| For the episode of the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon TV series, see Tower of Power (TMNT 1987 episode).Mic Gillette, Greg Adams, Skip Mesquite, Brent Byars, Lenny Williams, Lenny Pickett, Carmen Grillo, Jeff Tamelier, Tom Bowes, Brent Carter, and others...History
2 Discography
2.The Motowns', including bassist Francis 'Rocco' Prestia, specializing in soul music covers.They changed the band's name to 'Tower of Power' and began playing frequently in the Bay Area.They moved to Warner Bros.The latter album contained possibly their most enduring song, "What is Hip?"Billboard Pop Album chart in 1973 and recerived a gold record award for sales in excess of 500,000.During the later 1970's, 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.Lenny Pickett, drummer David Garibaldi, bassist Francis 'Rocco' Prestia, 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 70's thru early 80's.The other original vocalist, Rufus Miller, performed most of the lead vocals on 'East Bay Grease'.ToP veteran guitarist Jeff Tamelier, and even more recently departed again, after slightly more than a year, quoting personal recording projects and health issues.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.The ToP horn section has appeared on many artists' recordings, including Little Feat, the Monkees, Santana, Elton John, Linda Lewis, RAD.Tower's early song, 'So Very Hard To Go' was featured in the soundtrack of the 2002 film City of God.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.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".Studio albums
1970: East Bay Grease
1972: Bump City
1973: Tower of Power
1974: Back to Oakland
1974: Urban Renewal
1975: In The Slot
1976: Ain't Nothin' Stoppin' Us Now
1978: We Came To Play!The Billboard Hot 100)
1972: "Down to the Nightclub", No."This Time It's Real", No."Don't Change Horses (In the Middle of a Stream)", No.See Copyrights for details.New guitarist joins the band!NEW Live in Germany DVD!Tower Of Power has gone back into the studio to record a new album...When everyone is on the same page, when everyone is firing on all pistons, I get goose bumps playing with Tower of Power.At any one moment the rhythm section can change the feel.Anything with a trumpet was interesting to me.Mic and Greg put into their performances.They take music very seriously in the Navy.You have to audition for the music program even before you apply.Navy as a working musician!It came at a time when I needed discipline and focus.Musically and emotionally, I really came of age.For ten years I was given the opportunity to work on my technique.On any given day our repertoire was extensive: marches in the morning, big band rehearsals in the afternoon, jazz combo standards at night.Plus, I played in Top 40 groups.But Lee Thornburgh, who used to play trumpet with Tower, heard us do those songs one night.Even Doc (Kupka) called to say he was sorry, that if another opportunity arose, he would do his best to make it happen.For more than a quarter of a century, Tower Of Power has worn its very funky heart on its very funky sleeve.It's right there in the title of their steaming new Epic album: SOULED OUT.TOP leader Emilio Castillo.That's what we are, that's what we always will be.We write soul tunes, we play them.But Tower Of Power ain't coming back, 'cause Tower Of Power ain't never left.Souled Out, Taxed To The Max).Those legendary TOP horns roar like the devil, while new vocalist Brent Carter sings like an angel.Carter spent several years on the road with Regina Belle, each night stepping into Peabo Bryson's big shoes for the A Whole New World duet.When word reached Carter at his home in Atlanta that Tower Of Power was auditioning singers, he mailed a tape to Emilio Castillo."He called me back, said he liked my voice, wanted me to come out and audition," Brent recalls."Someone tell me where the money really goes" on Taxed To The Max, you're ready to follow him out the door and down to the halls of Congress.Souled Out showcases a number of Tower Of Power rookies.Barry Danielian worked with the bands of Latin titans Eddie Palmieri and Tito Puente, and on sessions with Bruce Springsteen, Lenny Kravitz, Branford Marsalis and C + C Music Factory.Stevie Wonder and George Duke to Richard Marx and Sheryl Crow.Perhaps the most significant change in the ToP lineup is the departure of longtime trumpet player and horn arranger Greg Adams."We just really concentrated and made the horn arrangements as strong and fresh as we possibly could, but being careful not to step on the vocals."The guys that did the horn arrangements on this record are three of the guys in the section: David Mann and Barry Danielian did theirs together, Bill Churchville did his by himself.And I think the reason for that is because these guys don't have a track record and were hungry to do it, so they just put their whole heart and soul into it.Another surprise is the participation of Jeff Lorber.Kenny G, Dave Koz, Duran Duran and Madonna, Lorber's isn't a name associated with most listeners' definition of soul music.Tower of Power music," says Castillo."When we first started working together, he brought in this set of albums he wanted me to autograph!Brandon Fields also makes a pair of guest appearances on "Soothe You" and "Keep Comin' Back."Castillo, Doc Kupka and Rocco Prestia were there at the creation.By the dawn of the '70s, they were Tower of Power and had already built up a reputation as one of the funkiest live bands in the West, thanks to numerous appearances at Bill Grahams Fillmore West.The audiences have been squirming and writhing ever since.News had the good sense to bring the TOP Horn Section on the road with them for three years; the Rolling Stones, Eurythmics and many others have availed themselves of the section as well.The only other soul horn section this famous belonged to James Brown, and on SOULED OUT ToP pays its respects to James and his JB Horns with the funny and funky "Diggin' On James Brown."Musicians are always quick to tell you not to categorize their music.Tower of Power has no problem having its music categorized.Dave, and all the great singers of soul music.To me those are really the basic ingredients of soul music: great emotion, expressed by great players and singers."Your browser does not support frames!For best results, we recommend that you download the newest version of Netscape now.Windows to use Netsca
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today!See all 22 customer reviews...FSCommands are received by VBScript in IE.Images representing the various track states.Get Tower Of Power Ringtones.Sheet music for Tower of power at Sheet Music Plus.Why not be the first to suggest a search for which it should appear?See all 315 customer reviews...Your vote will be counted and will appear on the product page within 24 hours."Great Sounds from 1973!!!!"So Very Hard To Go" on the radio and thought, "What a great tune!It is a good mix of slower songs and upbeat funk numbers.John etc) was at that time.Though Chicago was very good at what they did, Tower of Power and the Crusaders went to places Chicago could only dream of.This is a great album and a great lost 70's classic.Was this review helpful to you?Tower OF Power everything truly comes together as one on this set.Was this review helpful to you?Good, but needs more funk
This is the only Tower of Power album I own and I really enjoy listening to it.Certain tracks are filled with energy and really capture the band's funky side.IF YOU GOTTA START SOMEWHERE WITH TOWER OF POWER....From the very first cut: "What Is Hip" your party is just gettin' started."So Very Hard To Go", plus the album...Published 18 months ago by R.Funk that's as hot and danceable as it gets
This is one helluva band.This album is too hot to handle.Knock Yourself Out by Lenny Pickett (the guy from Saturday Night Live)2.Be the first person to add an article about this item at Amapedia.Start A Classic Quiet Storm Collection!!Off Your StairMaster and Nautilus Purchase
Purchase a select StairMaster or Nautilus product offered by Amazon.This offer applies only to Amazon.For more about music, check out our blog, Amazon Earworm, and our monthly newsletters, Amazon Delivers.If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.Please note that we are unable to respond directly to all feedback submitted via this form, but we'll ask you to sign in so we can contact you if needed.Track your recent orders.View or change your orders in Your Account.Visit our Help department.Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.Update Your Cell In Under 30 Seconds with Tower Of Power Ringtones.Listen to Tower of Power now.Want More Tower of Power?What: Her energy infused Sessions performance.Highlights: A smokin version of her hit single Tambourine and a killer verse from Party Like a Rockstar.Get behind the scenes footage from other Sessions alums.With over 30 years of recording and touring experience behind them, Tower of Power still garners reviews calling them a "very comtemporary sounding band."Well known in the 70's for tunes such as "What is Hip?""You're Still a Young Man," Tower of Power toured with Sly Stone and Creedence Clearwater Revival, creating traffic jams when they started to headline their own shows.They performed on records with the likes of Elton John, Smokey Robinson, Rod Stewart and Dionne Warwick, and influenced a generation of musicians (including Sting, who has told Emilio Castillo, founder of the group, that he once had a "Tower of Power clone band" before he formed The Police).Then, in the early up's Tower of Power quietly disappeared from sight.Now, Tower of Power is experiencing a renaissance, touring most of every year and packing venues in the United States, Japan and all over Europe with its audience of new and old fans.It has been a long, hard road, but lately, things just keep getting better and better.It has always been difficult to describe TOP's music; even band members, when asked, give a myriad of responses.Says founding member and saxophonist Emilio Castillio, "What Tower plays is urban soul music."Lead singer Brent Carter calls it "old school funk with new school flavor."And says former Tower saxophonist Lenny Pickett, now musical director for the Saturday Night Live television band, "TOP is the world's greatest rhythm and blues band."You have to experience it for yourself, and then, as Tower fans say, "seein is believin'.Greek, was born in Detroit, then moved with his family to a working class neighborhood in the San Francisco Bay Area's Fremont, a place he calls a "hot rod town."There, at 17, he formed a band called the Motowns, performing obscure soul tunes on the East Bay circuit.Castillo hooked up with baritone saxaphonist Stephen "The Funky Doctor" Kupka and the two moved to a house in Oakland determined to compete with the Bay Area's reigning psychedelic rock bands."He loved soul music and that was my passion....Out of their partnership came the beginnings of the Tower of Power repertoire.The first song the pair penned was the band's signature classic, "You're Still a Young Man."The rest is history from "What is Hip?"Business, as well as a live recording, Soul Vaccination: Live!.In late 2001, Warner Brothers released a single CD retrospective, Tower of Power: The Best of the Warner Years.Staunch fans travel miles and hours to see them; some of those fans plan their vacations to coincide with Tower performances.As if that wasn't enough, in between all those tour dates, the Tower of Power Horn Section has somehow found the time to guest on records for a very diverse group of artists from Michael Bolton to Phish.Over the past few years Tower of Power has added new members and a fresh outlook, but the band has always remained true to itself and to its soul music roots, never failing to please audiences.In Germany we wish a good slide into the new year at the end of an old year..You're my absolute favourite band!Hamburg or Cologne in february!Happy Birthday and Happy New Year!!!!!!!Happy Birthday and Happy New Year, Tower Of Power!New Year from Neil Diamond Phillips!HAVE A FUNKY NEW YEAR, BOYS!!What is this a group birthday lol ..Still lovin what you put out and still turning people on to your funk groove..The True Funkmeisters of Funk....Happy Birthday and Happy New year!!May God bless all of you as he has your music!Be safe and peace to all of you!Happy Birthday from Detroit City!You guys were very nice, thanks for the experience!HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND HAVE A BLESSED NEW YEAR!Thanks for including me in your world.Id + " Link: " + targetLink.Id + " Text: " + targetLink.SiteCatalyst code version: H.Tower of Power (read more)
491,666 plays scrobbled on Last.Emilio Castillo moved from Detroit, Michigan, to Fremont, California.They changed the band's name to Tower of Power and began playing frequently in the Bay Area.In 1970, TOP signed a recording contract with Bill Graham's San Francisco Records and quickly released its first album, East Bay Grease.Tower of Power has remained active throughout the 1970s, '80s, '90s, and into the 21st century, and is still touring in 2007.Add this track to your playlist
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What Happened to the World That Day?The only band I've ever heard sound better live than their records and Cds, and I have heard so many.My dad just gave me the Tower of Power vinyl, THIS is hip! |
