Emilio Castillo | |
|---|---|
 Castillo in 2010 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | September 24, 1950 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | Soul, funk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Saxophone, vocals, organ, guitar |
| Years active | 1965 to present |
Emilio Castillo (born September 24, 1950) is an American saxophone player and composer, best known as the founder of the band Tower of Power.
In 1965, Emilio Castillo took to music after he and his brother Jack were caught stealing by his father who told him he could stay in his room until he thought of something to 'Keep him off the street'. Castillo and his brother chose music. Emilio chose saxophone and Jack chose drums. [1]
He took lessons in saxophone, piano, and guitar, and also took lessons in music theory from one-time Dave Brubeck bass player Norman Bates. [2] His first musical endeavor was in Extension Five which later became The Gotham City Crime Fighters due to the Batman craze at the time. He played both organ and sax. The group also consisted of his brother Jack on drums, Jody Lopez on guitar Frank “Rocco’ Houghton on bass (later going by the name of Francis Rocco Prestia), and Dave Genthner on vocals. In March, 1966 they released the song "Who Stole The Batmobile" [3] [4]
After seeing Bay Area soul band The Spyders, Castillo switched to saxophone and formed 'The Motowns' playing soul music covers.
After meeting baritone sax player Stephen "Doc" Kupka Castillo switched, on Kupka's suggestion, to performing original material and the band changed its name to 'Tower of Power'. The band recorded their first album, East Bay Grease, in 1970. Castillo has been with the band ever since, as leader and 2nd tenor saxophonist. He and Kupka are also responsible for writing many of the band's best-known songs.
He contributed to the track "Shoo-Fly" which was on José Feliciano's For My Love...Mother Music, released in 1974. [5] Castillo and Stephen Kupka worked with Frankie B., producing both sides of the 1982 single "I'm A Midnight Mover" which was written by Bobby Womack and Wilson Pickett". [6] He provided background vocals on "Who Do You Love" which was on Carlos Santana's 1983 album Havana Moon . [7] Along with Stephen Kupka, Castillo co-composed the music for the song "Que Nivel De Mujer" which appears on the Aries album by Luis Miguel, released in 1993. He also played tenor saxophone on the track. [8]
Tower of Power is an American R&B and funk based band and horn section, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing since 1968. There have been a number of lead vocalists, the best-known being Lenny Williams, who fronted the band between early 1973 and late 1974, the period of their greatest commercial success. They have had eight songs on the Billboard Hot 100; their highest-charting songs include "You're Still a Young Man", "So Very Hard to Go", "What Is Hip?", and "Don't Change Horses ".
Ain't Nothin' Stoppin' Us Now is an album by Tower of Power released in 1976, the band's first record on Columbia Records. Ron Beck takes up the drummers spot after David Garibaldi exited for a second time.
Tower of Power is the third album release for the Oakland-based band, Tower of Power. This is their most successful album to date, which was released in May 1973.
T.O.P. is a 1993 album by the soul/funk group Tower of Power. It was the last album to feature founding trumpet player and band horn arranger Greg Adams and vocalist Tom Bowes. It also features a reunion with saxophonist Lenny Pickett, who shows up on a few tracks.
East Bay Grease is the debut album by the soul and funk group Tower of Power, released in 1970. The band was one of the early music groups to be signed by Bill Graham's Fillmore Records, which released the LP.
Bump City is the second album by the soul/funk group Tower of Power. The album cover is derived from a sketch by David Garibaldi. It's also their first album for Warner Bros. Records. With Rufus Miller now gone, Rick Stevens took the reins as the sole lead vocalist for this album.
Soul Vaccination: Tower of Power Live is the second live album by the soul/funk group Tower of Power. It was recorded live in California during their 1998 world tour at two venues: The Fillmore in San Francisco and the Fox Theatre in Stockton.
Back to Oakland is the fourth album by Bay Area based band Tower of Power, released in early 1974 on Warner Bros. Records. It was voted by Modern Drummer magazine as one of the most important recordings for drummers to listen to. The cover photography was by Bruce Steinberg at San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, San Francisco, California.
Urban Renewal is a Tower of Power album recorded in 1974 and released in 1975. It was the last to feature lead singer Lenny Williams, who would leave to continue a successful solo career. Drummer David Garibaldi left the band temporarily, although he does appear on the song "Willing To Learn," the first single. David Bartlett is the drummer for the rest of the album. Conga player Carter Collins replaced Brent Byars, who left after the previous album Back to Oakland.
In the Slot is a Tower of Power album released in 1975. It was their last studio album for Warner Bros. Records. It also marked the debut of new vocalist Hubert Tubbs. David Garibaldi returns to the drummer's throne after being absent from the previous album Urban Renewal, although the drummer from that album, David Bartlett, does appear as a background vocalist on this album, as does Garibaldi's next successor, Ron Beck. "Ebony Jam" and "Drop It in the Slot" were sampled on the Beastie Boys' 1989 album Paul's Boutique.
We Came to Play! is an album by Tower of Power released in 1978. It marked the debut of singer Michael Jeffries, who would stay with T.O.P. through the mid-1980s. Steve Cropper produced this album. This album features Victor Conte, the future founder of the controversial BALCO, on bass, and who is also the cousin of band guitarist Bruce Conte. Drummer Ron Beck takes a lead vocal spot on "Love Bug", which features founding T.O.P. drummer David Garibaldi on second drums. Garibaldi would return to the band on the next album, but neither Conte, Bruce or Victor, would after this album.
Back on the Streets is an album by Tower of Power released in 1979. This was their last album with Columbia Records. The title derives from the song "Back on the Streets Again" from their debut album East Bay Grease. David Garibaldi returns to the drummer's spot a third time, only to leave after this album, again. It also marked the debut of bassist Vito San Filippo and guitarist Danny Hoefer. This would be Hoefer's only album as a member of Tower of Power.
Live and in Living Color is a 1976 live album by Tower of Power and is their last album on Warner Bros. Records. It features a few of their biggest hits and some gems from their first album East Bay Grease. David Garibaldi left the band again after this album.
Direct is a 1981 live in-studio album by Tower of Power. It was their only album for the direct-to-disc record label Sheffield Lab. It also marked the return of original guitarist Willie James Fulton, not heard from since 1972's Bump City, and the last album to feature saxophonist Lenny Pickett. Mark Sanders plays drums on this album. Between this album and their 1987 comeback album Power, they would record the sessions that later became the Dinosaur Tracks CD. Besides that, save for the original single release of "Simple as That", this would be their last new release until 1987. It contained mostly songs from their previous albums, but included new material as well.
Power is a studio album by Tower of Power released in 1987 on the A&M Records-distributed Cypress Records label. It was released a year earlier with additional and/or different songs in Europe under the title T.O.P.. This was the only album to feature vocalist Ellis Hall, a protégé of Ray Charles, who also plays keyboards and rhythm guitar. Hall was unique to TOP as he is thus far the only blind lead vocalist of the group. It also marked the final departure of original guitarist Willie Fulton, and the return of original bassist Francis "Rocco" Prestia. It also marks the debut of trumpeter Lee Thornburg, saxophonist Richard Elliot, and drummer Mick Mestek.
Monster on a Leash is an album by the American band Tower of Power, released in 1991. It peaked at No. 19 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.
Souled Out is a 1995 album by Tower of Power on Epic Records. It marked the debut of lead vocalist Brent Carter and drummer Herman Matthews, who, coincidentally, is a distant cousin of original TOP vocalist Rick Stevens. Founding member, baritone saxophone player Stephen "Doc" Kupka graces the front cover of the album. Jeff Lorber co-produced this album with band leader Emilio Castillo.
Step Up is a studio album by Tower of Power on Mack Avenue Records. It was recorded over the course of the 2010s, and was released on March 20, 2020. This album is the last Tower of Power album to feature lead vocalists Ray Greene and Marcus Scott, and is also the last album to feature legendary bassist Francis Rocco Prestia before his death a few months later.
Rhythm and Business is an album by the American band Tower of Power. It was released in 1997. The band promoted the album by playing the Red Sea Jazz Festival, among other concert dates.
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