About Tower of Power | Off The Leash

Formed as “The Motowns” in 1968 by tenor saxophonist/vocalist Emilio Castillo and baritone saxophonist Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Tower of Power (a name change that came about quickly following Castillo’s desire to play the Fillmore West in San Francisco) have become one of the world’s longest enduring and loved soul, rnb and funk groups.

Taking influences from their contemporaries such as James Brown, Sam Cooke, Gamble & Huff, Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye, Tower of Power developed a horn-driven sound that set them apart from similar acts of the era. Their tight and funky arrangements—thanks to the legendary Francis “Rocco” Prestia + David Garibaldi rhythm engine—have placed the band as the benchmark for soul groove all around the world.

Since the release of their debut album “East Bay Grease” in 1970, Tower of Power have released a staggering 19 studio albums and 7 live albums. A string of radio hits during the 70s brought the band from the nightclubs of Oakland to the kitchens and living rooms of an entire nation, including “You’re Still a Young Man”, “So Very Hard to Go”, “Don’t Change Horse (in the Middle of a Stream), “What is Hip?”, “Only So Much Oil in the Ground” and many more.

Tower of Power continues to perform, tour and record to this day, with the 2018 release of “The Soul Side of Town.”

Also, in the popular realm, Tower of Power’s horns have been a first-call section for recording sessions for many chart-topping acts. They can be heard on recordings from artists such as Huey Lewis and the News, Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, Little Feat, Rod Stewart, Sammy Hagar, Extreme, Neil Diamond, Aerosmith, Luther Vandross, Bonnie Raitt, Smokey Robinson and many more.

Tower of Power’s influence on musicians has been significant, too. From drummer David Garibaldi mentoring Rage Against the Machine’s Brad Wilk in a funky direction, to the band’s music becoming standard repertoire for many thousands of music students around the world, to professional soul, jazz and funk musicians.

And tribute acts such as Melbourne’s Off The Leash. Yeah, let’s not forget about them!