Yep, below is the cover for Santana's first album!  The first album I owned at the young age of 13!

You see, in 1969 I was riding in my mom's car with her.  The radio was on, of course - my mom loves music and always had it playing in the house.  Anyway, this song comes on which amazed me - electric guitar with conga drums!  A bluesy sound mixed with Cuban rhythms!  I was hooked!  I bought the 45 RPM single the next day, saved up my allowance, and bought my first album!

I was so inspired by what I heard, I asked my mom to buy me a conga drum - my first instrument!  And that was the beginning of my musical life!

Now on to 2012!  I had the great joy of playing timbales with the Wide Open/Supernatural band a few years ago - they played a tribute to Santana!  And now, once again, I'm playing with another Santana tribute band, "Soul Sacrifice"!  Once again, the circle comes a round!

Their excellent percussionist, Scott Parker Mast, is taking a short leave to study African drumming and dance in Gana.  I have the great fortune to sub 4 gigs for him!  It took some serious woodshedding however, because I have not played congas on most of the tunes!  It has been great getting back in touch with my LP Accents series Quinto & Conga, complete with Evans congas heads!  I've had two rehearsals with the band and it is going to be awesome!  

If you live in the Denver area, please come and check the band out!  If you love the music of Santana, you will not be disappointed!

Thursday June 21, Boardwalk Park in Windsor, CO, 6:30 - 8:30 PM;

Tuesday June 26, Roosevelt Park in Longmont, CO, 6:30-8 PM;

Wednesday, July 4, Miners Park in Firestone, CO, 11 AM - 12:30 PM;

Sunday, July 8, Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver, 12:30 - 2 PM!