The Andy Vargas Lyric Lounge

The untold story behind one of the biggest Latin rock songs ever recorded.

Alberto Salas played the original piano on "Corazón Espinado" — the Mana and Santana collaboration from the Supernatural album — recorded it in a single take at the Record Plant, performed it live at the very first Latin Grammys with Carlos Santana and Celia Cruz in the front row, and played it again on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno the very next day. And almost no one knows his name.

Andy Vargas sits down with Alberto for a deeply personal conversation about growing up in South Central LA as the son of a Costa Rican father and Cuban mother, teaching himself piano by sneaking into jazz clubs and watching players’ hands, the spiritual bond with late Santana drummer Raul Rekow, faith and sobriety in the music industry, and what it means to spend a career as one of the most in-demand session keyboardists in Latin music.

Alberto has gone on to teach at Musicians Institute, USC, and UCLA — all without ever attending music school himself. He calls it “Sink or Swim University.”

Key topics: Santana Supernatural album, Corazón Espinado, Mana, first Latin Grammys, session musician life, South Central LA, Cuban music, faith and music, piano, Latin jazz, teaching music

Connect with Alberto: @albertosalas68 (Instagram) | Alberto Salas (Facebook)

Follow Andy Vargas: andyvargas.com | @andyvargasofficial

Produced by Build Your Authority — buildyourauthority.co

Darrel Sauceda, Chairman of the LA Latino Chamber of Commerce, shares his raw journey from Imperial Valley farm roots and wrestling with addiction to steering a powerful business organization. His powerful story is a masterclass in purpose, proving that you can't lead the struggle unless you've lived it.

Andy Vargas (lead singer of Santana and founder of the AVLL Foundation) hosts this essential conversation about mentorship, economic literacy, and cultural authenticity, reflecting the core Souleros spirit.

Key Discussion Points:

*   The blessing of "walking the walk" and how lived experience trumps education in leadership.

*   Darrel's viral "Economy of Greed" and his explosive analogy on homelessness and system exploitation.

*   How the Chamber's "Listos" portal acts as a personal salesman to vet and elevate Chicano businesses.

*   The internal rules and leadership principles of the LA Latino Chamber of Commerce board.

*   The 23-year mission of the Tejano Convention to educate and empower artists.

Connect with The AV Lyric Lounge:

Subscribe to the Andy Vargas Lyric Lounge for more deep-dive interviews with artists and community leaders.

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Visit The AV Lyric Lounge

Are you feeling stuck in your purpose, wondering how to turn your struggles into something meaningful? This raw and honest interview with former Tierra lead singer, Billy Mondragon, reveals the unseen journey behind the music, the faith that carried him through, and the emotional battles most men are afraid to admit.
This powerful podcast interview reveals how music, pain, and faith shaped both and Billy and Andy into the men they are today.
HERE'S THE HONEST TRUTH: This episode won’t give you all the answers. But if you’ve ever felt overlooked, misunderstood, or unsure of how your past fits into your calling, This interview will help you see your pain through a new lens. A lens focused on purpose, healing, and impact.

Join Andy Vargas at the O2 Arena in London as he chats with the incredible Kevin Madigan, Santana's house engineer! Kevin, a Grammy-associated mix engineer, reveals his journey into sound, from live gigs in Dublin to working with legends. Discover his "secret weapon" unit, the Neve Master Bus Transformer, and hear untold stories about mixing for iconic artists like Kendrick Lamar, Lizzo, The 1975, and of course, Carlos Santana. Learn what it takes to make music sound "distinctly clear and powerful" for thousands of fans every night!

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Follow Andy Vargas
Website: https://andyvargas.com/
Spotify: http://bit.ly/AndyVargas
Facebook: http://bit.ly/AndyVargasFacebook
Instagram: https://bit.ly/AndyVargasIG
Twitter: http://bit.ly/AndyVargasTwitter

Santana singer,  Andy Vargas sits down with his "big brother" Karl Perazzo to discuss their 25+ year journey with Carlos Santana, Karl's 30+ years in music, and the importance of giving back. Filmed live in Paris, France on their European tour!

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Follow Andy Vargas
Website: https://andyvargas.com/
Spotify: http://bit.ly/AndyVargas
Facebook: http://bit.ly/AndyVargasFacebook
Instagram: https://bit.ly/AndyVargasIG
Twitter: http://bit.ly/AndyVargasTwitter

How did producers learn before online tutorials? AK Cisneros reveals his hands-on journey with MIDI, sampling, and hardware in the 90s. Get an exclusive look into the gritty, pre-internet era of music production. Real stories and real techniques!
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Follow AK:
YT:  @RootsCovenant  
FB: Adrian Cisneros
IG:  @akcisneros

Website: 
[email protected] 
CamaticMedia.com
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Follow Andy Vargas
Website: https://andyvargas.com/
Spotify: http://bit.ly/AndyVargas
Facebook: http://bit.ly/AndyVargasFacebook
Instagram: https://bit.ly/AndyVargasIG
Twitter: http://bit.ly/AndyVargasTwitter

Explore the dynamic musical evolution of my friend, Gabriel Gonzalez! He shares how he experimented with different genres, from mariachi to salsa, and ultimately discovered his unique sound. We talk about his influences and the importance of artistic exploration. 
#musicalevolution  #FindYourSound #MusicInterview #GabrielGonzalez #MusicianTips What's your musical journey like? 

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Follow Gabriel Gonzalez
Website: https://www.laverdadband.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cantante101

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Follow Andy Vargas
Website: https://andyvargas.com/
Spotify: http://bit.ly/AndyVargas
Facebook: http://bit.ly/AndyVargasFacebook
Instagram: https://bit.ly/AndyVargasIG
Twitter: http://bit.ly/AndyVargasTwitter

Explore the musical mind of Sal Rodriguez in this captivating interview. He discusses his early influences, the bands he played with, and the evolution of his drumming style. A must-watch for music enthusiasts! #MusicPodcast #DrummerInterview #SalRodriguez #AVLyricLounge

In this special episode of AV Lyric Lounge, Andy sits down with legendary tattoo artist, Mike Kellerman and Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D. for an intimate conversation about their lives, careers, and the bonds of brotherhood. They share stories of their early days in San Diego, the journey to success with P.O.D., and the powerful moments of faith and inspiration that have shaped their paths. From Mike's first tattoos to touring with the biggest names in music that all leads to creating their new TV show, "Off Point," you will want to listen to this entire episode.

Creators & Guests

#Podcast #Interview #POD #southbaymike #SonnySandoval #TattooArt #MusicInterview #Faith #Inspiration #AVLyricLounge

Follow Andy Vargas
Website: https://andyvargas.com/
Spotify: http://bit.ly/AndyVargas
Facebook: http://bit.ly/AndyVargasFacebook
Instagram: https://bit.ly/AndyVargasIG
Twitter: http://bit.ly/AndyVargasTwitter

The Andy Vargas Lyric Lounge is produced by Protagonist Creators Studio.

www.protagonistCS.com
INSTAGRAM: @protagonist_cs

Carlos Santana lead singer, Andy Vargas interviews Gato Bahbalu about life and music and how they came to record their cover of "Make It With You" originally performed by Bread.  Andy and Gato wrap up their conversation with an EXCLUSIVE to the podcast performance of Make It With You.

AV Lyric Lounge is produced by Protagonist Creators Studio, www.protagonistcs.com.Creators & Guests