana to an entirely new generation of fans.

While Santana has had major solo success, his primary focus has always been his self-titled band Santana. The winner of numerous Grammys and seller of millions of albums, the band that helped make Santana the man a legend has been wowing audiences worldwide for more than 40 years.

And Santana has remained true to his hippie-era San Francisco roots, musically, politically and spiritually. He has studied meditation with Hindu mystics, played numerous charity gigs and was named the 15th best guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone.

He's featured in Guitar Hero 5, has his own iPhone app and will soon record a new album. Topping off his busy schedule is a residency at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through the Hits christened The Joint and plays through 2010. These shows are the only ones Santana is playing west of the Mississippi until well into next year and The Joint is the perfect place to see him.

Featuring songs that range the long years of his legendary career, A Trip Through the Hits is a show well worth the money. Unlike many shows, Santana's show changes from night to night. The set list varies, but the energy shoots through the roof of the 4,000-seat auditorium and charges the audience in ways few bands can.

"My wish is for it to be a night that will move you to dance, to cry, to laugh and to feel the totality and fullness of being alive," Santana said.

Being alive is better with Santana.