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Deborah Santana

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Deborah Santana
Deborah Santana in 2019, wearing a floral top
Santana in 2019
Born
Deborah Sara King

San Francisco, California, United States
Alma materCalifornia Institute of Integral Studies (MA)
Occupations
  • Author
  • Business Manager
  • Activist
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1973; div. 2007)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 2015; div. 2019)​
Children3; including Salvador Santana
FatherSaunders King
Websitedeborahsantana.com

Deborah Sara Santana (née King) is a peace and social justice activist for women and people of color, business manager, and author. She is the former wife of musician Carlos Santana.

Early life and education

[edit]

Deborah Sara Santana[citation needed] is the daughter of the blues musician Saunders King[1] and Jo Frances King (née Willis).[2] She was born in San Francisco, California.[citation needed]

Santana graduated from the California Institute of Integral Studies and holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy and Religion with a Concentration in Women's Spirituality.[3]

Career

[edit]

From 1994 to 2007, Santana was vice-president and COO of Santana Management, which involved working in management of her husband's band.[4][5]

Philanthropy

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As a philanthropist, Santana founded Do a Little, a non-profit which seeks to empower children and underprivileged women, in 2008.[6][7][8]

Santana has also served as a trustee for ANSA (Artists for a New South Africa). In 2003, the Amandla AIDS Fund (AAF) was established by ANSA, with a $2.5 million donation from Carlos and Deborah Santana, which represented the entire net proceeds of the 2003 U.S. Summer Santana Shaman tour.[9][10][11]

She has also served as a trustee for the Smithsonian Institution. She is[when?] on the board of directors of the Violence Intervention program in Los Angeles and is a First Century Leader of the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative, and a Member of the Smithsonian National Education Outreach Working Group for the Smithsonian Under Secretary for Education.[12][13][14] Santana is also a founding donor of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.[15]

In April 2026, Santana will release a new memoir, "Loving the Fire: Choosing Me, Finding Freedom," a memoir chronicling her journey of personal transformation and spiritual awakening following the end of her 34-year marriage to musician Carlos Santana. Her previous memoir, Space Between the Stars: My Journey to an Open Heart, was published in 2005 while she was still married to Carlos.[16] In 2018, Santana edited and co-published the anthology All the Women in My Family Sing: Women Write the World: Essays on Equality, Justice, and Freedom (Nothing But the Truth So Help Me God), a collection of poems and stories written by 69 women of color.[17][18][19][20][21] She has also contributed to the anthologies Tutu As I Know Him: On a Personal Note (2006), Nothing But the Truth So Help Me God (2012), Life Moments for Women (2012), and 20 Years - Chokecherries Anniversary Edition (2013).[22]

Santana is credited as a producer on five short documentary films focusing on the Daraja Academy, a free secondary boarding school for high performing girls in need in Kenya, and the work of non-profit partners in South Africa.[23][24] Four of these films were directed by Emmy Award-winner Barbara Rick.[25] Santana continues to support the Daraja Academy both financially and by using her celebrity to bring awareness.[26][27]

Santana is a lead investor of the Courage Museum, opening in San Francisco in 2025. The Courage Museum is a world-class immersive educational program that will be a bold new platform for public education, inspiration, and action, a place where individuals are informed and equipped with tools to rethink violence and advance concrete change.[28][29][30][31]

Personal life

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Santana has three children with Carlos Santana, whom she married in 1973 and divorced in 2007.[32][33]

Salvador Santana is a songwriter, band leader, and instrumentalist;[34] Stella Santana, a singer/songwriter/performer;[35] and Angelica Santana, a writer, archivist, and film producer.[36]

Santana married actor Carl Lumbly in 2015 and the couple divorced in 2019.[37]

References

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  1. ^ Meisfjord, Tom (May 29, 2020). "The Truth About Carlos Santana's Wives". Grunge.com. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  2. ^ "Jo Frances King Obituary (2006) Marin Independent Journal". Legacy.com. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  3. ^ "Deborah Santana". California Institute of Integral Studies. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  4. ^ "Deborah Santana". YWCA. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  5. ^ Mulrooney, C. Delia. "An Interview with Deborah Santana". Literary Mama. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  6. ^ "'My Passion, My Philanthropy': Deborah Santana Carries Forward Stewardship Tradition". Women's eNews. October 26, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  7. ^ Danflous, Patricia (October 30, 2014). "Do a Little, Make a Big Difference". mcall.com. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  8. ^ "Interview with Deborah Santana". mariaramoschertok.com. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  9. ^ "Proceeds From June / July Tour Have Been Officially Donated to ANSA!". Santana. August 24, 2003. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  10. ^ "Santana donates concert proceeds to S Africa AIDS drive". ABC News. June 6, 2003. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  11. ^ "South Africa: Amandla AIDS Fund". Pambazuka News. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  12. ^ "About". Smithsonian American Women's History. January 16, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  13. ^ "Leadership". Violence Intervention Program. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  14. ^ "Violence Intervention Program". Violence Intervention Program. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  15. ^ "Founding Donors". National Museum of African American History and Culture. July 1, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  16. ^ Lara, Adair (November 22, 2004). "With a memoir, Deborah Santana emerges from Carlos' shadow". SFGATE. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  17. ^ ALL THE WOMEN IN MY FAMILY SING | Kirkus Reviews.
  18. ^ "Author Talk: Deborah Santana". Marin Magazine. February 12, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  19. ^ Rhor, Monica (March 27, 2018). "Anthology by Deborah Santana celebrates strength, resilience of women of color". Chron. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  20. ^ "All the Women in My Family Sing: Interview with Deborah Santana". MissHeard Media. May 10, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  21. ^ Jones, Charisse. "Women of color 'Sing' proudly in new essay collection". USA TODAY. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  22. ^ "Works". Deborah Santana. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  23. ^ "Deborah Santana – iVOW". December 23, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  24. ^ McClain, James (May 28, 2020). "Deborah Santana Goes Way Mod in Los Angeles". Variety. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  25. ^ Rick, Barbara (September 3, 2014). "Celebrating Kathy". HuffPost. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  26. ^ Yayoi (June 8, 2014). "Deborah Santana Host to Benefit Daraja Academy". The Experience Magazine. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  27. ^ "Donor Desk: Deborah Santana". The San Francisco Foundation. August 21, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  28. ^ Katsuyama, Jana (March 2, 2023). "Stanford assault victim joins others in sharing stories for future Courage Museum". KTVU FOX 2. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  29. ^ "The Courage Museum: An Immersive Learning Center to Prevent Violence - Futures Without Violence". Futures Without Violence. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  30. ^ Staff, Giving List (October 4, 2021). "A Bold, Living Monument to a Future Without Violence". The Giving List. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  31. ^ "Courage Museum Home". Courage Museum. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  32. ^ Rees, Caroline (December 12, 2014). "Carlos Santana: my family values". the Guardian. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  33. ^ "Carlos, Deborah Santana divorcing after 34 years". The Mercury News. November 1, 2007. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  34. ^ Aguado, E. J. (December 14, 2016). "Salvador Santana, Son of that Famous Guitarist, Carves His Own Musical Path". Fox News. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  35. ^ "Meet Stella, Daughter of Carlos Santana, An R&B Singer-Songwriter On The Rise". Remezcla. July 28, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  36. ^ "Meet Later Mom Deborah Santana (Interview by Robin Gorman Newman)". MotherhoodLater.com. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  37. ^ "Carl Lumbly". deborahsantana.com. January 1, 2016. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019.

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