(SACRAMENTO, CA) - Tower of Power will fill the night air with the powerful sound of horns, drums, and vocals as part of the Toyota Concert Series on the Sky River Casino Stage on Friday, July 19.
For 58 years, Tower of Power has delivered the best in funk and soul music. “We were a Soul band called The Motowns.” recalls Emilio Castillo. “Rocco was the bass player, I was there, and my brother was the drummer. I met “Doc” Kupka back in 1968, and gave him an audition. 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.
East Bay Grease defined their sound and landed them with Warner Brothers. 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. Castillo says their love of the stage is the same today as it was back in 1968.
50 years later, in 2018, they returned to Oakland to celebrate their landmark 50th anniversary. 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.
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. 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 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 it!
"We brought Tower of Power back for a second year because they packed the house last year," said Tom Martinez, CEO of Cal Expo and the California State Fair. "They are guaranteed to bring down the house again when they perform at the Fair."
Concerts are free with Fair admission. Guests who want a closer view of the stage can purchase reserved seating.
Presale tickets for newsletter subscribers go on sale Monday, March 30 at 7 a.m., with general sales beginning Tuesday, March 31 at 9 a.m., at www.CAStateFair.com.
The California State Fair runs July 17 to August 2 at Cal Expo in Sacramento. For tickets, concert updates, and more information, visit www.CAStateFair.com.
