Tower of Power
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Categories: 1970s music groups | American soul musical groups | California musical groups | Funk musical groups | Smooth jazz ensembles
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For the episode of the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon TV series, see Tower of Power (TMNT 1987 episode).
Tower of Power is a 10 member horn-based soul band from Oakland, California.
HistoryIn the mid-1960s, 17-year-old tenor saxophonist Emilio Castillo moved from Detroit, Michigan, to Fremont, California. He started a band called 'The Gotham City Crime Fighters'[1] which evolved into 'The Motowns', including bassist Francis 'Rocco' Prestia, specializing in soul music covers. During 1968, Castillo teamed up with baritone saxophonist Stephen Kupka (later to be dubbed 'The Funky Doctor') and trumpet/trombone player Mic Gillette, moved to Oakland, and together began writing and performing original material. One of their early influences was the now late great Soul Pioneer artist James Brown. They changed the band's name to 'Tower of Power' and began playing frequently in the Bay Area. In 1970, Tower of Power (by then including trumpeter/arranger Greg Adams drummer David Garibaldi, percussionist & conga/bongo player Brent Byars and guitarist Frank Hoydick and signed a recording contract with Bill Graham's San Francisco Records and quickly released its first album, East Bay Grease. They moved to Warner Bros. Records and 1972's Bump City and 1973's self-titled release, Tower of Power, were breakout albums for the band. The former album included "You're Still a Young Man", which peaked at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972. The latter album contained possibly their most enduring song, "What is Hip?" Tower of Power was the third album release for the Oakland-based band. This was the group's most successful album to date, released in the spring of 1973. The album peaked at #15 on the Billboard Pop Album chart in 1973 and received a gold record award for sales in excess of 500,000. The Album also spawned their most-successful single "So Very Hard To Go". Although the single only peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100, "So Very Hard To Go" landed in the Top 10 on the surveys of many West Coast Top 40 radio stations, hitting #1 on most of them. The Album also charted two other singles on the Billboard Hot 100, "This Time It's Real" and "What Is Hip?" 1974's Back to Oakland spawned another hit, "Don't Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream)," that reached #26 on the Billboard Hot 100, plus "Time Will Tell," which charted at #69. On some of their releases in the mid-1970s, such as Urban Renewal (1974), the band moved more towards funk from soul; however, they continued recording ballads as well. After vocalist Lenny Williams moved on, the band's days of chart radio airplay declined. During the later 1970s, they briefly tried recording somewhat disco-sounding material. Tower of Power has remained active throughout the years, and still tours extensively and worldwide today. Inevitably, over a nearly 40-year span, some personnel changes have been part of the history and evolution of this funk and soul institution. At least 60 musicians have been touring and/or recording members of the group through the years, including current Saturday Night Live musical director/saxophonist Lenny Pickett, drummer David Garibaldi, bassist Rocco Prestia, organ master Chester Thompson, trumpeter Rick Waychesko, saxophonists Richard Elliot and Euge Groove, and early guitarist Bruce Conte, whose cousin and BALCO founder Victor Conte also briefly played bass guitar in the band from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. One of their original vocalists, Rick Stevens, after leaving the band, was sentenced to life in prison on three counts of first-degree murder. The other original vocalist, Rufus Miller, performed most of the lead vocals on 'East Bay Grease'. Bruce Conte recently rejoined ToP, replacing almost 10-year ToP veteran guitarist Jeff Tamelier, and even more recently departed again, after slightly more than a year, quoting personal recording projects and health issues. Long term fans will note that for this relatively short period during 2006–2007, that ToP (with Bruce) had 5 of their (then) 11 'Back-in-the-Day' members 'Back-on-the-Stage'. This year, following Bruce into the guitarist position has been Charles Spikes (very capable, though temporary, while auditions for a permanent player were held), and currently Mark Harper, who so far, from an audience perspective, seems to be a valuable addition to the group, and who also offers powerful yet accurate harmony vocals. Tower of Power has released 18 albums over the years (Compilations and regional variations not included), the latest being 2003's 'return to form' CD, entitled Oakland Zone. In addition, their horn section has become well-known as a backing unit for other artists. The ToP horn section has appeared on many artists' recordings, including Little Feat, the Monkees, Santana, Elton John, Linda Lewis, RAD. (Rose Ann Dimalanta), John Lee Hooker, Rod Stewart, Jefferson Starship, Heart, Huey Lewis and the News, Spyro Gyra, Lyle Lovett, Poison, Phish, Toto, Pharoahe Monch, and Aerosmith. Tower's early song, 'So Very Hard To Go' was featured in the soundtrack of the 2002 film City of God. The ToP Horns' most notable touring was as part of the Top 40 Pop group 'Huey Lewis and The News', during the mid-80's. They joined for the 'Sports' tour, to support Huey's highly successful album of the same name, recorded on several of Huey's next albums, and Huey enjoyed the experience so much that he later hired other horn players to continue the bigger sound he had achieved with the Tower Horns. - Huey has collaborated in a few of Tower's song writings. Tower of Power has also made special guest appearances on the albums of other major recording solo artists. In 1993, the band was featured on Luis Miguel's album Aries, in a cover of "Attitude Dance" titled "Que Nivel de Mujer". Most recently, Tower of Power has been featured on Josh Groban's Awake album, during an instrumental break in "Machine". DiscographyStudio albums
Live albums
Compilations
Singles
Videos and DVDs
Note: Over the years, there also have been many Television performances of ToP aired though not released for sale. External links
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