Michael Shrieve

Michael Shrieve (born July 6, 1949) is an American drummer, percussionist, and composer. He is best known as the drummer of the rock band Santana, playing on the band’s first seven albums from 1969 to 1974. At age 20, Shrieve was the youngest musician to perform at Woodstock. His drum solo during “Soul Sacrifice” in the Woodstock film has been described as “electrifying”, although he considers his solo during the same piece in 1970 at Tanglewood the superior performance.

Shrieve’s first full-time band was called Glass Menagerie, followed by experience in the house band of an R&B club, backing touring musicians including B.B. King and Etta James. At 16, Shrieve played in a jam session at the Fillmore Auditorium, where he attracted the attention of Santana‘s manager, Stan Marcum. When he was 19, Shrieve jammed with Santana at a recording studio and was invited to join that day.

On August 16, 1969, Santana played the Woodstock Festival, shortly after Shrieve’s twentieth birthday, but before the release of their eponymous first album (1969).

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