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Tower of Power

Tower's 40 plus year odyssey actually began in 1968 when Emilio Castillo met Stephen "Doc" Kupka in July of that year. When Doc auditioned during a band rehearsal at Emilio's house, Emilio's father called him into the kitchen and offered the following advice: "Hire that guy, he's got something." Doc and his signature baritone sax sound were now in the band, and on August 13, 1968, Tower of Power, as we know them today, began playing gigs, and soon became very well known in the area.

Many other bands came out of the San Francisco Bay area in the late 60's. Bands like The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Big Brother, Journey, Cold Blood and others all helped to define the "San Francisco Sound." Tower of Power has always claimed Oakland, California as their hometown. Playing area venues and making a name for themselves, Tower of Power's big break was just around the corner.

After playing at a Tuesday night audition at the Fillmore in 1970, Tower was signed to Bill Graham’s San Francisco records and their first album, “East Bay Grease,” was recorded. All of the compositions were original tunes written by Castillo and Kupka. Their next album, “Bump City,” was recorded on the Warner Brothers label, and this led to a string of hits and memorable albums that include many of the songs that TOP fans come out in force to hear, even to this day. Over the years, the Tower of Power Horns have recorded with hundreds of artists as diverse as Aerosmith, Elton John, Little Feat, Phish, Santana, Heart, and many others, forever infusing the radio airwaves with Tower’s musical DNA.

Since the beginning, Tower of Power has never stopped touring and recording. Always in demand, the band never fails to entertain and amaze their fans. Tower is truly blessed to have a dedicated following that often travels to see the band, and in many cases fans will plan their vacation or work schedule around an appearance of TOP.Tower celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2008 at a very special reunion show at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. In addition to the ten current members of the band, another 20 musicians and vocalists that at one time held a position with the band appeared with them. The show was filmed and will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray later this year. Of the ten current members, Emilio Castillo, Rocco Prestia, Stephen Kupka, and David Garibaldi are four of the band’s founding members. Their dedication to the music, their creative writing, and their original vision still guides Tower of Power.

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Profile

Ain’t Nothing Stopping Us Now: The Tower Of Power Story

Read "Ain’t Nothing Stopping Us Now: The Tower Of Power Story" reviewed by Jason Elias


For over 50 years Tower of Power has been the favorite of those who love R&B/soul, funk and sophisticated jazz. While the band is often known for its revolving door of lead singers, the band's founders, Emilio Castillo (saxophone) and Stephen “Doc" Kupka (baritone sax) have remained their constant. The Bay Area band's first album East Bay Grease was released on Bill Graham's San Francisco Records. The effort became known for its immediately recognizable horn arrangements and energy, especially on ...

5
Live Review

Tower of Power at the Paramount Theatre

Read "Tower of Power at the Paramount Theatre" reviewed by Steven Roby


Tower of Power Paramount Theatre Denver, CO August 11, 2023 Debuting in 1968 as The Motowns, the gritty horn-led band paid its dues by playing San Francisco Bay Area clubs and county fairs while developing its signature funk style. Their tight horn section and foot-stomping rhythms set them apart from their fellow Bay Area brass rock counterparts, like Cold Blood and the Sons of Champlin. After changing their name to Tower of Power, and with ...

10
Album Review

Tower of Power: 50 Years of Funk and Soul

Read "50 Years of Funk and Soul" reviewed by John Pietaro


In the realm of power funk and jazz-rock, Tower of Power was an original voice, one carved from a unique place within an exceptionally heady moment. And this convergence of forces, clearly, has yet to cool some 53 years hence. Horns? They've carried up to six at a time, to hell with diminished door splits. A big band of scorching funk, Tower of Power traces its roots to 1968 Oakland, where it flourished in a thicket of sound ...

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Live Review

Tower Of Power With Special Guests War: Westbury, NY, April 18, 2012

Read "Tower Of Power With Special Guests War: Westbury, NY, April 18, 2012" reviewed by Mike Perciaccante


Tower of Power with Special Guests War NYCB Theatre at Westbury Westbury, New York April 18, 2012 The Funk and Soul were flowing freely as Tower of Power and War both performed virtuoso sets at the NYCB Theater in Westbury, NY on this slightly chilly and overcast April evening.At precisely 8pm, War took the stage to a smattering of claps and a few whistles. It wasn't very long after the band had played a ...

453
Album Review

Tower of Power: Great American Soulbook

Read "Great American Soulbook" reviewed by Woodrow Wilkins


For more than 40 years, Tower of Power has been thrilling audiences with its brassy sound. Whether as a stand-alone act or backing up another group, this 10-piece ensemble has crossed many genres, including blues, pop, jazz, funk, rock and soul. Having worked with such a diversity of acts as Aerosmith and Spyro Gyra, the band has accumulated an extensive repertoire. Now, tapping into a recent trend of artists remaking old hits, Tower of Power puts a slight ...

333
Album Review

Tower of Power: Rhythm & Business

Read "Rhythm & Business" reviewed by Dave Hughes


The band with the world's most famous horn section continues to funk it up after almost 30 years. While the '80s were lean times for TOP, their four albums released so far in the '90s ( Monster on a Leash, T.O.P., Souled Out, and this current release) have been on par with those from their heyday in the mid-'70s.

While Rhythm & Business is a worthwhile addition to T.O.P.'s discography, it doesn't rise to the top. In fact, I think ...

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Video / DVD

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: 50 years of Tower of Power

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: 50 years of Tower of Power

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This week, our video spotlight is focused on Tower of Power, who will be coming to St. Louis to perform next Saturday, August 11 at River City Casino. Touring this summer to celebrate 50 years as a band and to support a newly released album called Soul Side of Town, TOP under the direction of co-founder and tenor saxophonist Emilio Castillo has maintained its signature sound through dozens of personnel changes and shows no sign of slowing down. You can ...

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Music Industry

Tony Adamo and Roger Smith of Tower Of Power Collaborate on "Rain Man Make it Rain Love my Way"— Becomes All About Jazz Top Track

Tony Adamo and Roger Smith of Tower Of Power Collaborate on "Rain Man Make it Rain Love my Way"— Becomes All About Jazz Top Track

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Tony Adamo on his collaboration with Roger Smith... My Tower of Power (TOP) connection goes back more than 20 years to a recording session in Dave Hartel’s studio in Half Moon Bay, California. Hartel was the organ player for Lydia Pense and Cold Blood at the time, and brought in Mic Gillette and Skip Mesquite to lay down the horn tracks on one of my new songs. From that session Mic and I became fast friends. He continued to write ...

Video / DVD

Tower of Power: Soul Side

Tower of Power: Soul Side

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

In 1970, most of the surging white brass bands that played pop-rock were heavily jazz influenced. The list included Blood Sweat & Tears, Chicago, the Flock, Collective Consciousness Society and the Ides of March. And then there was Tower of Power, a largely white band influenced by the soul-funk feel of the Mar-Keys, the James Brown Orchestra and other high-voltage R&B brass bands. I remember when East Bay Grease was released in 1970. The cover was very cool—a black map ...

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Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Bill Frisell, Houston Person, Tower of Power, Steve Tyrell, Marvin Horne, Reptet, St. Louis Jazz Club Picnic, and More

Jazz This Week: Bill Frisell, Houston Person, Tower of Power, Steve Tyrell, Marvin Horne, Reptet, St. Louis Jazz Club Picnic, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

It's going to be a busy few days for jazz and creative music in St. Louis, and time is short, so let's go to the highlights without further preamble... Tonight, tenor saxophonist Houston Person is back to open a four-night stand at Jazz at the Bistro. Equally adepts at blues, bop and ballads, Person has played in St. Louis several times in recent years, most recently at Jazz St. Louis' benefit gala in February 2010, and before that, at the ...

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Music Industry

Tower of Power - Three Nights at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston, April 19-21, 2011

Tower of Power - Three Nights at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston, April 19-21, 2011

Source: MassJazz: Jazz in Massachusetts


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Performance / Tour

Tower of Power to Play Saturday, May 14 at Lumiere Place

Tower of Power to Play Saturday, May 14 at Lumiere Place

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

The jazz-influenced funk and soul band Tower of Power (pictured) is coming back to St. Louis for shows at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 14 at the Lumiere Place casino's Lumiere Theatre. TOP last performed in the St. Louis area in September 2006 at the Argosy Alton Casino. Since then, they've released several recordings, including 2008's East Bay Archives, Volume 1, a compilation of 18 TOP tunes from the 1970s; 2009's Great American Soulbook, a covers album ...

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Festival

Telluride Jazz Fest: Tower of Power, Walter, Roberts and Deitch, Bad Plus

Telluride Jazz Fest: Tower of Power, Walter, Roberts and Deitch, Bad Plus

Source: JamBase

JAZZ, FUNK, BLUES, WINE, YOGA, PARADISE Telluride Jazz Celebration is enjoying its 35th Anniversary year of bringing world-class music to the town of Telluride, Colorado. All attendees are invited to enjoy three days of music, a complimentary wine tasting with over 20 varietals on Friday evening, morning yoga in the park and unparalleled views. Telluride Jazz is held in Town Park. Jazz After Dark concerts take place in four historic venues throughout Telluride including The Sheridan Opera House and Fly ...

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Recording

Tower of Power's "Great American Soulbook" Enters Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Charts at Number 3

Tower of Power's "Great American Soulbook" Enters Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Charts at Number 3

Source: Anne Leighton

Tower of Power's Great American Soulbook album, which features covers of classic soul songs has entered Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Charts at Number 3. It is the highest placing debut album of the week. The album has also entered the Soundscan Jazz charts for record sales at Number 6. Great American Soulbook features guest vocalists. Sir Tom Jones duets on Sam and Dave's “I Thank You." Joss Stone shares two songs and Tammi Terrel and Marvin Gaye's “(Heaven Must Have Sent) ...

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Recording

New Tower of Power CD Revisits Classic Soul

New Tower of Power CD Revisits Classic Soul

Source: Billboard Magazine

Tower of Power turned 40 in 2008, but the group is commemorating the anniversary with two special releases -- an album and DVD -- in the new year. The venerable R&B/rock outfit expects to release “The Great American Soulbook" during the first quarter of 2009 on its own Tower of Power Records imprint. As the title suggests. it's a collection of covers, ranging from obscurities (Stevie Wonder's “You Met Your Match") to well-known favorites. “We really didn't want to do ...

154

Festival

30th Playboy Jazz Festival on June 14-15 Stars Hancock, Jarreau, Dr. John, Tower of Power, More

30th Playboy Jazz Festival on June 14-15 Stars Hancock, Jarreau, Dr. John, Tower of Power, More

Source: All About Jazz

The 30th annual Playboy Jazz Festival, one of the largest jazz festivals in the nation, will be staged in the Hollywood Bowl on June 14 and 15, 2008.

The diverse program in the 18,000-seat outdoor amphitheater will feature mainstream and contemporary jazz, big bands, R&B and Latin sounds. Among the headliners will be Herbie Hancock, Al Jarreau, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dr. John, Poncho Sanchez, Tower of Power, Keb' Mo', the all-women's band DIVA and RnR (Rick Braun-Richard Elliott).

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Jesse Dietschi
bass, acoustic
Very Cool People
band / ensemble / orchestra
SoulCal
band / ensemble / orchestra
Ronald Wayne
multi-instrumentalist
Drew Schultz
producer

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

50 Years of Funk and...

Mack Avenue Records
2021

buy

Great American...

Self Produced
2009

buy

Oakland Zone

Warner Bros. Records
2003

buy

What Is Hip? The...

Warner Bros. Records
1999

buy

Live

Warner Bros. Records
1999

buy

Soul Vaccination:...

Warner Bros. Records
1999

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