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Member Since: 1/30/2007
Band Website: greggrolie.com/index.html
Band Members:
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http://www.greggrolie.com/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi
The Gregg Rolie Band
As you might imagine from his work with Santana and Journey, Gregg is no stranger to great musicianship. Given his experience and his desire to make the music the best it can be, he has chosen some of the best musicians in the World to bring his band to life. Gregg was determined to resurrect the sound he helped shape and make famous as Santana's original Lead Singer and Keyboard player, while at the same time bringing it forward to the 21st Century. To do that required finding just the right mix of experience, musicianship and chemistry.
The Gregg Rolie Band is composed of 4 musicians from Santana (2 of them now in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame) and 3 other highly accomplished players. Having worked with some of the biggest names in music over the years and having toured the World many times over, these musicians have the skills to interpret this music in the way it is meant to be interpreted, as Gregg so intimately knows.
Alphonso Johnson is a World renowned bass player and Chapman Stick artist, having played with such artists as Santnan, Weather Report, Phil Collins, The Crusaders, Bob Weir, Wayne Shorter, En Vogue, George Duke, Sergio Mendes, Steve Kimock, Tony Williams, Gregory Hines and many others. Gregg and Alphonso first became acquainted during the 1987 Sanana reunion Tour and have since worked together in Abraxas Pool and on the new Gregg Rolie CD, "Roots".
Michael Carabello was one of Gregg's bandmates in the original Santana. As such, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 (along with Gregg, Carlos and the rest of the original band) and is one of the only percussionists to have achieved that distinction. He has played with luminaries such as the Rolling Stones, Jimmy Hendrix, Bonnie Raitt, Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Al Jarreau, Narada Michael Walden and many others. Among other things, he and Gregg also worked together in Abraxas Pool.
Ron Wikso has been a friend of Gregg's since their days together as members of The Storm. Ron was instrumental in bringing Gregg back to the forefront of the music scene when he encouraged him to record the new album "Roots", on which Ron played Drums and shared Engineering and Co-Production duties. As Gregg says, "it's all Ron's fault!" He has also played with many notable artists over the years, including Cher, Foreigner, David Lee Roth (Van Halen), Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi) and many others.
Wally Minko is an incredibly accomplished keyboard player, having toured and recorded with a wide array of artists such as Jean Luc Ponty, The Chieftains, En Vogue, Pink, Toni Braxton, Barry Manilow, Tom Jones and many others. As you can see from that list, he is equally comfortable with Latin, Rock, Jazz, R&B and pretty much any other style of music you can throw at him. This is the irst time Wally and Gregg have played together, but the combination of these two guys on keyboards is something to marvel at...and they have a blast doing it.
Adrian Areas has known Gregg since he was born! He is the son of original Santana Timbale virtuoso Jose "Chepito" Areas and one listen to Adrian's incredible Timbale work will tell you that the music and rhythm is in his blood. He's like a freight train when he plays, repeatedly garnering standing ovations for his solos and playing the kinds of things that would make mere mortal Timbale players want to reconsider their chosen instruments.
Kurt Griffey is the band's secret weapon. Some people are quick to think that, if it's not Carlos Santnan or Neal Schon, it must not be as good, so they are not ready for a Guitarist that can bring all of that to the stage. Kurt delivers big time! He may not be as well known, but he can sure play and if anyone would be able to tell, it's Gregg, because he's played with the best of them. Along the way, Kurt has managed to work with such notables as Randy Meisner (The Eagles), Spencer Davis (Spencer Davis Group), Denny Laine (Wings/The Moody Blues), Bobby Kimball (Toto), Michael Monarch (Steppenwolf), Johnny Winter and many others.
So strap yourself in and get ready to experience the musical and rhtmic freight train that is the Gregg Rolie Band.