![]() “We also never get tired of playing the old favorites. “We never just go through the motions and present our songs like it’s a nostalgia show. “We still got very excited about each show we do,” Castillo said. That passion is evident when Tower of Power, which will deliver the hits and holiday favorites at the Fox, performs live.Įven though the band has been on the road since the Flower Power era, Castillo and his mates deliver their material with considerable energy and enthusiasm. We obviously spend more time on our own music. “What most people don’t know is that it doesn’t take us long to knock something out. “We’re good at working in the studio with other artists. “We’ve always been able to work both sides of the fence without a problem,” Castillo said. How the band has balanced recording its own material and myriad sessions is quite an accomplishment. Tower of Power has recorded 19 studio albums. When we perform it’s always interesting since we have so much to choose from when it comes to our set list.” We’re just fortunate to have that since people still come out to experience our music. ![]() “I can’t explain why our songs have that timeless quality. But we still got airplay and I appreciate that. “Those kinds of recording artists hit the top of the charts. “I don’t know why that is since we don’t have hits like Mariah Carey or the Doobie Brothers,” Castillo said. The band’s sonic potpourri remains resonant. “I didn’t want to know about God, but I became a believer and my life has become so much better.”Ĭastillo, 73, still has the music. “I came to Jesus Christ in 2004,” Castillo said. “But I don’t remember all of it, since I made every mistake known to man, but I sobered up in 1988 and life became much better.”Ĭastillo has said goodbye to the bottle and, nearly 20 years later, embraced Christianity. “It was an incredible time,” Castillo said. Tower of Power racked up a number of hits during the early 1970s, such as “You’re Still a Young Man,” “What is Hip” and “So Very Hard to Go.”Īt that time, Tower of Power, which will perform Friday at the Fox, was also a highly sought after backing horn ensemble, which recorded with Elton John, Santana and Bonnie Raitt. Every time I come back to the Pacific Northwest, I think of that period and those shows in Coeur d’Alene.” “I remember playing this place, El Patio, six to 10 times. “We were out-of-our-minds crazy, but I remember playing Coeur d’Alene often since it’s so beautiful there. “It was a crazy time,” Castillo said while calling from his Phoenix home. ![]() The future of Tower of Power is set out to be vigorous and dynamic, and will prove to be just that for fans around the world starved for the band’s groove just the way Tower of Power likes.Life was a blur for Emilio Castillo when his band, Tower of Power, was emerging during the late 1960s and early ’70s as an eclectic act creating an eclectic mix of funk, soul, R&B and pop. In the process they’ve defined an “Oakland soul” sound as instantly recognizable as those from Castillo’s hometown, Detroit, as well as inspirations like Memphis and Philadelphia. The band has long since surpassed Castillo’s modest aspirations, traveling the world, enjoying hit singles on their own and backing legendary artists including Otis Redding, Elton John, Santana, the Grateful Dead, John Lee Hooker, Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, and countless others. Tower’s window-rattling grooves and raucous party spirit has been a balm for the soul throughout their half-century existence, but the release of 50 Years of Funk & Soul: Live at the Fox Theater couldn’t have arrived at a better time. Castillo says their love of the stage is the same today as it was back in 1968.ĥ0 years later, in 2018, they returned to Oakland to celebrate their landmark 50th anniversary. Bump City, their 1972 debut for the label, was a hit on both the Billboard 200 and the R&B Albums chart, and netted them the hits “You’re Still A Young Man” and “Down to The Nightclub.” The 70s were a boom period with radio classics like “So Very Hard to Go” and “What Is Hip?,” and the band continued to tour and record over the years. He came in the band, and we eventually changed our name to the Tower of Power.” The reason for the band name change was that they had a specific goal in mind.Įast Bay Grease defined their sound and landed them with Warner Brothers. ![]() I met “Doc” Kupka back in 1968, and gave him an audition. “Rocco was the bass player, I was there, and my brother was the drummer. “We were a Soul band called The Motowns.” recalls Emilio Castillo. For 55 years, Tower of Power has delivered the best in funk and soul music.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |