Universal Tone Management, LLC Opens in San Rafael in Former Santana Band Offices

SAN FRANCISCO, March 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Tone Management, LLC, opens its doors in the space formerly occupied by Santana Band Management in San Rafael, CA.  The company is handling personal and artist management for Carlos Santana and the Santana Band.  Additionally, Universal Tone has been contracted to exclusively oversee Cristalino, Inc., the newly launched, Las Vegas, NV-based corporation that is responsible for the day to day operations of the Santana Band and music icon Carlos Santana.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110330/LA73880)

Universal Tone is owned and operated by the executive team of Michael Vrionis and Maria Vrionis.  The offices are located at 121 Jordan Street, San Rafael, CA.  The mailing address is P.O. Box 10348, San Rafael, CA, 949-12-0348, and the telephone number is 415-458-8130.

"We are thrilled to be working with Carlos Santana and the Santana Band on managing their extraordinary careers," said Michael Vrionis.  "It is tremendously exciting to now also have the opportunity to create synergy with Cristalino, Inc. and the other Santana-related businesses, as we develop new properties and projects."

The Santana companies following the recent re-organization consist of Cristalino, Inc., the music label Guts & Grace Records, Inc., Starfaith LLC, the management entity overseeing music publishing, and Santana Tesoro, LLC, DBA River Of Colors, the licensing entity for branded products including Carlos by Carlos Santana Shoes, hats, and purses, Maria Maria Restaurants, and signature musical instruments and gear.

Seeds for the move to Las Vegas were sown when Santana became the first artist-in-residence at the new Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The acclaimed show Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through The Hits (www.supernaturalsantana.com) premiered in 2009; the next dates are planned for April/May, 2011.  Carlos Santana moved to Las Vegas in 2010.

"I am delighted and blessed that Michael and Maria will be in San Rafael overseeing all things Santana as I enter a new phase of my life and career with a home in Las Vegas," said Carlos Santana.  "Universal Tone Management is an extension of what we have been developing for the past several years, and it is exciting to see it grow and thrive."

For 40 years and as many albums later, Santana has sold more than 90 million records and reached more than 100 million fans at concerts worldwide.  To date, Santana has won 10 GRAMMY® Awards, including a record-tying nine for a single project, 1999's Supernatural (including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for "Smooth").  In 1998, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, whose website notes, "Guitarist Carlos Santana is one of rock's true virtuosos and guiding lights."  Among many other honors, he has also been cited by Rolling Stone as #15 on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."  His latest album, GUITAR HEAVEN...THE GREATEST GUITAR CLASSICS OF ALL TIME (ARISTA)—featuring "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"—came out in September 2010.  With its release, Santana joins the Rolling Stones as one of only two acts in music history to score at least one Billboard Top 10 album every decade beginning with the 1960s.   GUITAR HEAVEN... is Santana's 29th Billboard Top 200 charting release, 12th Top 10 album debut, and third Top 10 debut in the past five years.

Currently, Santana is preparing to go on the road with the Guitar Heaven 2011 Tour, beginning with a leg in Asia and Australia this March.  A European itinerary commences in June.  

For more information: www.santana.com

SOURCE Universal Tone Management