Santana or Carlos Santana. I remember back in the day people would say "Santana," but we all knew that it was Carlos Santana on guitar. That guitar that brought to mainstream Rock & Roll America the "Latino" vibe that never ever left us after Santana hit the circuit. It was refreshing to hear the fusion between the latino influence that maintained melody with a latino percussion influence and rocked as hard as anyone yesterday or today. The combination of warmth and hard rock was vibrant, stimulating, and claming all at the same time. The Latino sound was not unfamiliar to me. Being from an Italian family (also part of the Latino's) we listened not only opera and Neopolitan songs but, also enjoyed the Basanova, the Flamingo, and other Latino influences that sounded throught my house. This made me more interested in Santana more than ever. In addition, growing up in Brooklyn, New York, no one was vague to this Latino sound. In our Brooklyn neighborhoods we heard through the windows, radio, and TV Xavier Cugat, Tito Puente, Jose` Feliciano and others.

However, Santana was different. He embodied that Latino sound through Rock music and did it with class and great guitar jams that everyone tried to imatate because of its beauty and beat. I have traveled many parts of the world and never been to a place that didn't play Santana's music. His music has travelled the world and touched the hearts twice fold over the planet. Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Japan, Okinawa, Tawan, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Russia, all have heard and played Santana music over and over again. There is no negating the influence Santana's music has had all over the world. and how much all of the world shares with Santana. Very few artist achieve this universality that Carlos Santana has achieved through his musical expression. His music has made us dance, jam, rock, and even cry. "Europe" is one of my favorite Santana pieces and has achieved universal acceptance as a beautiful musical expression that moves most. I don't think you could walk this planet and find someone that has anything negative to say about Carlos Santana. What an achievement!

I was fortunate to nudge my way to the dressing room at the Lonigo, Vicenza concert before Santana took stage. I was standing aside the dressing room of Carlos. As I was waiting at the door Carlos approached. I extended my hand and thanked him for all the music he has shared with the world. He extended his hand, shook mine, thanked me, and said a few kind words. His manager then handed me their official Santana photo pass. You can tell a lot from the way a man shakes a hand. Carlos' hand was gentle and reafirming. I sensed warmth and positiveness. After that incident he walked into his dressing room and practice on his guitar for approximatley 45 minutes. Wow, I met and shook hands with Carlos Santana. To add to this, some years later Karl Perazzo and Raul Rekow invited me backstage in Treviso and offered me food and drink just out of pure kindness. That is the influence Carlos has on people, his band members, and staff. Simply humble and positive! Thank you Santana for your human touch and music.