Santana are an American Latin-rock jam band from San Francisco, formed in 1966 by guitarist Carlos Santana. Their self-titled debut, released after a breakout appearance at Woodstock, fused sustained electric solos with syncopated hand percussion and thick organ layers by Gregg Rolie. Abraxas (1970) added expanded textures, drawing from Afro-Cuban rhythms and modal frameworks. The […]
Al Di Meola is an American guitarist who emerged in the jazz-rock supergroup Return to Forever, playing on the 1974–76 albums Where Have I Known You Before, No Mystery, and Romantic Warrior. As a solo artist, he’s issued more than 40 albums, starting with the 1976/77 Columbia titles Land of the Midnight Sun and Elegant […]
Caldera was an American Latin jazz-rock band that released four albums between 1976 and 1980 on Capitol. They synthesized jazz-funk with Afro-Cuban styles on their debut, Caldera (1976), then expanded their textural range on Sky Islands (1977), which features guest vocalist Dianne Reeves. The band continued to refine its complex, Latin-rooted fusion across Time and […]
Malo was an American Latin rock band from San Francisco that released four albums between 1972 and 1974 on Warner Bros and charted with “Suavecito.” Members: Arcelio Garcia (percussion, vocals), Jorge Santana (guitar, vocals), Abel Zarate (guitar), Pablo Tellez (bass), Richard Kermode (keyboards), Luis Gasca (trumpet), Richard Spremich (drums), Richard Bean (percussion, vocals) Background Malo […]
Changó was an American Latin-rock/funk band from Brooklyn that released a self-titled album on ABC Records in 1975, followed by Honey Is Sweeter Than Blood on Mercury in 1976. Members: George Tacktikos (guitar, vocals), Reinol Andino (timbales, congas, percussion, vocals), Pepe Gomez (drums, lead vocals, percussion, piano), Burlin Speakes (bass), Thomas Alletto (organ, vocals, piano), […]
Pantha was an Australian Latin-jazz/rock band that released the 1975 album Doway Do Doway Do and three singles through Wizard Records. Members: Paul Curtis (lead vocals, percussion), Roger Pell (guitar, percussion, harmonies), Jack Wilson (bass, percussion), Dannie Bourne (electric piano, percussion, harmonies), Peter Lee (congas, percussion, drums), Adrian Paine (drums, percussion), Jose McLaughlin (keyboards, vocals), Barry […]
Pirana was an Australian Latin jam-rock band from Sydney that released the 1971–72 albums Pirana and Pirana II on Harvest. Members: Tony Hamilton (vocals, guitar), Stan White (keyboards, 1970-71), Keith Greig (keyboards, 1971-72), Jim Duke-Yonge (drums, percussion, 1970-73), Phil Hitchcock (bass, 1974), Andrew McCue (keyboards, flute, 1973), Richard McEwan (guitar, vocals, 1972), Paul Spetter (drums, […]
Macondo was an American Latin-rock/psych band from Los Angeles that released a 1972 self-titled album on Atlantic. Members: Max Uballez (rhythm guitar, lead vocals), Albert Hernandez (lead guitar, vocals), Ron Chretin (electric bass), Frank Martinez (drums), Lee Pastora (congas, percussion), Eddie Caicedo (timbales, percussion), Fred Ramirez (keyboards, backing vocals) Background The nine-piece band formed around […]
Sapo was an American Latin-rock/funk band from San Francisco that released a 1974 album on Bell Records. Members: Joe Bean (leader), Richard Bean (vocals, timbales), José Simón (bass, vocals), Raúl Rekow (congas, vocals), Kincaid Miller (electric piano), Oscar Estrelia (guitar, vocals), Wayne Wallace (trombone), Robby Gaviola (drums, vocals) Background In 1965, Richard Bean played saxophone […]
Gonzalez was an English soul-funk and Latin-rock big band that released the 1974–75 albums Gonzalez and Our Only Weapon Is Our Music on EMI, followed by the 1978–80 albums Shipwrecked, Move It to the Music, and Watch Your Step on Capitol. In 1979, they scored a UK Top 20 hit with “I Haven’t Stopped Dancing […]
Toro was an American Latin-rock band that released a 1975 self-titled album on Coco Records. Members: Andy Sanchez (vocals), Larry Harlow (keyboards), Steve Napoleoni Monge (guitar), Eddie Perez (guitar), Felix Tollinchi (rhythm guitar), Paul Alicea (timbales), John Headsley Down (drums), Frankie Mallabe (congas) Background Toro (Spanish for “bull”) was an offshoot of the Harvey Averne […]
Abel was an American Latin-rock/psych band from San Francisco that released the 1971 album Please World on Fantasy Records. Members: Abel Sanchez (guitar, bass, vocals), Charles Bolds (bass), Tom Catalano (drums), Larry Chiesa (trumpet, vocals), David Spediacci (saxophone, vocals) Background Abel developed from the San Francisco band led by guitarist, singer, and songwriter Abel Sanchez. […]
Living Force was a New Zealander Latin-rock band that released a self-titled album on Atlantic in 1977. Members: Harvey Mann (guitar), Eddie Hansen (guitar), Murray Partridge (guitar), Ivan Thompson (keyboards), John Pepper (keyboards), Gary Clarke (bass), Matt Matepi (bass), Glen Absolum (drums), Mike Fisher (drums), Mona Hollguin (vocals) Background The roots of Living Force date […]
Dakila were an American Latin-rock band from San Francisco that released a self-titled album on Epic in 1972. Members: David Bustamante (guitar), Bert Ancheta (guitar), Fred Ancheta (bass), Frank Magtota (drums), Romeo Bustamante (organ), Carlos Badia (congas), Michael Gopal (timbales) Dakila were assembled in the early 1970s by a group of Filipino-American cousins and brothers […]
Bandolero were a Puerto Rican psych-rock band that released a self-titled album on small-press Truth in 1970. Members: Félix “Gadget” (drums, percussion), Ismaelito (keyboards), George Matos (bass), Junior “El Loco” (guitar), José Nogueras (vocals) Bandolero issued their singular album in the U.S. and Puerto Rico on one-press Truth Records in 1970. It features 11 originals […]
Eddie Benitez (Nov. 12, 1956 — Jan. 17, 2019) was an American Latin-rock guitarist and bandleader from New York who released the 1976 album Night Life (as Benitez and Nebula) and the 1977 followup Essence of Life (as Benitez), both on Vaya Records. Benitez band members: Eddie Benitez (guitar), Nancy O’Neil (vocals), Dino Cedeno (vocals, […]
Yaqui was an American Latin-rock band from Los Angeles that released a 1973 self-titled album on Playboy Records. Percussionist Rudy Regalado recorded multiple albums during the period with El Chicano and later resurfaced in the Zawinul Syndicate. Guitarist Ronnie Reyes and bassist Art Sanchez hailed from psych-rockers Strange Brew. Members: George Ochoa (vocals), Eddie Serrano […]
Bloody Mary was an American hard-rock/psych band that released a self-titled album on Artie Ripp’s Family Productions label in 1974. The album was produced by veteran songwriter and arranger Vinny Testa, whose prior credits include albums by Pookah, Frijid Pink, Liquid Smoke, and Bull Angus. Though the title has twice been reissued by the unofficial […]
Azteca was an American Latin-rock band from San Francisco that released the 1972/73 Columbia albums Azteca and Pyramid of the Moon. Members: George DiQuattro (piano, clavinet), Coke Escovedo (timbales), Pete Escovedo (vocals), Bob Ferreira (tenor saxophone, flute, piccolo), Wendy Haas (vocals), Tom Harrell (trumpet), Paul Jackson (bass), Errol Knowles (vocals), Mel Martin (soprano saxophone, tenor […]
Antique was an American Latin-rock band from Miami behind the 1968 album Va Cayendo una Lagrima on Audio Latino, followed by the 1973/74 Funny Records albums Sincerely Antique and Antique Sorcery and the 1976 Teca title The Antiques Experience. Each album featured a modified nameplate: Antique Formula, Sincerely Antique, Antique Sorcery, The Antiques. Members: Alberto […]
Tierra was an American Latin-rock band from Los Angeles that made a 1973 self-titled album on 20th Century Records, followed by the 1975 Salsoul release Stranded. They returned with the 1980–82 albums City Nights, Together Again, and Bad City Boys on Boardwalk Entertainment. Their Intruders cover “Together” became a 1981 Billboard hit. Members: Rudy Salas […]
Barrabás was a Spanish Latin-rock/funk band that released nine albums on RCA, Ariola, and Atco between 1972 and 1983. Members: José María Moll (drums), Fernando Arbex (drums, vocals, 1971-77), Iñaky Egaña [Iñaki] (vocals, bass, 1971-72, 1985-?), Tito Duarte (saxophone, flute, tumbadoras, 1971-78), Ricky Morales (lead guitar, vocals, 1971-78), Miguel Morales (rhythm guitar, bass, vocals, 1971-78, […]
Cesar Ascarrunz was a Bolivian/American Latin-rock musician based in San Francisco who released the album Cesar 830 on Flying Dutchman in 1975. Discography: Cesar 830 (1975)
