From Santana to hosanna

Torus Tammer

FOUNTAIN VALLEY -- At the pinnacle of his career, Leon Patillo was the

lead singer for the rock group Santana. He was never fired from the group

nor did they disband.

So how and why would a musician and singer with a seemingly ideal

opportunity to realize his dream, leave such a famous and successful rock

group?

Patillo, 54, is a pastor of his own ministry in Fountain Valley called

the Rock House. He explains everything with two words: the Lord.

“When I found the Lord, it was like I understood there was something

empty inside me,” Patillo said. “Suddenly, I was armed with a measuring

stick by which I could compare my life against.”

Patillo grew up in San Francisco with access to a melange of spiritual

nourishment. Although he often attended the Catholic church -- located a

few blocks from his Haight-Ashbury home -- Patillo ultimately showed

allegiance to his parents and their dogmatic views. With his Baptist

father and his Methodist mother, Patillo spent time in both environments,

but was never really able subscribe or develop a devotion to either

religion.

Searching for something to believe in, Patillo developed an inherent

ability to play music and belt out thunderous vocals. In no time, the kid

from Haight-Ashbury was an adult who had decided to hone in on satiating

his newly developed appetite for musical prosperity. After forming the

band Creation, which consisted of several close childhood friends,

Patillo did what all aspiring bands do -- try to play any and all the

gigs they could.

Fortunately, as many bands also tend to do, Patillo and Creation

struggled to make ends meet. It was the mid-1970s, and Creation had moved

to Los Angeles and were finding times tough.

“We were in our mid-20s and had been playing night clubs in Los

Angeles,” Patillo said. “We were all struggling, living in a house

together in Van Nuys, when I got a call from our manager saying Carlos

Santana heard our tape and wanted to meet with me. We met . . . he said

he wanted me to be his next lead vocalist . . . and I was blown away.”

Patillo said his friends and bandmates were disappointed but

encouraged him to grab the opportunity. Patillo sang, played instruments

and collaborated lyrically on three Santana albums -- “Festival,”

“Borbelletta” and “Moon Flower.” He was living a dream, yet after cutting

his first album, “Borbelletta,” he felt a vacuity in his existence. But

once again, as if timed to perfection, the right set of circumstances

arose.

“Everything piqued a year after joining Santana,” Patillo said. “The

brother of a girl I was dating was a Christian and he kept wanting me to

accompany him to Christian bible study. His persistence paid off because

eight months later he finally wore me down.”

Patillo never looked back, saying that a change occurred in him the

day he went to bible study and he was born again.

“A lot of people take the term born again in the wrong way,” Patillo

said. “For me, it had more to do with being forgiven and the realization

that God was loving and forgiving.”

Patillo completed two more albums with Santana but felt a greater

responsibility to his faith. So with his bandmates’ best wishes, Patillo

left Santana to dedicate his talent to spreading the message of hope

through faith. Two years of bible study later, Patillo was ordained a

minister and began to use his status and talent to gain exposure and

deliver his message. He achieved that goal and has been performing

concerts in arenas around the world for the last 20 years.

FYI

Leon Patillo will perform at 6:30 p.m. at Fountain Valley United

Methodist Church, 18225 Bushard St. Free and child-care is available.

(714) 962-2593.