Look at Carlos Santana he is able to assist other artists that come and go with a hit record, he is a Classic Rocker that has talent to keep coming back with new tunes every 1o years, many like him that started off in some smokey bar.
I don't quite understand the point here. Santana had one massive hit record that was mostly due to riding on the talents of those with one hit record. Check out his sales from the mid-seventies till then.
His stuff is more pop-rock than rock, anyway. I don't know too many people who rock down to Santana, though I know lots of people who have him in their "world music" rotation.