Tower of Power
Tower of Power is an American Funk-/Soul-Band from Oakland, California that was founded in 1968.
History
Mid-60s pulled the 17 -year-old tenor saxophonist Emilio Castillo from Detroit, Michigan to Fremont, California. There he founded the band " Motown ", which played mainly Soul. In 1968, Castillo teamed up with baritone saxophonist Stephen " The Funky Doctor" Kupka together, they moved to Oakland and wrote the first joint material. They changed the name of the band " Tower of Power " and often played in the San Francisco Bay Area.
1970 Tower of Power signed a recording contract with Bill Graham's San Francisco Records and released shortly after their first album: " East Bay Grease". In 1972, "Bump City" and 1973 " Tower of Power ", which led both to the breakthrough of the band. Tower of Power has released consistently new plates since the 1970s and is to this day still tours regularly. Personnel, the band has constantly changed; this part of the style of this group. At least 60 musicians have played with Tower of Power, were on tour, and / or have plates taken with the band. Among them were the Saturday Night Live musical director Lenny Pickett, drummer David Garibaldi and bassist Rocco Prestia. Lenny Williams was long-time lead singer of the band.
The horn section of the band became famous, that they cooperated on the recordings of other artists. These included the Monkees, Carlos Santana, Elton John, John Lee Hooker, Rod Stewart, Jefferson Starship, Heart, Huey Lewis and the News, Little Feat, Lyle Lovett, Phish, Aerosmith, Rolling Stones, Eurythmics, Phil Collins, Klaus Lage, Tom Jones.
Band Members
Emilio Castillo
Emilio " Mimi " Castillo (* September 24, 1950 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American saxophonist and composer, and the founder of the band.
Stephen Kupka
Stephen "Doc" Kupka ( born March 25, 1946 in Berkeley, California) is an American baritone saxophonist and composer. He is a co-founder of the band.
Francis Prestia
Francis " Rocco " Prestia ( born March 7, 1951 in Sonora, California) is an American bassist.
Lenny Williams
Charles Leonard "Lenny" Williams ( born February 6, 1945 in Little Rock, Arkansas) is an American singer. In the 70s he was the lead singer of Tower of Power. As a soloist, he had some hit single ( eg " So Very Hard To Go" ).
David Garibaldi
David Garibaldi (* November 4, 1946 in Oakland, California) is an American drummer. He is a co-founder of the band. After David Garibaldi Tower of Power had left before he resigned in January 1998 and went on tour with the band.
Mic Gillette
Mic Gillette ( born 1951 in California) is an American trombonist and trumpeter. He is known for his work in the formations Tower of Power, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and The Sons of Champlin. Gillette's involvement with Tower of Power began in 1967. According to 25 - year absence, Mic Gillette came in August 2009, Tower of Power on again and replaced so Mike Bogart.
Greg Adams
Greg Adams is an American trumpeter and arranger, best known for his arrangements and performances for Tower of Power.
Discography
- 2003 Tower of Power - In Concert: Ohne Filter ( concert recording of the SWR in the Ohne Filter series from the year 1998)
- 2006 Tower of Power - In Concert
- 2007 Tower of Power - Live in Germany ( concert on 6 November 2005 in Leverkusen)
- 2011 Tower of Power - 40th Anniversary ( concert for the 40th band anniversary in Filmore / San Francisco)