Skip to content Interview With Leon Patillo Sep 11 · 29 min ...more
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Nina and Michelle, are best friends with a passion for the Lord. They bring uplifting conversations, encouragement, and shared personal stories of overcoming and victory straight to your screen.
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A Journey of Faith and Transformation 0:02 We wanna honor God because He sees everything.0:10 You were born with a plan and a purpose. He's the God of all things possible. He's the God of all0:22 miracles.0:52 Welcome to Grace Grace with Naina Michelle. I'm Michelle Humphreys.0:56 And I am Naina Keegan. Welcome to our broadcast today. You are gonna wanna stick around, call your friends, get your family in the room. We got an exciting guest today and you're gonna wanna hear his powerful testimony.1:08 He just told us he's gonna go get some souls, so we love that already Michelle.1:12 We already love his heart. Yes. And I'm telling you when, Leon Patillo1:17 Yes.1:18 Is our guest, and he is so special. I I has anybody ever heard of the band, the little band Santana? Well he used to be in it. And and so and he has1:30 served the Lord, with gladness. He has done everything from TV. He goes around to schools. He talks about bullying. He1:41 reaches out to children. I mean, this man does it all, and we want you to give a warm welcome to Leon Patillo. Welcome.1:50 Welcome to our show.1:52 Yeah. Hey, Leon. I I1:55 I also love that you had a church on the Queen Mary in Long Beach.1:58 Like, good. That was so much fun. Oh my goodness. But, you know, it's you have to really stay in your lane because I that 1 was really I'm really more an evangelist than anything. I think the2:10 whole, pastoring thing, those shoes are pretty big. And you gotta really be called to that. You can't just anoint yourself and say, I'm just gonna become pastor.2:21 No. No. It doesn't work my best.2:23 And so I tried that for a season, and, I just really got an itch to go back on the road again. And so I handed it over to my assistant pastor. I said, you take it from here, and I'll I'm going2:35 back on the road. So anyway, that's what I've been doing. It's just an exciting life. I just think, all of us have a certain call and sometimes I think for us musicians, we travel so much. I thought a2:47 church was gonna give me a chance to chill and be at home. And so that's really that's about half of why I took it off.2:54 Yeah. The travel was really just God's prepping you for more travel to evangelize. Yeah. Just just, you know, a different kind of song. Right? So so I have to say, I love Santana. I I3:06 love Maria. It's 1 of my favorite songs on there. So very, very good. I love all the guitar riffs. Very cool. So so take3:13 us back to that time in your life, Leon.3:16 Well, you know, it's really, something because, you know, all of us, again, as musicians, we have these gifts in us, and we wonder, you know, what's gonna happen, and and are we just3:28 gonna be a little local band? Are we gonna be big time like that? And so I I was really in search for trying to get our band going. So we moved to LA from San Francisco3:40 and, had no idea that Carlos Santana had heard heard me sing. And next thing I know, I'm down in LA for about a year. I didn't get this phone call from the Carl Santana office saying,3:52 hey. Carl Santana's heard your voice, and he'd love you to come sing on an album. I said, yeah, man. You somebody's punking me right now. He just4:01 you know, I was looking for4:02 the cameras. You know? And, so it ended up being true, and I drove up to his house, in Mill Valley, just a little bit above San Francisco, and, I got there, got to the door, and and there was4:14 Debbie, a friend of mine from school. I said, oh, wow. She must be the maid. And so4:18 I hugged her, we talked for4:19 a little while, and then Carlos came up behind me and hugged me. He said, hey, Leon. I said, hey. He said, have you met my wife? I said, oh, your wife. I said, oh, okay. And so he took me downstairs to the studio and we4:31 started going through all the the songs, you know, Oye Come Over, Gotta Change Your Evil Ways, Black Magic Woman, all the hits. And, so he he had some incense burning in the studio, and I was4:43 going, why do you have this incense get burning down here? He said, well, it reminds me of prayers going up to God.4:50 Oh, wow.4:50 So that was kinda like a first signal to me that this was a spiritual guy, and so it really kinda relaxed me a little bit. And then he told me later on, he said, I really like you, Leon, and I not only want you to sing5:02 on the album, but I'd like you to be the next lead vocalist for the group. I said, wow. That was just an exciting thing. And then all I know, I hadn't been any further out of San Francisco, but up5:14 to Tahoe and then down to LA. That's as far as I had been in my musical career. And he was telling me all these places. We're gonna go all these spots. Over to Europe, you gotta go to Japan. He5:26 he was naming all these places. My mind was just going crazy. And our first concert was actually in San Francisco at a stadium there called Pizar Stadium, and that's where the 405:38 niners, kinda did their thing. It was so maybe it's 60000 people. And at this point, guys, I had only sang to about maybe 600,5:50 I mean, that's in a packed house. I'm seeing the 600. So 60000. I didn't even know if I'd remember all the words. And so they did kinda scramble around in my head for a little while before this first song came out, but6:02 then, you know, the the entertainer and me, you know, chimed in, and next thing I know, I'm singing and the whole crowd is going crazy and, you know, Bill Graham loves to introduce each 1 of us 1 at a6:14 time, and when he got to my name, he introduced me as the newest, you know, member of the band and all. I just had never heard, that crowd go that crazy. Maybe at a football game, but not6:26 no concerts I'd ever been to. So, anyway, it was, quite a joy for me to6:30 to join6:31 that season. Time. And talk about God's multiplication, right, from 600 people listening to you to 600000?6:37 Yeah. You6:38 know, when he was6:39 that's, like, amazing how he does. It's always exponential, you know. Well, with the Lord,6:43 you never know what's gonna happen. So you were apparently like, take us back to the time when you were were saved.6:50 Well, that was really a part of it. I think when he mentioned that it was like incense going up to God or something like that, I just, you know, it got me thinking. I never heard anybody in rock and roll talk about God.7:02 Mhmm. Because if you start talking about God, it's hard harder to get the girls.7:08 They want the bad boys. Is that what you're saying?7:12 Yeah. Yeah. You're messing everything up, so my god. So anyway but, I I was dating a girl in San Francisco, and her brother, just happened to be a church going guy. So every time I'd come to the house to see her, he7:24 would, you know, just hit me up, man. Leon, you need to get saved. Oh, boy. You just don't know what it's like. It would be great if you and I told him, I said, look. I just joined the Santana group, and I did this like7:34 money. And I said, I've already been saved.7:37 He said7:37 he said, 10 little things shall pass away. I said, yeah. But they cool for right now. So we I just go back and forth with him through, you know, months and months. Finally, after a period of time, I did decide to go to a7:48 bible study, and it was right at that bible study where, I really heard the claim to Christ, and, something changed at that Bible study. And we got back to his driveway, and you7:59 guys gotta imagine this. This is right on the corner of Haight and Ashbury in San Francisco. I don't know if you8:04 know much of it. Yeah. Yeah.8:05 But back in the day, that was where all the drugs were sold, and peace and love, you know, was on that corner. And here we are right in front of his house on that corner, and he's asking me to,8:17 invite Jesus into my life. So, it just was a funny scene. It is fourth of July, and, I had a little I had my top down in my little sports car, and the kids are looking in, you know, while we're8:29 talking and stuff. And he's teaches history up and said, man, would you like to get saved? I said, his name was Richard. I said, Richard. I said, man, I'd probably mess up the whole kingdom. He said, no. You won't8:41 believe him. He said, he said, god8:44 has never changed in your life.8:46 And so he reached for my hand, and that was the only thing that was a little little strange to me because I just had never, you know, held a guy's hand. But, you know, I I knew he was sincere. I knew what he was asking8:56 me to do was gonna be a life changing, thing for me. But, like I said, the kids are looking in, the firecrackers are going off. It's a festive day. We just come from that Bible study, and I9:08 just didn't know what God had up his sleeve. But, after I prayed that prayer with him, everything changed.9:14 Wow. Everything changed.9:16 Well, Leon,9:17 that is amazing. We are gonna Yeah. Come back in just a moment. We wanna hear the rest of that story about how fireworks went off when you got saved.9:25 Amen. Alright. We'll be right back.9:28 As do.9:29 Hello, everyone. I'm excited to announce the next generation of energy drinks, Rev 7. It has no sugar and no caffeine. Instead, Rev 7 uses go b h9:41 b. Go b h b is 1 of the body's primary ketones, and it provides the most efficient and clean fuel that your body needs. It also helps you stay energized all day with no9:53 crashes. Not only that, it produces 3 times more brain energy than sugar, which helps boost your memory, focus, and mental sharpness. It also helps reduce stress and helps balance10:05 your mood. Rev 7 does all that while being the best tasting energy drink ever. So go to my pillow dot com or call the number on your screen. Use your promo code to save 20 percent today.10:17 I'm so sure you're gonna love Rev 7. For a limited time, you get our introductory 3 pack absolutely free. I drink Rev 7 every day, and I absolutely love it, and so will you.10:29 Welcome back to Grace Grace with Naina and Michelle, and our special guest joining us, Leon Patillo. What an amazing story. We want you to finish what you were telling us about the fireworks were going off. You10:41 know, isn't that how God works? Like, when we get saved, like, it is transformative. Like, you know, that's how you know something happened. Your life changed, and you're not the same person again after that. So10:53 continue after that. So you're in your car, the fireworks are going off.10:57 You Yeah.10:57 You were holding a guy's hand. And you knew everything had changed. Yep.11:02 Everything had changed. And we were praying, and and it just was 1 of those, surreal times. And and I you know, music just come bubbles up in me all the time anyway. But at this moment, something was happening inside us.11:14 I said, what is it? What is that? We must believe we must believe in him. I kept hearing that. Praise his name. I said, wow. So I jumped out of the car. I I said, Richard, come11:26 come come. So we went up the steps and, he has this piano, man. It's all out of tune, missing keys, all kinds11:33 of stuff. I said, don't11:34 believe it. I don't know how I did it, but we I started writing a song, about believing in the Lord. And he had a, like, a 3 decker house in San Francisco. They have those Victorian homes, and11:46 so the family got a big family. So people are coming from every part of the house coming down, because I left that house cussing. I left smoking, and and here I come back here and talk about praise the Lord.11:58 They were like, how is that even possible? And, so anyway, that that's what happened to me. And, of course, I couldn't keep my mouth shut when I went back to the Santana group. I I you know, first,12:10 soon as I came through the door, you know, praise the lord. Praise the Lord. God bless you. You guys need to be saved. That's the first thing I said. Everybody looking at me like, Leon, what happened to you? So12:22 it was just, and it was just I I had to preach on then, man. I just every day, they had to tolerate me, you know, preaching for about 5 minutes before we went and drew our songs. So12:33 Well, I'm sure they appreciated it. And, you know, the Bible says and and and, boy, your testimony is a total example of old things pass away, behold, everything becomes new,12:45 and it just happens as soon as you ask the Lord into your heart, and he becomes Lord. So tell us what happened after that with your so you're in Santana, you're on fire for God,12:56 now what? Did they all get saved? We wanna know that.12:59 Like Well,12:59 you know, it's funny, you know, it's kinda like people that you grow up with, they're harder to talk to about the Lord. Yes. Yes. But, you know, people that are kinda strangers, they'll listen to you. And so, you know,13:10 we had become family. Me and the Santana group, we built a club family. But, we took a trip, to Europe with Earth, Wind, and Fire.13:18 Oh, I love them too.13:20 Earth, Wind, and Fire was first time going to Europe. And, here I am, you know, newly saved. And so I had, my book under my my arm, and I went over to Philip Bailey. And I told him, I said, hey,13:32 man. How you doing? Because everybody the the way the plane is set up, usually, 1 band's on 1 side of the plane and the other band's on the other side. And sometimes you think you're a little better than the other band.13:42 That's kinda what happens. You know? You know, I did slide things. So I just said, I'm a break this pattern. I'm a go over and talk to Phillips. So I went over and start talking to him with my Bible under my hand. And he13:52 said, hey. How you doing, Leonie? I said, what's that? I said, it's a Bible. He said, you know anything about that book? I said, well, yeah, a little bit. He said, well, why don't you teach us after the concerts? Oh my14:03 god. So I ended up with yeah. With just about both groups, would come back to my suite after the concert. We was on, like, a 6 week tour of Europe. And, by the time it was finished, Philip Bailey,14:14 Larry Dunn, and Andrew Wilfelk. Andrew, we just lost him, last year, saxophone player. And, they all 3 of them got saved on that trip.14:22 Praise God.14:23 So we we got back to LA and Phillips it's Phillips' idea now. He's on fire like I was in the beginning. He said, well, let's go get everybody else.14:33 And so we we had a,14:35 a concert called Jesus at the Roxy on sunset, and we just invited all of our friends. It was Philip, myself, Denise Williams, and Sarita, Stevie Wonder's wife. And so we14:46 were the entertainment for it. So we did 4 shows, 2 on Friday, 2 on Saturday. And I can't tell you, girls, this was the greatest thing to see all of our friends. At the end of the14:58 concert, we gave all the calls, see our friends stand up and receive fight fight in the club. They take the cigarette, put it out, take the wine glass, put it down, and get up and see the15:09 That's praise god. You know, I I was just thinking I was thinking in a hotel room, you're breaking open the bible instead of breaking guitars against the wall. Like, you know, what's usually happening in hotel rooms with15:18 rock bands, right? Yeah. And so guys Yeah. You're going back for your Bible study. That's amazing. Only God, right? Yeah. Like, it's just Yeah.15:26 Well, and it's a great idea. You get all your all your people in a room and then witness15:31 to them15:31 and sing and praise the Lord. You can't leave.15:35 Everybody's giving their life to the Lord before they get out of here.15:37 You're hardcore, Leon.15:39 Yeah. We love15:40 I do it. This15:41 is powerful.15:42 So we're trying to figure out a place where they have bible studies. So, Donna Summer, she got saved too. She offered up for her studios. Yes. She said, well, I wish you had bible studies there. And I had just moved to15:53 to the west side Bel Air area. And so, I had a home there, and it was just it's a time when everything the market is, like, 94. The market was really bad. They were almost16:05 giving away those homes at that point. Not really, but, you know, it was just I had never seen them as cheap. And, they made me a deal I couldn't pass up. So all of my, West Side friends would16:17 come. So all the WU types would come on a Thursday night, and we'd have bible studies, and boy, did they have questions. We had 1 guy, I can't tell you his name, but he he was saying, woah,16:28 if you're telling me about the bible, I remember David, he had a he had a16:32 bunch of wives, didn't he? And what about Solomon? Did he have16:35 a bunch of wives?16:36 He says, okay for16:37 us to have a bunch of wives?16:39 I said, man, I said, that was for political reasons.16:42 He he was marrying all those ladies because, you know, he wanted to keep the king in pocket. You know?16:48 So I16:49 said that. So that's the whole whole different situation. I said, yes. We have a hard time even just being able to be with 1, you know, that I don't I can't deal a whole bunch. But anyway, so we had crazy17:00 questions like that would that would come up. And so the main thing for me was to see if I could get them to put 1 kind of gospel kind of song on their album. And so, Whitney Houston said,17:12 well, I'm a I'm a put 1. I'm she got, Yes, Jesus Love Me, she said, on the Bodyguard album. I'm a put that on there. Wow.17:18 And17:18 then at least that'd be 1 and I think the Lord will and not that the movie wasn't good, but I just think he did a extra special thing because he decided to put 1 gospel song on that17:30 album. And, so we've been trying to instill the go ongoing thing, trying to speed, you know, the group with with just different things they can do to to be a witness in their second17:40 That's wonderful. So amazing. Well, Liam, we are gonna take a quick break, and we're gonna come back. Just a moment. You're watching Grace Grace.17:48 Hello, everyone. I'm excited to announce the next generation of energy drinks, Rev 7. It has no sugar and no caffeine. Instead, Rev 7 uses go b h18:01 Go BHB is 1 of the body's primary ketones, and it provides the most efficient and clean fuel that your body needs. It also helps you stay energized all day with no crashes.18:13 Not only that, it produces 3 times more brain energy than sugar, which helps boost your memory, focus, and mental sharpness. It also helps reduce stress and helps balance your mood.18:24 Rev 7 does all that while being the best tasting energy drink ever. So go to my pillow dot com or call the number on your screen. Use your promo code to save 20 percent today. I'm so sure18:36 you're gonna love Rev 7. For a limited time, you get our introductory 3 pack absolutely free. I drink Rev 7 every day, and I absolutely love it, and so will you.18:48 Welcome back to Grace Grace with 9 and Michelle. We're here with Leon Patillo, and he has done so much in his life. He's such a blast. I wish we had tons of shows with him. Yes.19:00 But he has written a book. So, Leon, tell us more about that book. Yeah.19:05 Well, actually, I put together 2. 1, I've been working on a long time. You may can show this, when you air this, but this is the the new book. It's called All In. You can't really see it.19:16 Oh, yeah. We can19:17 see it.19:18 Oh, yes. You go on, Amazon, and then we just we're just releasing it now. We probably will start to really PR it more around September, October, but, just keep telling a few people about it just19:30 so that they can, you know, go out and do some presales. But anyway, it's a book about me and my wife. Actually, 94, I've been working with a foster home19:42 organization since 85, and we've been putting kids in homes and it's just been a great experience. So they called and said, hey, how would you like to take a cruise so we can talk more about, you know, how to get more19:53 kids in homes and that sort of thing? The CEO called me, and and they were telling me, well, it's gonna be kind of a couple's thing, and I was single at the time, and I said, well, I don't know about going on this20:03 cruise. And they said, well, we'll pay for it. I said, well, the cruise don't sound too bad. I mean, it's gonna pay for it. So anyway, we went we knew it was gonna be kind of a half business, kind of half, you know, fun20:15 time. But anyway, we, just as I'm getting on the boat, this lady kinda brushes up beside me and just keeps walking. And, she smells kinda like lilies or something like that. I said,20:27 man, that's a nice lady over there. My CEO, she's always getting on me about, you know, the ladies and how I should deal with that, especially a Christian man and all that kind of stuff. So we knew we had to find me a20:39 wife. That20:40 that and the biggest subject of of our lives is so anyway,20:45 next thing I know, over a couple of days, I'm finding a piano somewhere on the the boat to just try to write rewriting, some of the songs and kind of doing some new stuff. And, so I said, well,20:57 Lord, I only have 2 words to say to you. I said, surprise me. And so I'm playing the piano. And all of a sudden, I said, good prayer, man. Yeah. And this I'm telling all the singers around the21:09 country, what what kind of place should I pray? Surprise me.21:11 I love it.21:12 But, anyway, so here comes this woman, coming toward the piano. And, I had a guy that was sitting next to me, and he was just loving what I was doing. We were kinda actually singing together. And, so she came over and21:23 she we kinda caught eyes. Then she caught eyes with the guy that was next to me, and she sat next to him. And I said, oh, wow. I said, it must be the husband. And so, we got up they got21:35 they left, and as they were leaving, they were saying that they were going to join the other family, their brothers and sisters. And I said, oh, shoot, brother and sister. This is good.21:46 So the whole book is a this21:47 whole book, All In, is first part of it is kinda like that about how we met. And come to find, here I am a preacher, and she tells me what she does for a living, and21:59 she's a professional poker player. Oh. So it's like, oh, lord. How is this gonna work? This is a 94. So anyway but anyway, obviously, I'm still married,22:11 so, it must've worked. But it's just it's a great story of how, 2 opposites can attract and how people that have maybe played for some sort of relationship like that,22:24 it's not too late. If you still got some romance in your heart, you know, God can can do this the second or third time. I've went through a divorce as well, and I, you know, I was wondering, am I gonna be able to find22:33 anybody after this? Because I was the mess.22:36 So I was there.22:37 Who gonna put up with me? That's what I'm thinking. And so come to find that God has somebody, you know, for everybody. So anyway, it it just worked out good. So in the meantime, I'm also mentoring. I'm doing kind of22:48 like an after school program with some kids, and so Oh, I love that. I've been doing this again since 85. But, 1 girl, she's 14 years old, kinda heavy set, and, they pick on23:00 her all the time, but has a beautiful voice. She stutters, but when she sings, the stutter goes away. Then so, anyway, so I'm I'm counseling her, and she gets to a point where she's just suicidal with all23:12 that's happening to her. And so the, some things happen with her, kind of a revival happens with her life. And so the the book is kinda goes between the love story that ends to Sue is her name, the23:24 little 14 year old girl. So it goes back and forth. And it's really an interesting book how how everything ends up. But, I would just encourage people to go out and get it or, you know, hit Amazon up,23:36 under or you have to do is just put Leon Patillo All In is the name of the book. All in, because that's what I want everybody to do. For Christ, I want them to be all in. Yeah. And, that's with the little23:47 girl. I kept coaching her too and anybody. All the kids I'd be ministered to, I said, we gotta go all in for Christ. So anyways You23:55 have obviously been all in, Leon. And we have about 2 minutes left of the show. We would like for you to pray for the viewers, not only to be24:07 all in, but just whatever the Lord puts on your heart.24:11 Yes. I was thinking about you guys. I mean, just now, Grace Grace, I was just writing down. I said, what's those letters? And I'm sure you've got all you've already done this already. But, to me, it's, God rescued24:24 all creation expensively. I think that's what grace means24:30 to me. That's beautiful.24:31 Grace grace. Yeah. God rescued all creation expensively. There was an expense that he paid Wow. For our salvation.24:40 That's right.24:41 And I think, you guys having that name grace and then you double it. So just so you get it. It's just grace.24:49 It's it. He's done24:51 more for us than we could ever24:53 Amen. We24:54 could ever even repay he could never repay him for what he's done.24:57 That's right.24:58 You challenge us your right. Grace, grace. So I I just would say to anyone that's watching that this is the the the best thing you could do with your life. Just say, lord,25:10 I need you in my life. I know I've got these areas. And I don't know if you can clean up something there, but I believe the lord can. He did it for me, and he's still working with me. And some days I hit and I25:22 go, man, do you still love me, lord? And he keeps reminding me. He said, I I've created something for later. This is just this little period of time, we're gonna hang out. I've created something later. And,25:34 you know, John 14, I think it is. And, he's just telling us, man, I've created a mansion so I can be with you all the time. I want you to hang out with me all the time. And so I think this is what,25:47 you should do with your life, man. I I it's it's not gonna mess up anything. You already messed up with you. You're a lot of people, you know, like and so so this is something that he wants to do to kinda help to25:58 kinda smooth out your life, kinda give you something that's, substantive that you can use, that will help you, that will help you and your family, help you on your job, help you with relationships, all that sort ofShow more In this video 0:00 A Journey of Faith and TransformationComments No comments yet. Start the conversation.
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