A SANTANA tribute band from High Wycombe have recorded a song to celebrate the World Cup.

Oye Santana started a few years ago when guitarist Milan 'Carlos' Webb from High Wycombe put his dreams into action.

Fellow band member, Gez Kahan, who is the musical director and plays piano and percussion, said: "He has been a Santana fan ever since he first heard Samba Pa Ti.

"He is just in love with the tone really. I had known Milan for over 30 years- I have been in bands with him on and off.

"He came along to one of my open mic nights to jam and he just mentioned to me he was starting a Santana band, but he needed a vocalist who can sing in Spanish."

Gez then put Milan in touch with Hector Gomez, who hails from Madrid. His dad owned a restaurant in Marlow when he was younger.

Add Paul Murphy, from Tilehurst, on percussion and the latest addition, Auriol Kobani, from High Wycombe, with female vocals and on trumpet, and the band is complete.

They have painstakingly recreated the original Santana arrangements of the big hits. Santana is a Latin music-influenced rock band founded in San Francisco during the late 1960s.

There’s a treasury of more than four decades of Santana catalogue to draw on.

And to celebrate the World Cup in Brazil this summer the band have recorded their own version of the Brazilian song Mas que Nada, which will be released in May.

Gez, who lives in Marlow, said: "It is very Santana-esque. We have been recording the bulk of it from our home studios.

"We are then taking it to the producer to have it sorted out."

Oye Santana will be playing at Hazlemere Community Centre on April 19 and Clayton's in Marlow on May 15. To book tickets and for full details go to www.oyesantana.com.

For more leisure stories including what's on, gig listings and more features click here.