- Gregg Rolie is the unmistakable voice behind the early years of Santana, and as the keyboardist / vocalist and founding member of Journey. Rolie's talents may well be underappreciated, as he is certainly underrated for his abilities. Since going on his own, Rolie records and performs still. This was a great chance to see Gregg Rolie up close and personal at, what became, the final show of the decades-long running Santa Clara County Faigrounds, as an open entertainment and amusement arena (becoming mostly livestock oriented since). The show was on Sun. August 5, 2007. The performance billing read "Santana As You Remember It," and was true to its word. Performing all the great hits of early Santana - many of which were primarily penned and sang by Rolie - the band did the music justice and then some. Guitarist Kurt Griffey did a most exceptional job filling in Carlos' style and feel of playing. My opinion was that he superceded Carlos, who himself has become a bit lax and his own performances and sounding lazier in recent years. The band, which included several other early Santana alumni, here consisted of keyboardist / vocalist Gregg Rolie, guitarist Kurt Griffey, bassist Alphonso Johnson, drummer Ron Wikso, keyboardist Wally Minko, and dual percussionists Michael Carabello and Adrian Areas. As far as Latin music and rock go, this was a great show to see.
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