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Tower of Power
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Tower of Power is a horn-based funk/soul band from Oakland, California. In the mid-1960s, 17-year-old tenor saxophonist Emilio Castillo moved from Detroit, Michigan, to Fremont, California. He started a band called the Motowns, specializing in soul music. In 1968, Castillo teamed up with baritone saxophonist Stephen “The Funky Doctor” Kupka and trumpet/trombone player Mic Gillette, moved to Oakland, and began writing original material. 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. 1972’s Bump City and 1973’s self-titled release were breakout albums for the band; the latter included possibly their most enduring song, What is Hip?.
Tower of Power has remained active throughout the 1970s, ’80s, ’90s, and into the 21st century, and is still touring in 2007. Personnel changes have been part of the history and evolution of the band; at least 60 musicians have performed, toured, and/or recorded with the band through the years, including Saturday Night Live musical director Lenny Pickett, drummer David Garibaldi, bassist Rocco Prestia, and bassist and BALCO founder Victor Conte. (His brother Bruce Conte played guitar in the band as well.) Lenny Williams served as lead singer for several years after one of the original singers, Rick Stevens was imprisoned. Rufus Miller performed most of the lead vocals on “East Bay Grease.”
In 1970, TOP signed a recording contract with Bill Graham’s San Francisco Records and quickly released its first album, East Bay Grease. 1972’s Bump City and 1973’s self-titled release were breakout albums for the band; the latter included possibly their most enduring song, What is Hip?.
Tower of Power has remained active throughout the 1970s, ’80s, ’90s, and into the 21st century, and is still touring in 2007. Personnel changes have been part of the history and evolution of the band; at least 60 musicians have performed, toured, and/or recorded with the band through the years, including Saturday Night Live musical director Lenny Pickett, drummer David Garibaldi, bassist Rocco Prestia, and bassist and BALCO founder Victor Conte. (His brother Bruce Conte played guitar in the band as well.) Lenny Williams served as lead singer for several years after one of the original singers, Rick Stevens was imprisoned. Rufus Miller performed most of the lead vocals on “East Bay Grease.”
Top Albums
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Tower Of Power
Tower of Power
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T.O.P.
Tower of Power Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $8.99
- 7digital $9.99
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $11.98
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Soul Vaccination: Tower Of Power Live
Tower of Power Buy- Download Album
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East Bay Grease
Tower of Power Buy- Download Album
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Top Tracks
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What Is Hip?
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| 2 |
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So Very Hard to Go
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Diggin' on James Brown
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| 4 |
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Soul Vaccination
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| 5 |
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You're Still a Young Man
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| 6 |
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Souled Out
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| 7 |
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So I Got to Groove
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| 8 |
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You Got to Funkifize
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| 9 |
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I Like Your Style
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| 10 |
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Soul With a Capital 's'
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Can't You See (You Doin' Me Wrong)
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Shoutbox
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Kammo wrote:
wish the singer would just shut up and bring up the bass
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ellepharaoh wrote:
Damn good.
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shadoerip wrote:
some of the best ever!!
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Doppelgamer wrote:
Hot damn, this is some of my favorite music.
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jellian wrote:
I am off to see them in November in London. It cannot come soon enough. I am going to jizz at the sound of the horn section live and Rocco bringing that damn funkay shiz I vibe to. Oh boy it's gonna be heavy.
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Burbaz wrote:
Waiting anxiously for the concert in Oslo 17th Nov!!!
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mauihollyday wrote:
I spent the summer of '84 following these guys around the Bay Area...
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Maladyjazz wrote:
Please check out "Mr. Toad's Wildride." It is one of the most powerful, awesome pieces of music I've ever heard. It has everything and it builds and builds. I can't say enough good things about that song!!! GOD BLESS YOU TOWER OF POWER. I haven't bought that CD again yet. Much love!!
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deannanumber3 wrote:
my jazz teacherr said to see them at the jazz festtt.. theyre beasttt.
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PrinceAmled wrote:
"To Say The Least You're The Most" Is the best song
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rhynoze wrote:
sexy soul <3
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TJSlipperman wrote:
Awesome 70s-r&b/soul/jazz group. When I was in the marching band back in High School we used to play a lot of their songs as part of our marching shows. 8)
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server0820 wrote:
Old school and still great, takes me right back to Frisco, Korea and times when funk was all there was. the word to this song are so true. Old school always................................
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squeelo wrote:
You guys are BURNIN'!!! I love it!!!
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don2face wrote:
me and mrs jones <3
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Nugeine wrote:
tight band
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don2face wrote:
YOUR STILL A YOUNG MAN <3
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Ralphfromcheeks wrote:
best funk Band ever
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GrooveMann wrote:
East Bay Groove!! Move your body
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Diamondgirl88 wrote:
Got to see this fantastic band in at the Academy Theatre in Lindsay, Ontario. Capacity: 650...talk about intimate setting! Blew the roof of da house! As good now as they were back then! Treat yourself if they come to your town!
Videos
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Events
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Mar
24
Tower of Power
Wilbur Theatre, Boston, United States
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| 1 attendee
- Mar 25 Tower of Power B.B. King Blues Club and Grill, New York, United States
Listeners
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LucyVanGiebel
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to What Is Hip? -
aboegh
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to So Very Hard to Go (live) -
Phoenix03
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sakumaken
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WillyGilmour
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Recent Activity
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Quicksand227 wrote about Tower of Power in My Year In Music - 2009. 3 hours ago
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FlauschkatzNr1, mahagdaGandhi, nicolehanabata and 27 other people added Tower of Power to their libraries. 7 hours ago
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Oskari90 tagged Tower of Power with disco funk, funky jazz, 60s and 14 other tags. Monday morning
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ramshead33, marylandblues, oemesh and 10 other people added Tower of Power to their libraries. Monday morning
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Saveall tagged Tower of Power with funk and soul. Saturday evening
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maruchang, michael3151995, qiewie99 and 34 other people added Tower of Power to their libraries. Saturday afternoon
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tom_dissonance wrote about Tower of Power – Urban Renewal in February mixtape (late). March 2009
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