Marcus Malone

Marcus Malone
Born(1944-07-29)July 29, 1944
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedOctober 12, 2021(2021-10-12) (aged 77)
Oakland, California, U.S.
GenresLatin rock, Chicano rock, psychedelic rock
Instrument(s)Latin percussion and congas
Years active1966–1969
LabelsColumbia

Marcus "The Magnificent" Malone (July 29, 1944 – October 12, 2021) was an American percussionist and a founding member of the Latin rock band Santana.

Life and career

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Malone was born in Memphis, Tennessee.[1] The band Santana - originally known as the Santana Blues Band - was formed in 1966 in San Francisco with Malone as a percussionist specializing in Latin instruments. Guitarist Carlos Santana and bassist David Brown credited Malone with inspiring the band's early improvisational approach on tracks like "Jingo".[1]

The group found little success in the music scene until it was slated to perform at the August 1969 Woodstock Music Festival and began work on its debut album, Santana. Malone is credited as co-writer of "Soul Sacrifice", which featured on the album and which the band performed at Woodstock. By the time of the band's appearance, Malone had been convicted of manslaughter for stabbing a man,[2] and was serving his sentence in San Quentin State Prison.[3]

After his release from prison in 1973, Malone had been living on the streets of Oakland, where he was accidentally discovered by KRON-TV field reporter Stanley Roberts in December 2013. Malone and Carlos Santana subsequently had an emotional reunion[4] and Malone was set to play as a percussionist on the band's upcoming album Santana IV.[5][6] Though they did meet to rehearse, Malone did not appear on the album. Santana said, "I could tell he hadn’t played in years. He didn’t have the strength or stamina.”[7]

On June 18, 2016, Malone was critically injured by an unsecured tire that flew off a passing car in Oakland and knocked him backwards onto the sidewalk. He was placed on life support at Oakland's Highland Hospital. A crowdfunding GoFundMe page for his medical expenses was set up by his personal manager and nephew, Carl Jacobs.[8] Malone was transferred to a skilled nursing facility in Alameda, California.[citation needed]

Malone died on October 12, 2021, at the age of 77.[9]

Albums

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With Santana

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References

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  1. ^ a b Ben Fong-Torres, "The Resurrection of Santana", Rolling Stone, December 7, 1972. Retrieved 27 October 2021
  2. ^ Guy Wright, "Slow Arm of Justice", The San Francisco Examiner, November 26, 1969, at Newspapers.com. Retrieved 27 October 2021
  3. ^ Santana, Carlos (2014). The Universal Tone: Bringing My Story to Light, page 202. Little, Brown. ISBN 978-0-316-24492-3.
  4. ^ Carlos Santana Reunites with Homeless Ex Bandmate in Oakland on YouTube (December 20, 2013, KRON-TV)
  5. ^ Shields, Brian (December 22, 2013). "Santana Plans Recording with Homeless Ex-Bandmate". KRON-TV. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  6. ^ "Marcus The Magnificent" Homeless Conga Player Re-Unites W/ Carlos Santana on YouTube (May 14, 2016, KRON-TV)
  7. ^ "Santana on Reuniting Classic Lineup, How to Fight Trump". Rolling Stone. May 19, 2016.
  8. ^ Mendoza, Carlos (June 19, 2016). "Marcus "The Magnificent" Malone on life support after freak accident in Oakland". KRON-TV. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  9. ^ "Marcus Malone Obituary".
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