super groovy delicious bite: santana

Santana created a unique blend of Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and heavy psychedelic blues for this fiercely persuasive treat. Bandleader Carlos Santana was born in Mexico and learned to play violin from his father at the age of five. He switched to guitar at the age of eight and by fourteen was playing nights at a Tijuana strip club: "I needed to do it to help him bring some financial help for my four sisters and two brothers and my mom; there was too many of us. Of course, my older brother was helping, being a mechanic; anything we needed to do, sweeping or washing dishes. For me it just became natural, gravitating to music...I was trying to learn how to play like B.B. King and Otis Rush, and the more I started playing, I started playing like me. So I said, 'Maybe you're not supposed to sound like them. Maybe I'm supposed to sound like me...I was born knowing that if you open the faucet, water's going to come out. I just knew that the word 'impossible' was for some people, but not for me."

Santana emigrated to San Francisco and became involved in the local music scene. He was given a slot at a matinee show at Bill Graham's Fillmore West, which led to the promoter taking him under his wing. The Santana Blues Band was formed with other local street musicians David Brown, Marcus Malone, and Gregg Rolie. As they built a following, the group secured a record deal with Columbia Records and started work on their debut. During the sessions, they lost drummer Bob Livingston and percussionist Marcus Malone, replacing them with the more expansive powers of Michael Shrieve, Michael Carabello, and José "Chepito" Areas. 'Santana' was recorded at Pacific Recording in San Mateo, California with Brent Dangerfield co-producing with the band that featured Carlos Santana on guitar and vocals; Gregg Rolie on organ, piano, and vocals; David Brown on bass; Michael Shrieve on drums; Michael Carabello on congas and percussion; and José "Chepito" Areas on timbales, congas, percussion, and background vocals.