On+March+27th,+2018+at+Centennial+Hall+–+London+Bluesfest+is+bringing+in+one+of+the+most+iconic+acts+the+music+world+of+the+last+45+years+-+Tower+of+Power.
Tickets+available+now+at+Centennial+Hall+Box+Office.
World+famous+recording+and+touring+acts+to+facilitate+Tower+of+Power's+horn+section+have+included+Elton+John,+Santana,+Bonnie+Raitt,+Huey+Lewis,+Little+Feat,+David+Sanborn,+Michelle+Shocked,+Paula+Abdul,+Aaron+Neville,+Aerosmith,+Public+Image+Ltd., +Larry+Graham's+Graham+Central+Station,+The+Monkees,+Grateful+Dead,+Carlos,+Journey,+Elkie+Brooks,+Cat+Stevens+(on+his+Foreigner+Suite),+Luis+Miguel,+Linda+Lewis,+rad.+(Rose+Ann+Dimalanta),+Jermaine+Jackson,+John+Lee+Hooker,+Helen+Reddy,+Rufus,+Rod+Stewart,+Jefferson+Starship,+Mickey+Hart,+Heart,+Damn+Yankees,+Frankie+Valli,+Spyro+Gyra,+KMFDM,+Lyle+Lovett,+Poison,+Phish,+Toto,+Pharoahe+Monch,+Brothers+Johnson,+and+Sam+The+Band,+among+many+other+acts.
The+renowned+horn-driven+funk+outfit+Tower+of+Power+have+been+issuing+albums+and+touring+the+world+steadily+since+the+early+'70s,+in+addition+to+backing+up+countless+other+musicians.+The+group's+leader+since+the+beginning+has+always+been+tenor+saxophonist+Emilio+Castillo,+who+was+born+in+Detroit+but+opted+to+pursue+his+musical+dreams+in+Oakland,+California.
It+was+in+Oakland+that+Castillo+put+together+a+group+called+the+Motowns,+which,+as+their+name+suggested,+specialized+in+'60s-era+soul.+In+1967,+Castillo+teamed+up+with+baritone+sax+player+Stephen+"Doc"+Kupka,+and+soon+the+Motowns+were+transformed+into+Tower+of+Power.+(One+of+the+first+tunes+the+duo+penned+together+was+"You're+Still+a+Young+Man,"+which+would+eventually+go+on+to+be+one+of+Tower+of+Power's+signature+compositions.)
Tower+of+Power+played+regularly+in+the+Bay+Area+throughout+the+late+'60s,+as+their+lineup+often+swelled+up+to+ten+members,+including+such+other+mainstays+as+Greg+Adams+on+trumpet+and+vocals,+Lenny+Pickett+on+sax,+and+Rocco+Prestia+on+bass.
By+1970,+the+funk+outfit+had+inked+a+recording+contract+with+Bill+Graham's+San+Francisco+Records,+resulting+in+the+group's+debut+the+same+year,+East+Bay+Grease,+which+failed+to+make+an+impression+on+the+charts+as+Tower+of+Power+were+still+trying+to+find+their+own+sound.
But+it+soon+came+together+for+the+group,+as+1972's+Bump+City+would+touch+off+a+string+of+classic+hit+albums,+including+1973's+self-titled+release+(which+introduced+vocalist+Lenny+Williams+and+included+another+of+the+group's+most+enduring+tunes,+"What+Is+Hip?"),+1974's+Back+to+Oakland,+and+1975's+Urban+Renewal+and+In+the+Slot.
While+Tower+of+Power+remained+a+must-see+live+act,+as+disco+became+the+new+trend+in+R&B+the+group's+original+funk-laden+style+fell+out+of+favor,+and+disco-oriented+albums+like+1978's+We+Came+to+Play+and+1979's+Back+on+the+Streets+didn't+please+critics+or+fans,+and+the+band+would+go+nine+years+without+releasing+an+album.
In+1988,+Tower+of+Power+returned+to+the+studio+for+the+album+Power,+and+in+1991+they+signed+with+Epic+Records,+where+they+released+five+albums+by+the+end+of+the+decade.
Into+the+new+millennium,+Tower+of+Power+kept+up+their+reputation+as+a+strong+live+band,+maintaining+a+steady+touring+schedule,+and+in+2009+they+launched+their+own+TOP+Records+label+with+The+Great+American+Soulbook,+in+which+they+covered+a+dozen+soul+and+R&B+classics+in+the+trademark+Tower+of+Power+style.+In+2007,+Tower+of+Power+celebrated+their+fourth+decade+together+with+a+special+concert+at+San+Francisco's+Fillmore+Auditorium,+and+a+year+later+the+show+was+issued+in+a+special+CD/DVD+package,+simply+titled+40th+Anniversary.
In+2013,+Tower+of+Power+took+a+look+back+with+the+release+of+Hipper+Than+Hip:+Yesterday,+Today+&+Tomorrow,+which+documented+a+live+radio+broadcast+from+1974.+The+band+members+also+announced+they+would+be+touring+in+2013+and+2014+with+two+other+iconic+acts+from+Northern+California,+Journey+and+the+Steve+Miller+Band.
Tower of Power Live at Centennial Hall
On March 27th, 2018 at Centennial Hall – London Bluesfest is bringing in one of the most iconic acts the music world of the last 45 years - Tower of Power.
Tickets available now at Centennial Hall Box Office.
World famous recording and touring acts to facilitate Tower of Power's horn section have included Elton John, Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Huey Lewis, Little Feat, David Sanborn, Michelle Shocked, Paula Abdul, Aaron Neville, Aerosmith, Public Image Ltd., Larry Graham's Graham Central Station, The Monkees, Grateful Dead, Carlos, Journey, Elkie Brooks, Cat Stevens (on his Foreigner Suite), Luis Miguel, Linda Lewis, rad. (Rose Ann Dimalanta), Jermaine Jackson, John Lee Hooker, Helen Reddy, Rufus, Rod Stewart, Jefferson Starship, Mickey Hart, Heart, Damn Yankees, Frankie Valli, Spyro Gyra, KMFDM, Lyle Lovett, Poison, Phish, Toto, Pharoahe Monch, Brothers Johnson, and Sam The Band, among many other acts.
The renowned horn-driven funk outfit Tower of Power have been issuing albums and touring the world steadily since the early '70s, in addition to backing up countless other musicians. The group's leader since the beginning has always been tenor saxophonist Emilio Castillo, who was born in Detroit but opted to pursue his musical dreams in Oakland, California.
It was in Oakland that Castillo put together a group called the Motowns, which, as their name suggested, specialized in '60s-era soul. In 1967, Castillo teamed up with baritone sax player Stephen "Doc" Kupka, and soon the Motowns were transformed into Tower of Power. (One of the first tunes the duo penned together was "You're Still a Young Man," which would eventually go on to be one of Tower of Power's signature compositions.)
Tower of Power played regularly in the Bay Area throughout the late '60s, as their lineup often swelled up to ten members, including such other mainstays as Greg Adams on trumpet and vocals, Lenny Pickett on sax, and Rocco Prestia on bass.
By 1970, the funk outfit had inked a recording contract with Bill Graham's San Francisco Records, resulting in the group's debut the same year, East Bay Grease, which failed to make an impression on the charts as Tower of Power were still trying to find their own sound.
But it soon came together for the group, as 1972's Bump City would touch off a string of classic hit albums, including 1973's self-titled release (which introduced vocalist Lenny Williams and included another of the group's most enduring tunes, "What Is Hip?"), 1974's Back to Oakland, and 1975's Urban Renewal and In the Slot.
While Tower of Power remained a must-see live act, as disco became the new trend in R&B the group's original funk-laden style fell out of favor, and disco-oriented albums like 1978's We Came to Play and 1979's Back on the Streets didn't please critics or fans, and the band would go nine years without releasing an album.
In 1988, Tower of Power returned to the studio for the album Power, and in 1991 they signed with Epic Records, where they released five albums by the end of the decade.
Into the new millennium, Tower of Power kept up their reputation as a strong live band, maintaining a steady touring schedule, and in 2009 they launched their own TOP Records label with The Great American Soulbook, in which they covered a dozen soul and R&B classics in the trademark Tower of Power style. In 2007, Tower of Power celebrated their fourth decade together with a special concert at San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium, and a year later the show was issued in a special CD/DVD package, simply titled 40th Anniversary.
In 2013, Tower of Power took a look back with the release of Hipper Than Hip: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, which documented a live radio broadcast from 1974. The band members also announced they would be touring in 2013 and 2014 with two other iconic acts from Northern California, Journey and the Steve Miller Band.
Tickets