Graham was criminally underrated during his years in Santana. When he joined them in 1976 it was during a bit of a commerical funk for the band and so it didn't get a lot of notice, and i think a lot of people just assumed he was Mike Shrieve at first since he had a similar look with the long curly hair, but in my opinion Graham was even better, he could play jazzy but also the harder rock stuff, he should have been a household name to rock fans and fans of drumming. Every time i see polls about favourite drummers it's always the same names, Bonham, Moon, Peart etc.. but i'm always clicking on 'other' and putting in Graham. I was a massive Santana fan in my teens starting in the early 80's, i lived in Toronto and bumped into him one time in a music store on Queen street. My friend and myself were the only ones in the store at the time and he came in to purchase some sticks, the guys at the counter seemed familiar with him so i guess he had been there before. I recognized him immediately but didn't want to bother him, i was kicking myself after he left for not at least saying hi and that i was a fan. Biggest loss to the Santana band when he left in '87, their 80's lineups were incredible.
After his incredible work in Montreal with Gino Vannelli, Graham Lear was with Santana for 22 years …. He was and is one of the greatest and solid musical drummer in the world ..thank you for watching and sharing
Graham Lear is one of my foundational inspirations in drumming! After Bill Bruford and Phil Collins, for me back in the day. His playing with Gino Vannelli on Gist of the Gemini was absolutely monumental!
It’s amazing Graham didn’t mention anything about learning from the masters Perazza , Chepito and Oreste Vilato. The rhythm is African and from the Caribbean . Afro Cuban to be exact.
Had the great opportunity and privalege of seeing Graham Lear at the Colonial Tavern with Gino Vanelli and brother Joe. Pure magic . Never forget that show.
I listen every now and then Graham's "Head, hands and feet" solo from Santana's Moonflower- Soul Sacrifice album. Best performance of that song, in my humble opinion.
Thank you for your comments , Jesus. Graham is a brilliant drummer and one one of the great creative ones on earth. He was the drummer who lasted the longest with Santana … Santana knew what he had , for sure ! After His work with fellow Canadian ,Paul Anka , Graham returned to Canada and is continuing his journey …thank you for watching ..more coming !😊
Thank you Steve, you are absolutely right! Graham Lear is one of the top drummers on the planet and o am happy I was able to have him in my podcast. I saw and heard him with Gino ( we all knew each other) at least 20 times , since the beginning of the band in Montreal ….His work with Gino was brilliant !!!!
My first serious drumming hero ! I wore moonflower album out in the 70s trying to figure out his contributions to the album . Went to Cincinnati in late 70to actually see him in front row with Santana and looked up 4 cymbals were rocking right in time he hit them all and it was so fast I’d never seen anything like it live. Went home realizing how great a talent he was and looked up his body work. Loved what he did with Gino and he truly is a once in a lifetime musician!Thanks for the inspiration Mr Lear.
Thank you ,thank you ,thank you for this interview! I have been a huge Graham Lear fan Since I first heard him with Gino Vannelli! He's been a huge influence on my playing ever since I was a young man! Just subscribed to your channel and look forward to listening to more of your interviews! Again thank you!
Thanks for the note and comment .Graham is one of the world’s top drummers .The longest running drummer with Santana ( 22 years) aside from his brilliant work with Gino Vannelli ..
I first heard Graham Lear was from the Moon Flower album. The drum solo from Soul Sacrifice. Then later I saw Gino on Soul Train doing Powerful People and Gino introduced the band members. I saw him performing with Santa during the Moon Flower run.
I'll never forget how Santana got another drummer who looked a lot like Michael Shrive. At first , a lot of people including me , thought they got Michael back after Ngudo left.
TYTYTYTYTYTYTYTY!!!!!!! I saw Graham Lear with Santana live several times. He played the greatest drum solos I've ever heard as well as DRIVING the ATOMIC POWERED SANTANA percussion section! Al Mora, Free Verse
Paul Anka Las Vegas 22 years the money must have been great no doubt. So puzzled why interviewer doesn’t inquire about his 12 years with Santana. A lot of incredible percussionist with Santana at the time
I agree, it was cool that the interviewer knew Graham in his early days up to the Gino era, but he clearly knew nothing about what Graham did after that period. He didn't even know that Graham was in Santana for 12 years, and clearly had no idea he played for REO and Paul Anka either. But Grahams most famous period is his Santana years. I would love to sit with him and ask him so many questions i have about those 12 golden years. The tours, the albums, the incredible musicians he played with in Santana etc..
I love Lears drumming in Santana to me he is Santanas 2nd best drummer, Dennis Chambers being first! Santana had a lot of good drummers with his wife not really working out good for santana.
As Mauricio Acevedo rightfully stated. The drummer of the original Santana group circa 1969 (Woodstock era) was Michael Shrieve. He does resemble Graham Lear but in fact it was Michael. Graham Lear joined Santana in late 76 or early 77 during the FESTIVAL ALBUM tour even though Graham wasn't the drummer on the album. Graham's first Santana album was Moonflower. Graham is forever my all time favorite drummer. Of course he was known for so many great contributions besides Santana which was phenomenal.
Graham has perfect timing. His drum solo Heads, Hands & Feet is a reference solo that has never been beaten. But... honestly, I do not like the sound of his drums on any Santana albums. Sorry, but nevertheless a great inspiration!
You must not have listened to them all, there is some incredible drum work on the album he did with them. That said, Santana as a band were always better live than the were able to capture
Graham's Drumming on Gist of the Gemini changed my life. Almost 50 yrs later, there's nothing I've found that can touch it. Masterpiece.
Loved his groove and sound with Santana. ... great drumming ...
Graham was criminally underrated during his years in Santana. When he joined them in 1976 it was during a bit of a commerical funk for the band and so it didn't get a lot of notice, and i think a lot of people just assumed he was Mike Shrieve at first since he had a similar look with the long curly hair, but in my opinion Graham was even better, he could play jazzy but also the harder rock stuff, he should have been a household name to rock fans and fans of drumming. Every time i see polls about favourite drummers it's always the same names, Bonham, Moon, Peart etc.. but i'm always clicking on 'other' and putting in Graham. I was a massive Santana fan in my teens starting in the early 80's, i lived in Toronto and bumped into him one time in a music store on Queen street. My friend and myself were the only ones in the store at the time and he came in to purchase some sticks, the guys at the counter seemed familiar with him so i guess he had been there before. I recognized him immediately but didn't want to bother him, i was kicking myself after he left for not at least saying hi and that i was a fan. Biggest loss to the Santana band when he left in '87, their 80's lineups were incredible.
After his incredible work in Montreal with Gino Vannelli, Graham Lear was with Santana for 22 years …. He was and is one of the greatest and solid musical drummer in the world ..thank you for watching and sharing
One of my absolute favorites! Still listen to Graham with Gino Vanelli often!!
Me too! Great records!
Graham Lear is one of my foundational inspirations in drumming! After Bill Bruford and Phil Collins, for me back in the day. His playing with Gino Vannelli on Gist of the Gemini was absolutely monumental!
Thank you for watching .i agree , Graham is likely one of the century’s best kept secrets …brilliant drummer and great person …
Yes same here! Gist of the Gemini was epic. Gino put him to work
Yes, Graham is truly a brilliant drimmer and among the world’s greats and inspirations !
It’s amazing Graham didn’t mention anything about learning from the masters Perazza , Chepito and Oreste Vilato. The rhythm is African and from the Caribbean . Afro Cuban to be exact.
Had the great opportunity and privalege of seeing Graham Lear at the Colonial Tavern with Gino Vanelli and brother Joe. Pure magic . Never forget that show.
@paulfarkas1169 Carlos gave Graham more freedom to expand his playing.
One of Santana's best drummer!! A Legend!! Thank you Graham.
I listen every now and then Graham's "Head, hands and feet" solo from Santana's Moonflower- Soul Sacrifice album. Best performance of that song, in my humble opinion.
Graham Lear!! One of the greatest drummers of all time.
His solo in Primera Invasion not only blew me away but inspired me to take up drums. Been my idol for 43 years.
Thank you for your comments , Jesus. Graham is a brilliant drummer and one one of the great creative ones on earth. He was the drummer who lasted the longest with Santana … Santana knew what he had , for sure ! After His work with fellow Canadian ,Paul Anka , Graham returned to Canada and is continuing his journey …thank you for watching ..more coming !😊
Grandissimo batterista mi piaceva molto con la musica di Gino Vannelli .
I grew up with Graham 2 doors from him in London, Ontario in the 50s - drums have always been a part of his life!!!
Thank you Steve, you are absolutely right! Graham Lear is one of the top drummers on the planet and o am happy I was able to have him in my podcast. I saw and heard him with Gino ( we all knew each other) at least 20 times , since the beginning of the band in Montreal ….His work with Gino was brilliant !!!!
My first serious drumming hero ! I wore moonflower album out in the 70s trying to figure out his contributions to the album . Went to Cincinnati in late 70to actually see him in front row with Santana and looked up 4 cymbals were rocking right in time he hit them all and it was so fast I’d never seen anything like it live. Went home realizing how great a talent he was and looked up his body work. Loved what he did with Gino and he truly is a once in a lifetime musician!Thanks for the inspiration Mr Lear.
Thank you ,thank you ,thank you for this interview! I have been a huge Graham Lear fan Since I first heard him with Gino Vannelli! He's been a huge influence on my playing ever since I was a young man! Just subscribed to your channel and look forward to listening to more of your interviews! Again thank you!
There is no question in my mind that Graham picked up a lot about Latin percussion in 12 years with Santana
What a legend!
graham lives here and niagara and plays in a jazz band in thorold i saw him 2 weeks ago playing to about 40 of us in pub..awesome
Thanks for the note and comment .Graham is one of the world’s top drummers .The longest running drummer with Santana ( 22 years) aside from his brilliant work with Gino Vannelli ..
Congrats for your All New Podcast 👍
Primera Invasion on the Santana Zebop album Graham’s prints are all over it.
I first heard Graham Lear was from the Moon Flower album. The drum solo from Soul Sacrifice. Then later I saw Gino on Soul Train doing Powerful People and Gino introduced the band members. I saw him performing with Santa during the Moon Flower run.
I'll never forget how Santana got another drummer who looked a lot like Michael Shrive. At first , a lot of people including me , thought they got Michael back after Ngudo left.
Grazie Gabriella …vero che Graham he uno dei batteristi creatjvi nel mondo ..especialmente con Gino ..chi era lui stesso batterista..
TYTYTYTYTYTYTYTY!!!!!!! I saw Graham Lear with Santana live several times. He played the greatest drum solos I've ever heard as well as DRIVING the ATOMIC POWERED SANTANA percussion section! Al Mora, Free Verse
Buddy Rich tried to cover a couple of Graham's Storm at Sunup works on his Speak No Evil album, and could not. Love Graham.
Great Great Interview
Just listening soul sacrifice/ moonflower LP is an evidence Graham Lear is a god !
Yes, Graham is definitely one of the best drummers on the planet ….his humility is also among the top
The best Graham lear
Paul Anka Las Vegas 22 years the money must have been great no doubt. So puzzled why interviewer doesn’t inquire about his 12 years with Santana. A lot of incredible percussionist with Santana at the time
I agree, it was cool that the interviewer knew Graham in his early days up to the Gino era, but he clearly knew nothing about what Graham did after that period. He didn't even know that Graham was in Santana for 12 years, and clearly had no idea he played for REO and Paul Anka either. But Grahams most famous period is his Santana years. I would love to sit with him and ask him so many questions i have about those 12 golden years. The tours, the albums, the incredible musicians he played with in Santana etc..
Graham you we’re everything on she’s not there. Thank you
His playing on Gino Vannellis Gist of the Gemini Album could not be improved on by ANYBODY!!!
I love Lears drumming in Santana to me he is Santanas 2nd best drummer, Dennis Chambers being first! Santana had a lot of good drummers with his wife not really working out good for santana.
Wait, I saw a very VERY young Graham Lear on drums with Santana in the Woodstock movie, and that's 1969, right?
No is Michael shrive no graham Lear
As Mauricio Acevedo rightfully stated. The drummer of the original Santana group circa 1969 (Woodstock era) was Michael Shrieve. He does resemble Graham Lear but in fact it was Michael. Graham Lear joined Santana in late 76 or early 77 during the FESTIVAL ALBUM tour even though Graham wasn't the drummer on the album. Graham's first Santana album was Moonflower. Graham is forever my all time favorite drummer. Of course he was known for so many great contributions besides Santana which was phenomenal.
@@1245102 Moonflower a great classic , Gram Lear awesome drummer and solo well done awesome !!!
Graham has perfect timing. His drum solo Heads, Hands & Feet is a reference solo that has never been beaten. But... honestly, I do not like the sound of his drums on any Santana albums. Sorry, but nevertheless a great inspiration!
You must not have listened to them all, there is some incredible drum work on the album he did with them. That said, Santana as a band were always better live than the were able to capture
Graham is a Canadian treasure.
bonjournice to meet you~brav.oawesome -friend,