Tower of Power: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
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- čas přidán 19. 08. 2018
- Aug. 13, 2018 | Felix Contreras -- When the 10 members of Tower of Power were in place behind Bob Boilen's desk, strategically positioned around the band's famous five-piece horn section, their first collective blast three beats into the sound check literally made the video crew jump. It was more a force of nature than a sound, and an impressive display of the "five fingers operating as one hand" concept of band cohesiveness.
From the group's beginning in Oakland in 1968, its soul disciples stood out from the peace-and-love scene in the San Francisco Bay. Their dedication to the horn-driven soul heard on recordings from the Stax and Atlantic record labels evolved to such a sophisticated level as to make the Tower of Power Horns an entity unto themselves. Eventually artists as diverse as Santana, the Grateful Dead and even Elton John enlisted them to give their music an authentic connection to the scene.
I have to confess that this show was mostly a labor of self-indulgent love, since I've been a fan since about 1972. So it was a joy to listen to the unmistakable sounds of my youth as the band delivered both "What Is Hip" and "So Very Hard to Go" with so much vitality, it sounded as if they were just written last week. During the performance of the title track from their new album, "The Soul Side of Town," the playing, the passion and the precision remains unchanged after all the years.
1968 was one hell of a year musically, as we've seen from this year's many anniversary celebrations of albums, events and bands. Add Tower of Power to that shortlist of artists for whom that moment was an early rehearsal for what would become a five decade career. A band this big will inevitably have some members come and go, but it's important to note that the original songwriting nucleus of bari saxophonist Stephen "Funky Doctor" Kupa and bandleader/tenor saxophonist Emilio Castillo continue to write and perform, as does original drummer David Garibaldi.
I want to write that the band has become an institution. But that conjures images of stuffy old men looking down professorially on youthful funksters, occasionally showing them how it was done in a long-lost golden era. Instead, Tower of Power remains as vital and full of life-affirming funk and soul, if not more, as they were in 1968. The band's dedication, hard work and connection to us long-time fans prove that a good idea is timeless. If you need proof, just watch this video.
Congrats, fellas. It's been a very soulful 50 years.
Set List
"On the Soul Side of Town"
"So Very Hard to Go"
"What Is Hip?"
Credits
Producers: Felix Contreras, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Maia Stern, Becky Harlan, CJ Riculan; Production Assistant: Catherine Zhang; Photo: Samantha Clark/NPR. - Hudba
Hey Tiny Desk Fans,
Check out NPR’s Black Stories, Black Truths - a collection of podcasts hosted by journalists who speak truth to power. Our voices are as varied, nuanced, and dynamic as the Black experience. And stories should never be about us without us. Listen now: www.npr.org/podcasts/510372/black-stories-black-truths
Absolutely true, no stories about us without us! ❤
Where can I find the one about the Hispanic experience?
Cool, a bunch of liberals race baiting. I thought we gave that up in 2022
Always a racist bringing race into a situation.
Bill lamb was my dad and use to be the lead trumpeter for tower of power back in the day. He died from lung cancer in 2014, it's awesome to see you guys rocking and keeping the soul alive. Rock on forever 🤟
Man that's so cool good props to your father
Saw your Dad a monster player !!
Sorry for the loss, my dad passed too - lung cancer in 2014 😢
Saw them in Denton 2yrs ago , playing to their peers , EXCELLENT👍
Bless dad’s heart, sorry for your loss hon ❤
So proud that my uncle wrote the horn parts for On The Soul Side of Town. Love you, Uncle Dave!
God bless Dave!
Awesome!!!🥰🥰🥰🥰
@@Sharelleiamhis Hi
@@NikoFrederiko. hello there!
The band is so tight you couldn't sneak sunlight through them.
Water tight
Funkay, funkay , funkaaaay!
right?
Couldn't find timestamps in the comments, so here they are:
0:00 - On The Soul Side of Town
5:16 - So Very Hard To Go
10:05 - What Is Hip?
These guys played at my high school prom in 1971! Nothing better than East Bay funk.
Wow!!!! We had a DJ 😂.
All we could afford at Turlock High School (‘72) was a Bay Area band named “Coffee.”
We had ours stk,airport don’t recall what’s the music,wow your class pulled it together for ya all
A prom! Wow. They played at my Sacramento high school in late ‘72 or early ‘73, gotta look that up. Hooked for life.
Whoever mixed this needs a Grammy or whatever the Tiny Desk equivalent might be. Sounds amazing!
That's what I was thinking! Amazing how they got such a clean, well-mixed sound from all that horn power....
Disagree, you can hear the rhythm section and barely hear the horns!@@scottmumford8295
In 59 years, I have probably listened to "What Is Hip" more than any other single song that's ever been recorded. It's a brilliant piece of musical onomatopoeia - a song that asks and answers its own question, that plays like a timeless definition and dancing elocution of itself, even saying the song's name is an act of universally funky syncopation. You can't help it. "What Is Hip?" Say it now and listen to yourself, you funky thing you.
I think you hit the nail on the head. The song that answers its own question.
Perfect!!
The music even inspired some young ladies in Japan....Go check out the Jazz Avengers version of What is Hip....they do an awesome job with it!
Magically funkK!
I say, what is hip? What is hip, indeed.
So HAPPY to say I got to see this magnificent group in 1978 in Albuquerque when I was working for Ticketmaster as I was attending UNM. Front and center tickets! They were AWESOME, naturally. Oh, my Lord, above. I will never forget the power of The Tower of Power. God bless their staying Power! And my goodness, I just love their powerful vocalist. He's INCREDIBLE. 😍
Thank you, NPR. I love y'all! You are my Heroes! 💐🙏🏽💞
Drummer and bass player are like the engine in a car, you can't see them but they are there making things move.
The "Soul" in TOP begins with them.
It’s the heartbeat
Amen! Laying the road where all the other musical brothers and sisters race!
@@BassForever44
You Got That Right!
It doesnt get much better then this. I'm blown away. Lead singer is killer. Horns are killer, kb player is killer, rhythm drums and bass killer, guitarist is off the charts. This band's energy flies all the way past the stratosphere
Yeah! I feel like they're tempering their sound a *little bit* compared to a huge venue, but they sound freaking awesome! Great mixing on top of that
Not many people can do justice to Lenny Williams songs but dude over here is hitting every note ✊🏼
Respect and RIP to original electric bass player, the legendary and highly influential Francis Rocco Prestia Jr. (March 7, 1951 - September 29, 2020). Prayers and condolences lifted to his immediate family, the TOP musical family, and the entire TOP fan nation. 2020 is reaping a bitter harvest indeed.
The king of groove
Amen!!!
RIP Rocco, you were king of bass a natural funk master and a beautiful soul
Amen!
I had heard a lot about Rocco's health problems but I hadn't heard that he had passed. I'm very sorry to hear that. I heard that even Jaco Pastorius admitted being influenced by Rocco's 16 note sound. At least I got to meet him one time. He was a man of few words.
I saw Tower of Power in 2019 and that was one of the most fun and enjoyable concerts I’ve been to. They’re unfairly underrated and it’s about time they get their dues. True funk icons!
I was into soul, philadelphia sound, rare groove etc in the UK in the late 70s and can't believe these guys didn't cross my radar until 2020s!
They're not under-rated, just lacking that top notoriety industry wide. Their listeners FANS! give them a 5 star platinum thumbs up. Ask me how many times a week I listen to What is Hip 😂.
Tower of Power. 50 years later and still the coolest dudes and band EVER!
just gave a standing ovation to my computer lol
Ha ha, i can anderstand
I feel you! Haha
It is not shown but I liked your comment about 376 times!!!
Ha ha ha yeah me too
Me too. TOP still cooking after all these years.
Extremely impressed by this young lead vocalist. He brings a ton of energy and range! Hard shoes to follow that preceded him and he nails it.
Saw him live at the BB King bar in Memphis, TN las month. Awsome!!!
Saw Marcus Hall front ToP in London a couple of years ago. Dynamite presence!
Yes, he's a great singer. Just too bad he's up on top of a table. Looks lame.
He's perfect for Tower of Power too!
@@dthievin hard disagree, badass and helps with confidence
A bunch of hugely talented old guys who can still lay it down, as tight as ever. Keeping that unique Tower of Power sound going with astonishing new talent blended in. Who says the Bay Area music scene has lost it?
All i can think is u would never know these old guys are such a bunch of badasses if u saw them around a table at a Denny's lmfaooo
"Hipness is what it is..."
bahahaha so true!
So true.
I know right. This is the coolest group of Paw-Paws I've ever seen.
what is old?
Tower of Power? On Tiny Desk? Doing "So Very Hard to Go"?
*sheeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttt*
czcams.com/video/Fr0A7TofowE/video.html
Lawd yesss, I used to slowdrag to that sucker..got a boyfriend from those moves! Haha! And I saw them at the infamous HUMAN KINDNESS day on the Washington monument grounds. SOUL is a feeling , not a color! We loan it to our bros and sisters of any color that can FEEL IT!
Keeps me coming back everyday since its dropped. Soooo good!!
Ammmeennn!!!
An you know dat!
the drummer here (Dave Garibaldi) gave me my drum set back in 2018 when my friends drum shop opened up, Dubs Drum Basement
Rest in peace Rocco Prestia One of the GOAT’s
I remember a day in Italy (Bloom in Mezzago), many years ago, when David Garibaldi asked me to play his drumset to check personally the sound by the rear of the venue... When he turned back to the stage, he told me "Really! I never hear a journalist with a "blast" on the snare like your downstroke!" What a great gift from a man, a musician and a drummer like him! And again, in Milano, in the Shocking Club, when they played with Pino Daniele on guitar... what a concert! Torwer of Power... what a band!!! Thank ypu NPR!!!
My mans in the back is taking that bass for a walk deep into the pocket. Rhythm section is on!
Right in the pocket. Tight
Best Comment!
To me, he is the only musician able to put on Rocco's shoes. Great rhythm section indeed.
Garibaldi on drums didn't even get a peep at a camera... LOCKED IN!!!!!
Well, that's sad in a way. But his playing is so unique that you know he was there grooving with his partners in crime.
Notice, you rarely see someone cover a Tower of Power tube. I’m not sure too many bands have it in them to play like that anymore. These fellas are so funky and so tight at the same time.
And obscured back there is one of the greatest drummers of all time.
David Garibaldi......Still laying the pocket. Giving the band members a place to do their thing.....Always a joy to hear. We only get a glimpse of Garibaldi, But we can feel his groove.
Bass player as well.
@@noneyabusiness9262 He is doing a fantastic job here and a real tribute to Rocco Prestia’s style. RIP, Rocco.
Oh! I kept counting...looking for 10! Never even thought about the drummer!!!
The one and only.... Mr. Garibaldi
shout to the audio engineers in capturing this sound so well!!!
i see i'm not the only one who'd like to ask a couple of questions to the tiny desk's audio engineers!
Honestly, it probably has a lot more to do with the players knowing how to balance their sound in such a small space, how to play so fiercely while playing quietly. An engineer can only do some much if the band is playing loudly, this is mostly professionals pre-mixing their sound because they had to do it for decades in small clubs.
Just listen to the drums, almost everything he is playing is very quiet and controlled and garibaldi is a drummer that cracks the hell out of his snare for his rimshots and plays everything else as a very quiet ghost note, he is playing with so much restraint and control.
Not to take away from the engineer, they did a great job, I just wanted to highlight just how much talent is in this band.
Oh yes..
Amen
Love it, and who is that gorgeous sexy voice 👌
Every couple months, I come back to this video and get a refill of funk to make my day a little brighter. Thank you for sharing it
Saw this band April 3, 1971 at the Fillmore East, opening for Rahsand Roland Kirk and Santana. Still got it.
I was at that show!!! Kirk busting up the wooden chairs??!!!
@@moreykanner4781 I remember him playing three horns at once. Awesome.
50 years ago I attended my fist concert; it was to see Santana and Tower of Power - who I’d never heard of before - was their warm up act. The next day, having heard those horns and “Knock Yourself Out” we hightailed it to Karma records (which is long gone) and bought Tower’s first album….been a fan ever since. GREAT TINY DESK CONCERT! Thx very much. Funk & Soul Power!
I found a Tower Of Power record in my dad's drawer 25 years ago in high school. The cover art was a man holding a drumstick to the sky. I think the album was Bump City. I got funkified and hooked instantly. Thank you NPR Tiny Desk.
Are you still digging' on James Brown?
@@chriswarwin7117 Of course! Every time I see sparkle in the sand I ask myself, “What is hip?” The answer is James Brown and Tower of Power.
Man, that singer has some serious pipes, almost as powerful as the horn section.
It is 6:30AM. Saturday June 15th.2023. My sister sent this.i just happen to click it on, just to see a snipet. Wound up getting out the bed and dancing . Band still tight as a can of sardines
Rocco Prestia, David Giribaldi and Doc Krupka defined the bottom of theTOP! Nothing like it on this planet! Best band ever!
Tower of Power.
One of the truly great Bands in all of ever.
Oakland pride!!
Oackland, near San Francisco? where Jak Vance lived ?
RIP Rocco, you were one of the first bassist that opened my ears to the bass. Now I have been a bass player for almost 28 years. Love you man!
Honestly the name Tower of Power is not just a name for these legends 🙏🏼they live up to it✊🏼
Rocco Prestia & David Garabaldi will always be one of the greatest rhythm sections in any genre of music. There was no faking that groove, soul and feel.
R.I.P. Rocco all in the bass players owe the world of funk line to yourself n the Power
The tightness of this band, especially the horn line is giving me an eargasm! 😍
and THAT, Ladies & Gentlemen, is how IT is done!
I whole heartedly concur.
I played baritone saxophone in my school jazz band. Playing Tower of Power songs was always my favourite for funky soul stuff. It's amazing that they have been around for so long and still sound so utterly amazing.
Everyone sounds Amazing!!!!!! Lead singer's voice is perfection ❤
So this is aging gracefully....
Amen !
Absolutely. As time passes they get tighter love em.
Too bad you can't see the bass player.....he's working hard!
I believe it was Jeff Berlin on Bass. Great musician
@@11BscoutNG where's Rocco??
@@BlackRootsUNLIMITED Rocco is no longer with TOP for health reasons.
True he's not Rocco, but he does capture his style entirely.
Well done, sir Jeff Berlin.
Marc Van Wageningen is the bass player
I’m 60 years old and I can remember my older brothers kicking this in the basement loved those day’s much to NPR for giving them there props 🤜🏿
Huge credits to the audio engineers for mixing this performance. Amazing sound.
I can't help thinking that putting Marcus on a higher level was not only due to lack of space, but actually for recording purposes, and that was f* brilliant and well thought. All these loud metal instruments closer to the singer's mic would definitely take over and muddy the vocal track for sure
Will be one of my favourite video in future. Never heard such an impressing singer. What a pity you can't see rythm section good enough.
There's no smoke and mirrors . These guys know what the song is asking for and they could do this on any street corner . Tremendous musicianship .
Still my favorite Tiny Desk concert. I keep coming back to it.
Easily. Nothing touches it.
Me too. lol
Yes, at least once every 3,4 months!!!
Recently learned that Tower of Power is revered by Japanese "Groove" musicians. Tokyo Groove Jyoshi especially love to play "What is Hip" and refer to it as T.O.P.'s masterpiece. Mostly female, session musicians play it with all the respect it deserves.and man, can they play. Give a listen. No regrets. Guaranteed.
What a band! What a singer! What a guitar guy! What a keyboard's groove! Thx NPR! Hit me in my Soul"
My goodness I am still playing my 45 and LP’s from 1972.
What a band …what a horn section…great vocals. The best memories never die.
### all over Germany you will never find so talented musicians.......I am so sorry......thank you tower of power.....thank you NPR music ! ### If you young or old let the good times roll ###
This is the amazing quality of music that is highly unexpected in a small office setting!
"...Can you lower this mic?"
"It is not possible."
"TOWER GONNA CLIMB THEN"
This comment is pure gold! He’s so High on the Funk, they probably had to raise it for him!
my parents went to high school with thees guys, they played at parties.
EAST BAY GREASE BABY!!!! They have been doing it since 1968 and I have been a fan for 54 years! Whenever they come to your town you need to get out there to see and hear them play! If you think they sound good at the Tiny Desk wait until you hear them live. Great show! Now I'm all funked up!
Back in the late 60's early 70's when I was in high school Dave Garibaldi's dad was the head of the bus barn and somehow we got a free concert from T.O.P. every time they were going on tour. Dave was the inspiration for me becoming a drummer shortly after graduation and I've been drumming ever since, along with guitar, keyboards and other instruments.
Tiny desk is amazing. It doesn't matter who is on. The feel of a gig like that is impossible to beat for intermittency. Tower boss it mind.
Intimacy* But yes totally agree
What is Hip? That thing I just broke doing these funky azz steps at my age....
Charles Rutt lol!
Tell me tell me
My family in SF were all big fans and they spread that love to me. Thank you for this great performance!!
I was 16 in 1968. When I first heard T.O.P., I was blown away. The horns and the funk are what got me jammin' like never before. Thanks for the rush! (and my love of the drums.)
co-worker asked me why i'm crying? i told them, because i'm happy that i can hear music, i can hear life! People be happy for the all of it, good, bad, small, or big, ALL of it means we made it here, and some day we'll make it out. So my fellow human, just enjoy the ride when possible, and accept the bumps along the way. Thanks NPR you hit my heart yet again.
Damn Bro, you just explained everything! I'm seriously impressed. You got the answer for sure.
A thought I often have when wrapped up in great music!
Blessings brother.
Glad I’m not the only one who’s lettin’ it flow. Bless.
😁👌 preach!!
Thank you audio engineer for turning Doc up even louder so us Bari Sax players can appreciate the brilliance of the GOAT
The bari is just so beefy and thick
Bari-good!
Man that’s tight !!!! This is freaking live !!! Ain’t no pro tools fixing going on there .
Sweet lord this is fire how can you possibly sit still listening to this
TOP is a little before my time but I remember my dad playing them in the car (8 tracks), brings back great memories riding in the car during the summer in upstate New York ❤❤❤
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
It's so great to see a young singer with SOUL. That guy is great, he's also the luckiest man in the world to sing with this band.
Lucky is far fetched. They compliment each other.
Shaun Kelly : Marcus Scott's album is out in the New Year. See Back 2 Da Soul here on YT.
@@keithrandall1492 He sounds a little like Bernard Fowler of the Peach Boy's..particularly on his runs..
@@tahira1 he reminds me Ceelo Green also
They fired him :(
Set List:
"On the Soul Side of Town" (0:00) - album: "Soul Side of Town" (2018)
"So Very Hard to Go" (5:14) - album "Tower of Power" (1973)
"What Is Hip?" (9:37) - album "Tower of Power" (1973)
"Super Bad/Soul Power" (J. Brown) medley (13:26)
Marin Varenina you forgot the Super Bad/Soul Power (J. Brown) medley at 13:26
Thank you 👍
Those were some absolutely immaculate harmonies on "So very hard to go"
The absolute coolest bunch of guys. If you passed them in the street you'd probably not even notice them then this, I can hardly put it into words.
Love seeing the grin on Emilio Castillo's face. He's just having a great time. Love it.
I'd grin like that too if I got to play with a band THIS awesome every night!
I love him. He is a legend!!
Okay but can we appreciate the Bari Sax player? Cause good God, the sound coming out of it is breath taking.
The one and only Funky Doctor - Stephen Kupka
Doc is the man!
That’s the one and only Doc
Welcome to the Tower of Power sound. Intoxicating isn’t it?
The funky doctor.
One of the greatest horn sections ever assembled this guys still sound great
This is so well done. It's crisp and defined. Nice job Tiny Desk. Best horn section in the biz. Killer vocalist. Rock solid rythym section and everybody looks like they are having fun.
Wow! They sound great!
Side note:The lead singers pants are the epitome of fonkay!
I was 20 years old when I heard So Very Hard To Go on the radio and that song made me a Tower of Power fan, big time. Marcus is great, but Lenny Williams OWNS that song always and forever. These musicians have honed their craft over the decades, and their sound is unrivaled. The music of today doesn’t hold a candle to this.
I’m an old geezer too, so this is written with much Love....ain’t it nice to see these guys remembering all the notes, all the moves, all the harmonies, all the soul, all the grooves and all the fun
From one old geezer to another : you got it Chris. TOP is too cool to even describe !!!!!
@@dm-mx2we .....if this is geezer music, I'm ALL IN!
i sure do love a good soul!
Proudly joining the ToP Old Geezer's Union 😎👍....
it is nice to see true musicians display their expertise.
My very first concert ever was a “Tower of Power” concert at the Wachovia center in Philly. I believe in 2007. I absolutely love how true they are to their original sound. I love this singer.
Kudos to the crew who engineered and wired up the sound. Wish more studio albums were recorded live with musicians playing off each other's energy in close quarters. So good!
I was thinking the same thing. This sounded great!
I think that is one of the greatest things about these Tiny Desk Concerts. It separates the true musicians from the hacks. They put it together and deliver it live...behind a tiny desk. That's genuine stuff. Check out the Superorganism Tiny Desk Concert. It's 1 guitar, 1 little keyboard, a guy banging on a trunk, and anything they could put their hands on for instruments and it sounds amazing. And you're right about the engineering, it's spot on every time.
The engineering and mixing of Tiny desk's are top notch. Even in a multi musician recording like this one, with this predominant brass section, you can listen just every instrument and voice. Kudos to the tech and mixing team!!
Ps. The Tower of Power show is KILLER, by the way. And I love their latest singer :)
That NPR office basically is packed with audio engineers.
I saw these guys rocking the house in '87. They STILL GOT IT ... BIG
Tower of Power!!!!!!!! The realest musicians to groove to. Oakland in the house. Oh my, Those horns!!!!! They serenade you, groove you, lead you, threaten you, stab you, or motivate you to a higher level all in one song.
Why aren't they in the hall of fame already. They've played with everyone but never been acknowledged! Even ray Charles said they were the best band he EVER played with!
YAAAAASSSSSS! Im a trombone player.....gonna go nominate them on the RRHOF website right now!
My dad played bass to these guys’ records all the time when I was a little kid. One of the tightest bands ever rhythmically. Tasteful improvisations too. RIP to their bass player Rocco Prestia.
I also need to compliment the NPR sound staff for making this sound so clean. It occurred to me that these guys have probably never played together so CLOSELY, even in rehearsal - so to have the final result be so beautifully mixed in such a small space is really impressive.
Absolutely. I'm sure that the 'studio' uses all of their own sound gear and carefully dial everything in so there isn't any feedback and carefully place the monitors so the band can hear themselves etc. It's got to be a challenge, no doubt.
It would be interesting to see a "behind the scenes" one day...
I love the dry mix that comes outta this place. Keep it up!
I knew my high school shop teacher could shred some pine, but I had no clue what he could do with a Gibson... No but seriously, what hole have I been hiding in that I'd never heard of these guys? The 36 miserable souls that downvoted this obviously no nothing of the eternal question.. These guys will be in my regular rotation now, holy cow.
He’s your teacher?
The age doesn't matter when you're doing what you love.
So crazy to see such a large, powerful band in such a confined space. Almost like they're in your living room.
NPR keeps educating me.
Yes, we are never too old to learn, absorb, process, then pass the gift on to someone else! 🎼🎶💕
Excellent....music all forms should just be easy to appreciate.
The Background I have goosebumps.... the Horns.... the Keys.... the Lead ...the Guitar... the Drums... Ya'll Jamming... tears of Joy
I love Tower of Power, the lead singer is good, LENNY WILLIAMS was Tower of Power until 1975, and a special Resting in Heaven to Rick Stevens, who we will always remember for his lead on the beautiful ballad, You're Still A Young Man-
Rocco was truly a revolutionary bass player. May God continue to strengthen his family and his musical family as well. Thankfully they still have Rocco's rhythm partner in crime and also a revolutionary drummer Mr David Garibaldi. They still sound amazing.!!
TOWER OF POWER ARE LEGENDARY in OAKLAND CALIFORNIA !!! REPRESENT !!!! YEE
I came down here just for this - had to scroll way too far down in the comments to find a shout out to Oakland - needs more Likes!
Jerry has the best sounding Les Paul I have ever heard. What a sound dude! Rockin' ass band for sure.
He and Larry Graham were the reason I bought my first electric bass guitar over 50 years ago...
Saw them in Clearwater on their 50 years and counting tour.... they completely rocked the house!
Awesome band but the singer is so good that I actually laughed at some of the crazy runs! Not in a bad way at all, it’s just like my brain didn’t know what to do with the information it was being given hahahaha!!
I always laugh when I see crazy good musician.
I notice crazy good musician always laugh at other crazy good musicians too. Just watching the guitar and saxophone player on this video you see that a lot.
Yeah, I'm still smiling.....so tuff.
His range is unreal
He is totally giving Lenny Williams a run for his money. I've loved this band forever. You must see them live to get the real feeling.
These guys sound amazing. Emilio was having TOO much fun!
I was thinking the same thing. He was diggin' that Lead Guitar 😄.
I used to play trumpet in my school jazz band. I always looked forward to playing what is hip at the end of practice. Tower of Power helped me find the joy in playing music and laying it down with the horns. You will be missed Rocco, one of the funkiest bassists I've ever known.
Much LOVE to The lead vocalist Markus Scott he is an AWESOME Talent !!!World get ready 4 greatness.
Saw them last night and Scott has the goods - chops and presence.
Just plain ole funk that makes u have a funky good time! Refreshing breath of air to see people crossing color lines and just enjoying good music.
It took me a minute to realize the singer is standing on a platform. At first I thought Tower of Power referred to the singer being one of the tallest people on earth! 🙃. Wonderful music.
My dad played TOP songs with his band while I was growing up. These songs remind me of my childhood, listening to them never gets old. So timeless reminds me so much of my dad who passed away years back.