Carlos Santana Reunites With Homeless Ex-Bandmate

Rock and roll legend and guitar god, Carlos Santana, has reunited with ex-bandmate Marcus “The Magnificent” Malone, who once served as Santana’s percussionist, and who is now living on the streets of Oakland in California. The two were reunited through a chance meeting with a reporter.

Reporter Stanley Roberts discovered Malone while producing a story about illegal dumping for a San Franciscan television station, reports KRON-TV. Roberts found Malone rummaging through garbage in the area and decided to interview him, at first skeptical about what Malone told him.

Malone informed the incredulous news crew that he was once a composer and a founding member of Carlos Santana’s original band, founded in 1967 in San Francisco. “At one time I was with the Santana band, the original Santana Blues Band,” he said. “Now I’m homeless and on the streets.”

As the Associated Press reports, Roberts fact-checked Marcus’ claims and discovered that not only were the claims true, but that the original Santana Blues Band started out in Malone’s mother’s garage, with the pair losing contact after the percussionist was sent to San Quentin prison in 1969.

According to, KRON-TV, the rock legend had been searching for his long-lost bandmate for several years but had no success in finding him. After watching Roberts’ story air, Santana travelled from his North Bay home to Pearmain Street in Oakland numerous times, but was again unsuccessful.

Last week, the two reunited after Roberts took Santana to meet with Marcus, capturing their reunion on camera. “You don’t know how afraid I am to let you see me,” Malone told Santana as the two embraced. “We cherish you,” Santana replied. “It’s an honor to be in your presence.”

Santana told Roberts that he believed the reunion was “God-ordained” and promised to get Malone a new set of congas to help him get back on his feet. Since the story aired, fellow original members of Santana’s band, Rod Harper and Bobby Scott, are hoping to reunite with Malone.

(Via Contactmusic.com)

Watch: Carlos Santana Reunites with Homeless Ex Bandmate In Oakland

Watch: Carlos Santana Reunites with Homeless Ex Bandmate KRON OnAir

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