June 17
Gregg Rolie
June 17, 1947
As the original lead vocalist, organist, and keyboardist for Santana, Gregg Rolie provided the soulful Hammond B-3 textures and driving melodies that defined the Latin rock explosion. He co-founded the group in 1966 and anchored their classic lineup through historical festival appearances and a string of monumental studio albums, including Abraxas in 1970 and Santana III in 1971.
Seeking a fresh musical direction, he co-founded Journey in 1973, serving as the primary lead vocalist and keyboardist for their initial progressive rock era. He played keyboards, organ, piano, and synthesizer while sharing vocal duties on seminal releases like Infinity in 1978 and Departure in 1980. He remained an official member of Journey until 1980, later releasing solo projects and touring with various rock ensembles, including the Storm and the All-Starr Band, through 2021.
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