In 2000 I got to meet Santana for one of several times in my life I've encountered this unique artist. First was in 1992 when I interviewed him in his dressing room at this same venue, the Tweeter Center/Comcast Center/Great Woods in Mansfield, MA. That was special and thankfully a recording I held onto.

Next was the two day stand he did in 2000 when I got this photo and ran into him the next day again in the catering line, and finally, or most recently I should say LOL... I bumped into him in 2005 backstage at the Cream shows in NY, and he was resistant to go for a pic that time. Foolishly, I was not smart enough to get one in 1992.

We were broadcasting some breaks live from the venue all afternoon, and going around the extensive 20,000 seat venue's property on a golf cart rigged with our broadcast gear.

Knowing we were to meet Carlos, I wore a Marley shirt, hoping seeing one of his heros might evoke a moment or two with the superstar, whose recent Supernatural was still a monster long after it's at that point somewhat recent release.

I remember my friend, WZLX MD Carter Alan responded to my telling him that I wore the Marley shirt for that reason by explaining he was wearing a Santana shirt (one I in fact gave him). This was just in casual conversation that day prior to arriving at the venue, I recall, and nothing more was said about that.

We were in the catering area at a table when Carlos emerged from the core backstage corridor where the headliner artist dressing rooms were. He had a security guard with him who was so enormously stacked, so built out, he looked like a cartoon. Anyone who would f- with that guy would be a lunatic, heavily armed, or just an even more insanely scary looking individual. This cat is the most muscular security guard -- to this day -- I've ever seen with an artist.

Carlos breezed through the large catering dining area, and a hush fell over the room. I'm at a table w/Carter Alan, our engineer John Mulaney, and maybe one other person, if that... Carlos walks past our table, and puts his hand on my shoulder, saying "I like your shirt, brother" or something like that... I thanked him and off he went. Carter just shook his head and laughed.

The deal with the whole meeting-Carlos-thing was that we were told no talking to him, no touching him, so that is what made the little pre-photo moment in catering so funny, and cool. He both spoke to me, and touched me LMFAO. Too funny, but true.

Anyway, after the nice meal of fresh delicious food in catering, we went out back by the nice bushes, and waited our turn as a series of heavy cats walked up, posed next to Carlos (all previously told the same don't touch/don't talk rule), and got photos.

We all did the same, and when I went up there, he said something like "There's that shirt again... nice shirt, brother" and that was it.

The encounter was that brief, and nothing but a "thanks, man" spoken by me, on orders from the record company people running the meet and greet, and completely respected by me, which made Carlos' comments on the Bob Marley shirt, and touch on the shoulder, all the more special for the day. After getting to know Ziggy as the warm and wonderful person he is, I really appreciate how righteous it is having Bob open the door a tiny crack that day w/Santana.

I'm a media personality and radio broadcaster in Honolulu, Hawaii, and currently a news anchor with Hawaii Public Radio, the voice of NPR statewide in the islands. I do a lot of interviews with artists -- see more at my homepage http://davelawrenceonline.com
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