Original Santana band members reunite onstage
The surviving members of the original Santana band reunited on stage in San Francisco last Thursday (January 11th). The show at the Bimbo's 365 Club was part of the annual Voices Of Latin Rock benefit series, which raises money for autism research and treatment. Singer-keyboardist Gregg Rolie and percussionist Armando Peraza were honored for their contributions to the Latin music scene in the Bay Area, and Carlos Santana called Peraza "a supreme musician, master drummer, divine teacher, street-wise healer, radiant spirit, and ultimate dimensional warrior." Along with the honors, the event also featured several live performances, with original Santana band members Santana, Rolie, percussionist Jose Chepito Areas, conga player Michael Carabello, and drummer Michael Shrieve, along with Peraza and guitarist Neal Schon, who joined later on.
It marked the first time in about 20 years that so many of the original Santana band players were together on stage, and they all had a great time. According to the official santana.com website, "There is still a magical chemistry and an undeniable feeling when these individuals join together to recreate the music that changed the landscape of world music, introducing us to what is now called Latin Rock. The original members of the Santana Band may be a little bit older, but there is no denying the unique sound they created when they first formed and that sound is still alive and kickin'."
Carlos told us that his music depends on one thing: "Truly, the only criteria is, is it coming from the heart or not? If it's not coming from your heart, then it's phony baloney, so nobody wants to hear it. If it's coming from the heart, then it's necessary to be heard, because music from the heart doesn't go old, doesn't get dated, like bell-bottoms and afros. It doesn't go in and out, it stays, you know? Just like sex and spirituality -- those things, they never grow old."
It marked the first time in about 20 years that so many of the original Santana band players were together on stage, and they all had a great time. According to the official santana.com website, "There is still a magical chemistry and an undeniable feeling when these individuals join together to recreate the music that changed the landscape of world music, introducing us to what is now called Latin Rock. The original members of the Santana Band may be a little bit older, but there is no denying the unique sound they created when they first formed and that sound is still alive and kickin'."
Carlos told us that his music depends on one thing: "Truly, the only criteria is, is it coming from the heart or not? If it's not coming from your heart, then it's phony baloney, so nobody wants to hear it. If it's coming from the heart, then it's necessary to be heard, because music from the heart doesn't go old, doesn't get dated, like bell-bottoms and afros. It doesn't go in and out, it stays, you know? Just like sex and spirituality -- those things, they never grow old."
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