Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana had been without a major hit for decades when Clive Davis paired him with younger artists for Supernatural (1999). Smooth, written and sung by Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas, spent twelve weeks at the top of the American charts, and the album won nine Grammys. The guests delivered the pop hooks; Santana's guitar tone made them distinctive. He went from classic-rock radio to the front of every chart.