11/10/2023 0 Comments Tower of power in concert![]() ![]() The group was first introduced to the San Francisco Bay area by radio station KSAN, which played a variety of artists such as Cold Blood, Eric Mercury, and Marvin Gaye.Īugmented by percussionist/conga/bongo player Brent Byars, Tower of Power was released from their San Francisco label contract and moved to Warner Bros. Rufus Miller performed most of the lead vocals on this debut album. ![]() The band agreed on Tower of Power and the name stuck.īy 1970, the now renamed Tower of Power-now including trumpet/arranger Greg Adams, first trumpet Mic Gillette, first saxophone Skip Mesquite, Francis “Rocco” Prestia on bass, Willie Fulton on guitar, and drummer David Garibaldi-signed a recording contract with Bill Graham’s San Francisco Records and released their first album, East Bay Grease. Within months the group, then known as The Motowns, began playing various gigs around Oakland and Berkeley, their soul sound appealing to both minority and counterculture listeners.Ĭastillo wanted to play Bill Graham’s Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, but he realized he would never get in with a name like The Motowns. Castillo had played in several bands, but Castillo’s father told his son to “hire that guy” after a home audition. In the summer of 1968, tenor saxophonist/vocalist Emilio Castillo met Stephen “Doc” Kupka, who played baritone sax. Just goes to show you can’t keep a good thing down, and by the looks (and sounds) of it, nobody’s slowing down any time soon either. Hard to imagine Tower of Power have been at it for 54 years. Tower of Power in concert tonight – recorded on Jat Richard’s Club in Atlanta and broadcast live. March 4 - The Parker - Ft.Tower of Power – Live at Richard’s Club – Atlanta – J– Gordon Skene Sound Collection – ![]() March 3 - Maxwell King Center - Melbourne, FL January 28 - Silverton Casino - Las Vegas, NVįebruary 9 - Harris Center for the Arts - Folsom, CAįebruary 10 - Turlock Community Center - Turlock, CAįebruary 11 - Yaamava Resort and Casino - Highland, CAįebruary 17 - Kleinhans Music Center - Buffalo, NY (with the Buffalo Philharmonic)įebruary 18 - Colonial Theatre - Laconia, NHįebruary 19 - American Music Theater - Lancaster, PAįebruary 21 - Paramount Theatre - Charlottesville, VAįebruary 22 - Lexington Opera House - Lexington, KYįebruary 23 - Carolina Theater - Durham, NCįebruary 25 - Peace Concert Hall - Greenville, SCįebruary 26 - Blumenthal Performing Arts Center - Charlotte, NCįebruary 28 - Florida Theater - Jacksonville, FL January 27 - Nugget Casino Ballroom - Sparks, NV Tower of Power’s complete tour is as follows: Looking forward to seeing you in 2023 for a proper SOUL VACCINATION!” An eternal thank you to our fans for keeping the spirit of Tower of Power alive for all these years. To say the least, we’ve far exceeded our wildest dreams. ![]() “I can remember back in the day dreaming about getting all the way to Sacramento. “WOW, 55 years!! Tower of Power is heading coast to coast in 2023 to celebrate 55 years of being a band,” Castillo went on. Most recently TOP was rejoined by former member Mike Bogart and is now being led by vocalist and one-time performer on the Voice, Mike Jerel. In its current formation, the band features original members Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka and David Garibaldi, along with longtime members Jerry Cortez, Roger Smith, Tom Politzer, Adolfo Acosta and Marc van Wageningen. He came in the band and we eventually changed our name to the Tower of Power.” I met Doc back in 1968 and gave him an audition. “Rocco was the bass player, I was there and my brother was the drummer. “We were a soul band called the Motowns,” shared founder and bandleader Emilio Castillo. The tour raps from the West Coast down through the Southeast, performing in marquee theaters and performing arts centers. Tower of Power will be hitting the road in January to celebrate the 55 years of genre-shaping music, including a stop in Buffalo, NY with the Buffalo Philharmonic. The band, known for their iconic hits such as “You’re Still A Young Man,” “What is Hip?” and “So Very Hard To Go” has been leaving their fans wowed since their earliest days in Oakland. Bay Area funk and soul pioneers, Tower of Power, have detailed the kick-off to their 55th anniversary tour. ![]()
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