Santana performed the instrumental “Soul Sacrifice” at Woodstock.
“Soul Sacrifice” was an early composition by Santana and became one of the defining performances of the 1969 festival. The extended instrumental showcased the band’s emerging Latin-rock sound, combining electric guitar with Afro-Cuban-influenced percussion, organ, bass, and drums.
The performance was especially notable because Santana was still a largely unknown group and had not yet released its debut album. Carlos Santana’s guitar work, Gregg Rolie’s organ, and Michael Shrieve’s drum solo helped make the number a standout in the Woodstock film and soundtrack.
The studio version appeared on Santana’s self-titled debut album, released later in 1969. That album eventually reached No. 4 on the Billboard album chart, while the Woodstock exposure helped propel the band to international attention. “Soul Sacrifice” is sometimes mistaken for a Jimi Hendrix performance because Hendrix also delivered one of Woodstock’s most famous instrumental moments, but Hendrix played later, on the festival’s final morning.