![]() ![]() The group have released 19 albums during their incarnation. In 2008, Tower Of Power celebrated their 40th anniversary with shows across the States Rhythm and business - 1997 / live - 1999 / the oakland zone - 2003 / hipper than hip - 2013 They have collaborated with the likes of Little Feat, Graham Central Station, The Monkees, Grateful Dead, Santana, Elkie Brooks, Cat Stevens, Luis Miguel, Elton John, Linda Lewis, Jermaine Jackson, John Lee Hooker, Helen Reddy, Rufus, Rod Stewart, Jefferson Starship, Mickey Hart, Heart, Huey Lewis and the News, Spyro Gyra, Lyle Lovett, Toto, Brothers Johnson, and Aerosmith. Tower Of Power’s horn section has been very much in demand over the years. Power - 1987 / monster on a leash - 1991 / t.o.p. The group continued to release albums, and tour extensively throughout the eighties, nineties and into the new millennium. We came to play - 1978 / back on the streets - 1979 / direct - 1981 / t.o.p. Urban renewal - 1974 / in the slot - 1975 / ain't nothin' stoppin us now - 1976 / live and in living colour - 1976įurther albums followed, including ‘Urban Renewal’ (in 1974), ‘In The Slot’ (in 1975) and ‘We Came To Play’ (in 1978). In 1974, the group released ‘Back to Oakland’, which featured ‘Don't Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream)’ and ‘Time Will Tell’, both of which charted. Their most successful single so far, ‘So Very Hard To Go’, featured on the album, along with ‘This Time It's Real’ and ‘What Is Hip?’ This album featured Lenny Williams on lead vocals, which reached number 15 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart. Tower of power (lenny williams - front/centre) The song reached number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100.Ī follow up album called simply ‘Tower of Power’, was released in 1973. ![]() ![]() In 1972, they released ‘Bump City’, which featured a hit single, ‘You're Still a Young Man’. The group soon switched labels to the Warner Brothers Records imprint. The group signed to San Francisco Records and released their first album, ‘East Bay Grease’ in 1970.Īs a session band, Tower Of Power performed with the likes of Cold Blood, Eric Mercury and Marvin Gaye. They had also added to their ranks, Greg Adams, Mic Gillette, Skip Mesquite, Francis ‘Rocco’ Prestia, Willie Fulton, and David Garibaldi.Įast bay grease - 1970 / bump city - 1972 / tower of power - 1973 / back to oakland - 1974 This duo became the central structure of Tower of Power.Īt this time, the group performed under the name, The Motowns.īy 1970, they renamed the group, Tower of Power. 10th April 1954, Las Cruces, New Mexico)įrom Oakland, California, that year, saxophonist Emilio Castillo met Stephen ‘Doc’ Kupka, who was also a sax player. Leonard Charles Williams, 6th February 1945, Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.A.) 4th November 1946, Oakland, California, U.S.A.) 7th March 1951, Sonora, California, U.S.A.)ĭavid Garibaldi (b. Taking over the role of lead singer and front person is Marcus Scott. 25th March 1946, Berkeley, California, U.S.A.)įrancis 'Rocco' Prestia (b. They are backed up by keyboardist Roger Smith, guitarist Jerry Cortez, longtime drummer David Garibaldi and new comer on bass, Marc van Wageningen (Marc VW). 24th September 1950, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A) Politzer (since 2002), guitarist Jerry Cortez (since 2010), vocalist and trombonist Ray Greene (from 2013 to 2016, and since 2021), bassist Marc van Wageningen (since 2018), and trumpeter Mike Bogart (from 2000 to 2009, and since 2021).In 1967 in Oakland, California, U.S.A., Tower Of Power, at various times, comprise of:Įmilio Castillo (b. The rest of the original lineup included vocalist Rufus Miller, guitarist Willie James Fulton, bassist Francis Rocco Prestia and drummer David Garibaldi.Ĭastillo and Kupka remain the only constant members of TOP, the current incarnation of which also features Garibaldi (who mostly recently rejoined for a fourth tenure in the band in 1998), keyboardist Roger Smith (since 1998), trumpeter Adolfo Acosta (since 2000), tenor saxophonist Tom E. Formed in August 1968, the group is centred around a horn section which originally featured tenor saxophonists Emilio "Mimi" Castillo and Steven "Skip" Mesquite, baritone saxophonist Stephen "Doc" Kupka, and trumpeters Greg Adams, David Padron, Mic Gillette and Ken Balzell. Tower of Power (TOP) is an American rhythm and blues band from Oakland, California. ![]()
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