Michael Carabello (born November 18, 1947) is an American musician, best known for playing percussion with Santana during the band's early years.

Carabello was born in San Francisco and has Puerto Rican ancestry;[1] he grew up in the city's Mission District.

[2] Later on in life, Carabello wanted to commission a mural depicting Carlos Santana, Bill Graham and himself, somewhere in the Mission District.

[9] He co-wrote several songs on those albums, and is the sole writer for the percussion-oriented track "Singing Winds, Crying Beasts" on Abraxas.

[12] Carabello formed the short-lived jazz band Cobra in 1975, and then settled into a career of teaching and art.