Mike Carabello

Michael Carabello (born November 18, 1947) in San Francisco, California. In 1998, Michael Carabello was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the latin rock group Santana.

“Innovator” is a label that is commonly misused in a musician’s bio. Too often that term is awarded to those who choose to copy or emulate a style and technique that was made popular by someone else. Sadly, “innovator” is bestowed with the best publicity departments and spin specialists the music industry has to offer, easily manipulating the facts of history to suit their personal marketing needs.

If Michael Carabello hadn’t convinced his rather shy high school friend, Carlos Santana, to lend his name to the band because it sounded so cool; if he hadn’t persuaded the Santana band to look beyond the blues; if he hadn’t convinced Carlos to bring in a timbale player he discovered, named Jose “Chepito” Areas; there wouldn’t be the Santana sound that remains internationally recognized today for its percussion and guitar work. Michael set the standard for all conga players in rock n roll, World Beat and dance music. He set the benchmark that is still firmly in place today. That is why Michael Carabello is the first and only Latin Percussionist and conga drummer inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!

Michael Carabello is more than an innovator. He is a one-of-a-kind artist. The early pivotal point of the Santana sound was centered on congas and percussion and for that, Michael ultimately contributed to the change and shape of music forever. Here’s a look at a lifetime of achievement that continues to grow.

Santana was only the beginning of what Michael had to offer. He has recorded and played with The Rolling Stones, Ronnie Spector, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Eric Clapton, Joe Satriani, Stevie Wonder, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, Al Jarreau, Gabor Szabo, Chick Correa, Herbie Hancock, Nicky Hopkins, Booker T Jones, Steve Miller, Bonnie Raitt, Charlie Musselwhite, James Cotton, The Uptown Horns, Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller, Alphonso Johnson, Nathan East, Noel Redding, Dennis Chambers, Bernie Worell,Buddy Miles, Harvey Mason, Cindy Blackman, Simon Kirk, Narada Michael Walden, Steve Smith, Harold Jones,Baba Olatunji, Zakir Hussein, Willie Bobo, Tito Puente, Patato Valdez, Victor Pantoja,and many others as well as numerous film scores. His artistry and versatility has helped turn 12 albums and CD’s to platinum and 12 to gold.

Today, Michael is still setting standards. He is one of the most influential, well-known and best-recognized percussionists in the world. His achievements are truly of global proportions.

Michael recorded on Steve Miller’s recently released CDs called “Bingo” and “Let Your Hair Down” (a tribute to Norton Buffalo) which received rave reviews. He just returned from Europe as a guest artist on Santana’s European Tour “Guitar Heaven 2011”.

Current projects include creating new loop and electronic dance grooves and soundtrack scores with keyboard players, Zaccai Curtis and Damian Curtis, and bassist, Luques Curtis. Proving again, over three decades later, we have not seen the end of Michael’s rhythmic journey….As Michael says, “Keep the beat….you count”.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Michael Carabello, the original conga drummer in Carlos Santana's band, married Linda Houston in the Presidio Chapel on Saturday night September 18, 2010. Carabello and Houston were classmates at Mission High and re-met last year at a 40th high school reunion. Joel Selvin reports that Santana, who'd long ago had a falling-out with Carabello, has mended fences. He joined the gang at a both the rehearsal dinner and the wedding reception that followed at Fior d'Italia and toasted the newlyweds. Michael now resides in Connecticut.

References

• San Francisco Chronicle.^[when?]

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Name	Carabello, Michael
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Date of birth	November 18, 1947
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