Santana’s “Smooth,” featuring Rob Thomas, spent 12 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was released in 1999 as the lead single from Santana’s comeback album Supernatural.
The song began as a demo written by Itaal Shur and produced by Matt Serletic. Thomas rewrote the lyrics and recorded the lead vocal after the original intended vocalist was unavailable. Carlos Santana’s guitar work became the track’s defining instrumental feature.
“Smooth” debuted at No. 2 before reaching No. 1, where it remained for 12 consecutive weeks. It won three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Readers sometimes confuse its chart success with “Maria Maria,” another major Supernatural single, but “Maria Maria” did not equal “Smooth” at No. 1.