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Tower of power power12/15/2023 The following year, Richard Elliot replaced Russo. In 1984, the band's original bassist Francis Rocco Prestia returned, lead trumpet player Mic Gillette left to spend more time with his family, Ellis Hall replaced Michael Jeffries, and Mark Craney replaced Sanders. Around the same time, Mike Cichowicz took over from Waychesko. After these sessions, in early 1983, keyboardist Chester Thompson left to join Santana. During this period, TOP recorded an album that went unreleased until 1999, when it was issued as Dinosaur Tracks. Shortly after the release of Direct, long-term lead tenor saxophonist Lenny Pickett was replaced by Marc Russo. He also played keyboards and rhythm guitar. 1981–1994 Įllis Hall was TOP's lead singer in the mid- to late-1980s. This 11-piece lineup released Direct that year. In 1981, the horn section expanded to three trumpeters again with the addition of Rick Waychesko. He was replaced by Mark Sanders, while original guitarist Willie Fulton also returned in place of Hoefer. After the release of Back on the Streets, Garibaldi left for a third time in 1980. With Jeffries and Conte, TOP released We Came to Play! in 1978, before both Contes and Beck left the band – Garibaldi returned again, while Danny Hoefer and Vito Sanfilippo took over on guitar and bass. The pair were replaced by Victor Conte and Michael Jeffries. At the same time, McGee was forced to leave due to vocal problems. Ain't Nothin' Stoppin' Us Now followed in 1976, before Prestia was fired in late 1977 due to ongoing problems with substance abuse. Tubbs and Garibaldi left after In the Slot, replaced by Edward McGee and Ron E. Around the same time, Williams departed to pursue a solo career and Hubert Tubbs took over. His place was taken by David Bartlett, before he returned in early 1975. During the recording of the group's next album Urban Renewal, Garibaldi briefly left due to increasing drug use amongst other members. In 1973 the band released a self-titled album, which was followed in 1974 by Back to Oakland. Shortly after the release of Bump City, Stevens, Fulton and Mesquite were replaced by Lenny Williams, Bruce Conte and Lenny Pickett, respectively, while Chester Thompson joined as the band's first keyboardist. The new lineup released Bump City in 1972. Following the release of East Bay Grease, only Adams and Gillette remained on trumpets, while the group had been joined by Brent Byars on additional percussion. During the recording of the group's debut album East Bay Grease in 1969, Rick Stevens replaced Miller in time to perform lead vocals on one track. The rest of the band was filled out by vocalist Rufus Miller, guitarist Willie James Fulton, bassist Rocco Prestia and drummer David Garibaldi. The original horn section also featured Steven "Skip" Mesquite on lead tenor saxophone, alongside Greg Adams, David Padron, Mic Gillette and Ken Balzell on trumpets and other brass. TOP was formed in August 1968, after Emilio Castillo and Stephen Kupka met for the first time the month before. History 1968–1981 TOP was formed in 1968 by Emilio Castillo (first from right) and Stephen Kupka (first visible from left). 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). 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.
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