Tower of power band members full#

You wish, you hope, you stand back, you think how something could be, and then you think, What’s it really gonna be like? That’s pretty much me –- fantasizing about what might never happen! (Laughs.) It’s like love at first sight-you let it happen, then six months later, you stand back and say, “Now what is this really all about?” Ultimately, reality - being realistic - is the big ticket for me.

Tower of power band members full#

Am I hopeful? That’s a little too desperate sounding (Laughs.) Am I optimistic? Yeah, that sounds about right the glass sounds more half full that way! Am I a worrier? Well, sometimes it’s hard not to worry. Other times we’re our biggest roadblocks. The cause of my liver transplant, for instance. If you want to get to know me, good luck! (Laughs.) I can be very sarcastic, but that’s just to pass the time! Seriously, if I don’t like you, trust me, I’m not gonna mess with you! Do unto others – that’s my Golden Rule. I’m always amazed at the way we perceive each other - or misread each other, is more like it. That’s the beauty of being in this band - we’re a group, and yet we’re individuals. That’s still the biggest nut for me, and when those times happen it’s always special. I love those moments on stage when we get into that “zone.” Your hands are right, you’re alone, the time is yours. Whether I’m ghosting, muting, going for that 16th note – our individual styles are so distinct. A lot of that has to do with the way David (Garibaldi) plays, and the horn section plays, and the way I play, of course. If we change the way we play, if we change our approach to the music, it won’t be us.

“Change” is a tricky thing when it comes to Tower of Power. Finding that balance – it’s a matter of growing up, and we do it in our own sweet time. At my age now, you want to create a consistency in your music, and the way you lead your life. When we were younger, the highs were higher, the lows were lower. And I think the same is true of my emotional growth.

It’s certainly easier to get from point A to B. In terms of my artistic growth, I think it’s fair to say I’m more relaxed and confident about my approach to music. Thank God I happened to be in the right place at just the right time. So its been an honor and a privilege to be able to grow as an artist, as a player, in this band. They bounce around bands and sessions they don’t have the opportunity to cultivate a sound. A lot of cats – great players – never get that chance. I’m proud I’ve had a vehicle like Tower of Power to develop a personal style. But they better do it fast – I may not live long enough! (Laughs.) Being a so-called ”legend,” well that’s flattering and all but believe me, I don’t spend a lot of energy thinking about it! (Laughs.) A lot of guys tell me, ‘I know all your licks.’ And I’ll tell them, ‘That’s nice, now learn your own!’ My thing has always been to steal and incorporate, then take those influences - Motown, James Brown, Memphis – to another level. My talent isn’t for me to define – that’s a job for other people. I’ve been blessed on so many levels, I can’t count them all. 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).This life is such an amazing process. 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.