Rock legend Carlos Santana collapsed during a performance at the Pine Knob Music Theater in Clarkston on Tuesday night when he was overcome by heat, his management team confirmed on Facebook on Wednesday.
The 74-year-old musician sang “Joy” before suddenly stopping, according to concertgoers who said the music stopped abruptly.
“He walked, played and suddenly fell down,” said Janet Brown of St. Clair Shores, who attended her fourth Santana concert celebrating a birthday.
The lights dimmed and then venue officials announced that Santana would not be returning to the stage.
Team Santana posted on Santana’s Facebook page early Wednesday that he was “overwhelmed with heat exhaustion and dehydration.” He was taken to McLaren Clarkston’s emergency room for observation “and is doing well,” the post said, citing Santana’s manager Michael Vrionis.
The post said Wednesday’s show in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, would be postponed.
Santana responded to the page saying “to everyone. thank you for your precious prayers. Cindy and I are good, we are taking it easy. forgot to eat and drink water so I dried out and passed out. blessings and miracles to you all .”
The episode shocked concertgoers like Detroit-based Tanisha Rovy, who first saw Santana perform.
“It’s just really nerve-wracking,” she said. “Not many people who have performed at Woodstock are with us today.”
“You just want to see him perform and everything to end well and not have a situation like this,” said John Collins, who had been on the lawn before the concert.
Santana was on Tuesday with Earth, Wind & Fire as part of their ‘Miraculous Supernatural Tour’.
Representatives from Pine Knob did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Dozens of concertgoers expressed their concerns on Twitter.
“Everyone is leaving. God bless Carlos Santana and watch over him. We need him!’ said one user.
Last year, Santana said he had successfully undergone a heart procedure and canceled several Las Vegas shows scheduled for December, the Associated Press reported.
He turns 75 this month and has won 10 Grammy awards, including Album of the Year for 1999’s “Supernatural.”