From Publishers Weekly
"For us, music was ... sounding like a street mutt, like a dog that's bred with everything," notes Carlos Santana in his foreword, neatly encapsulating the feel of McCarthy's photo-rich book. Consisting primarily of artists' reminiscences, and at times difficult to follow, the chatty volume traces the origins and early successes of Latin Rock, from the street gangs of San Francisco's Mission District to the chart-topping albums and singles. Not surprisingly, much of McCarthy's narrative concerns the band Santana, which began as the Santana Blues Band and rose to fame by combining the wail of blues guitar with Latin rhythms while playing songs from Mary Poppins. McCarthy also traces Malo's early career in detail and recounts the group's making of their Coast to Coast album. Even more interesting are his accounts of San Francisco's Mission District in the 1960s and the confluence of styles that fueled the burgeoning Latin Rock scene. Numerous asides mention lesser-known acts, such as Mandrill and Azteca, and give brief coverage of newer Latin rock bands, like Los Mocosos. Unfortunately, the book lacks an index, but its "Cast of Characters," glossary and limited discography are useful substitutes. With over 800 black-and-white and color photographs, McCarthy's book looks and reads like a photo album. One disappointment is the large gap in the Santana story, which skips the late 1970s and the '80s. However, among the sordid tales of touring, recording, partying and snorting cocaine are gems of information about the electrifying music and its creators. McCarthy's focus is purely on Latin Rock in the U.S. Readers looking for a broader view of the scene should check out Rockin' las Américas: the global politics of rock in Latin/o America. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Book Description
Directly from the Mission District in San Francisco, the explosive fusion of Latin, salsa and rock is chronicled from a writer who has followed the music and the musicians for over 30 years. The book covers the stories of prominent Latin rock bands including Santana and Malo, examining in detail the pioneering records and the ways in which both reflect a wide spectrum of Latin influences. It highlights the cast of characters and emerging period in the US during the late '60s, with all the cultural background events including the Summer of Love, Woodstock, political activism, and the record label expansion. Legendary figures such as Bill Graham, Clive Davis and the Escovedos family play crucial roles in the development of this sound. As Latin music continues to become more mainstream, the interest in its musical roots grows. This book sheds light on these musical pioneers, and is gorgeously illustrated with over 800 B&W photos by Jim Marshall, Rudy Rodgriguez, Joan Chase and others, plus artwork of dozens of rare album covers. Include color photo section and foreword by Carlos Santana.

From the Publisher
We are proud to publish the first book chronicling the beginning of this exciting sound. This will open up the eyes and ears of a new generation of Latin rockers.

FROM THE PUBLISHER