Tom Coster (born August 21, 1941) is an American keyboardist, composer, and longtime backing musician for Carlos Santana.[1]

Tom Coster
Coster in 2009 (Steve Smith and Vital Information)
Coster in 2009
(Steve Smith and Vital Information)
Background information
Born (1941-08-21) August 21, 1941 (age 83)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
GenresRock, Latin rock, jazz fusion, classical
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
InstrumentKeyboards

Early years

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Detroit-born and San Francisco-raised, Coster played piano and accordion as a youth, continuing his studies through college and a productive five-year stint as a musician in the U.S. Air Force Band.

Career

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Coster has played with and/or composed for many groups and musicians including The Loading Zone, Gábor Szabó, Carlos Santana, Billy Cobham, Third Eye Blind, Coryell/Coster/Smith, Claudio Baglioni, Stu Hamm, Boz Scaggs, Zucchero and Bobby Holiday, Joe Satriani, Frank Gambale, and Vital Information. Coster also produced several solo jazz fusion recordings as a leader for Fantasy, Headfirst, and JVC.

Some of Coster's best-known compositions are "Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile)", "Flor D'Luna (Moonflower)" and "Dance, Sister, Dance (Baila Mi Hermana)" performed by Santana and "The Perfect Date" performed by Vital Information.

Personal life

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Coster's son was born in 1966, also called Tom Coster, also a keyboardist and composer.

Solo discography and personnel

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References

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  1. ^ Wiseman, Rich (May 6, 1976). "Carlos Santana Comes Home". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
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