"Santana's Special Guest," "Tower of Power," performs "The Oakland Stroke," and "You Ought to be Having Fun" on February 22, 1977 in Chicago--RARE FOOTAGE
RIP to Edward McGee who passed away in June 2017. Can never forget his high vocals opener in Ain't Nothing Stopping Us Now. I remember seeing Rob Beck the drummer, who did a short stint with the band.
I had no idea Mr McGee died. Also RIP bass player Roco, Mic Gillette trumpet player, sax player Skip Mesquite from the album East Bay Grease, amd Rick Stevens 2nd lead singer from the album Bump City. Did I miss anyone?
I saw them in 1975 in New Haven Connecticut....it was their "Back to Oakland Tour". It was phenomenal !!! Lenny Pickett did his dance moves down the aisles wearing a top hat.....too kool !!!!
Mic Gillette blows...............ONE BADASS TRUMPET! Tower of Power was always awesome. Great stuff. Tower of Power came onto the scene and caused everyone else to start stepping up their game! Rest in Peace, we will all miss you. (for a time.) See you in Heaven at the big feast! Much Love brother!!
Just found out now about Mic Gillette. Sorry to hear that. Have been a fan since about 1970 during the time I was stationed in Sacramento and heard discovered them on the local FM station. Saw them for the first time in '71 in LA at the Fabulous Forum when they opened for The Buddy Miles band and Santana. After that, saw them several times over the last 46 yrs. One of my favorite bands of any genre!
Lenny Pickett!!! Of The SNL Band. Greg Adams on trumpet. The famous Mic Gillette on trumpet and trombone. The Doctor on Barisax and Mimi on tenors and vocals.
Saw 'em in Oslo, Norway on the night the Swedish Prime Minister, Olof Palme, was shot in Stockholm on Febryary 28, 1986. Tehir first gig ever in Norway. They blew us off and into the night, to the sad news after midnight. We ought to be having fun lingered in our ears and minds in a cab back home...
how can this get 20 dislikes, they must be deaf! I'm off to CA to see them on my BD next month. can't wait! born in Oakland raised in the Bay Area. This came from my backyard, so proud!
I'm so sorry you're proud of ghetto Oakland, so sad for you. I'd be embarrassed, but the only great thing that ever came out of Oakland is Tower of Power. The greatest band of all time. ToP is the ultimate. At least Oakland did one thing right. Can you name anything else good for America that ever came out of Oakland??? NO! We'd like California to just break off and fall into the ocean. Or hopefully North Korea will nuke it soon. Please let's give California back to Mexico so they will all go away. If you're a good person and you live in Cali, get out soon and move to another pos liberal state. Please don't move to Texas, it's full of horrible deplorables. Hahaha! F u cali
Sadly, we are informing you of the loss of a former member and lead singer of Tower of Power, Edward McGee. Dynamic and soulful, Eddie McGee was part of the band's legacy in the 1970's. From Emilio Castillo: "I'm saddened to hear reports of the death of Edward McGee. The last time I heard from Edward was 10 years ago as we were preparing for our 40th anniversary. He seemed like he was doing well and it was good to hear his usual cheerful voice. Edward was an amazing singer and entertainer and we were blessed to have him in our band. Our condolences to all his family and loved ones." Emilio Castillo - Bandleader for Tower of Power
This is and has Always been My Favorite Band, Horn Section Included!! Seen them at least 10 times in concert. Always waiting for Lenny Pickett's Sax Solo and of course, His Dance!!!!
those dance moves from one of the sax players. Why don' t we get to see this anymore? Because he was unique! Honestly I had to watch it over and over again and was so impressed the way he ended them right in front of his microphone. And all of this with a sax strapped onto him - WOW!
@@marlachristensen2076 no, they are different persons, this is Chester the keyboardist, usually played with Santana www.sfjazz.org/onthecorner/five-things-you-should-know-about-chester-thompson/
Love this video and LOVE Tower of Power. But man I wish the camera man would put more exposure on Rocco Prestia.... 16th-note-bass-finger-style-MASTER!
Same applies to drums, keys, voice, bass... You gotta be a savage to play with this little combo. This is not my favourite "What is Hip?" performance, mostly 'cause it's too fast. But they sure could play it tight even at a faster tempo. Their dancing and grooving on stage is very underrated. I still can't figure out what the heck is the dance moves Lenny Pickett is doing, jumping around without falling down while holding a very expensive tenor sax.
Grace and rest upon Edward McGee. This particular album wasn't so well received at the time of its release, but with decades past we can hear the absolute mastery of the ensemble and its originality in crafting material for the higher voice of McGee. TOP's command of the current genre was unparalleled, and this album shines through today as fantastic listening and a fitting memorial for McGee. This is a simply phenomenal performance of What is Hip.
I saw T. O. P. at the very famous and very small and intimate, Golden Bear nightclub in Huntington Beach in 1980. We sat at a table right in front of the horn section that almost literally blew us away with sound and fury. Loved every minute of it. It was a soul sanctifying experience.
I heard Tower of Power for the first time at Bowling Green State University's homecoming concert in 1973 and have been on board ever since, Oakland, they done found the stroke, for real
Disregarding the out of beat steps some members did at the beginning, this legendary horn section can only be described as one of the best in funk. I hear early KOOL & THE GANG, EARTH, WIND & FIRE (of course there's a lot of J.B's going on) and this is something a "Funkateer" like me love.
Steps weren’t bad for pimarly musicans......besides “We came to play” If I wanted dancin I’d watch tapes of Jackson Five or the Temps.......blow muthar fuckers......BLOW!!!!!!!
These are all the comments??TOP transcend and mark the time of amazkng music and above all, for those coming up or experiencing music that didn't happen 5 minutes ago... this is the root of the root...listen and absorb, These guys are still around and can blow your socks off!!
This clip brings back a lot of memories. It was filmed in Chicago at the WTTW studios, for the PBS show "Soundstage." Tower of Power was the special guest on this show.. Santana was the main act on the bill. I think this was recorded in 1977 or '78. Thanks for posting ! :-)
I first saw TOP at a high school district dance in Walnut Creek in '72. Me and my buddy, two pimply-faced sophomores with rolled-up sleeping bags to sit on in case we got bored. We forgot all about the sleeping bags. I saw TOP a dozen or more times through the 70's at venues like the Rheem Theater in Moraga and Marine World in Redwood City. Always a great time, and a sure-fire show to take a first date! An old fart now, I really miss the music of that decade.
Edward Mcgee lead singer in this video > Underrated < I don't hear anything about him... All that talent... Love his energy, voice... Where is he? How is he doing?
Lead Singer: Edward McGhee, Organ: Chester Thompson, Guitar: Bruce Conte, Bass: Rocco Prestia, Drums: Ronnie Beck, Trumpet: Greg Adams, Trumpet/Trombone: Mic Gillette, Bari Sax: "Doc" Kupka, 2nd Tenor Sax: Emilio Castillo, Lead Tenor and cool suit: LP
spevák sa správne volá McGee a v zostave bol aj Lenny Pickett prvý tenor saxofon, alt saxofon, ktorý bol prvý v pravo v dychovej sekcii a bavil divákov svojími tanečnými kreaciami.
This is what it looked like when I was 21. In the bars. LIVE. Awesome. Wish me a Happy 57th Birthday this week. Yep. I was once a YOUNG MAN!!! Dance Backwards, my friends,as Lenny Pickett will show you!
