His career started in 1969, aged 19, when he played on the album L.A.M.F, released byBunky and Jake. He played withCarlos Santana and his own groupSantana, during theirjazz fusion period in the early 1970s.[1][2][3][4] He came as originally as a touring member, filling in for the band's original bass guitarist, David Brown, who was unable to tour due to ongoing drug habits. By the end of the year, Rauch had fully replaced and was a full-time member of the band. As a member of Santana, he contributed to only two albums,Caravanserai (1972) andWelcome (1973). Rauch left Santana in 1974.
In his final years, he suffered from depression and numerous addictions. Rauch died of a drug overdose inSan Francisco,California, on April 23, 1979, at the age of 28.[6]
