ENTERTAINMENT
Bakersfield favorites return to the KC Fair on Sept. 24 COURTESY PHOTO
The power of Tower! BY MATT MUÑOZ MÁS staff
B
akersfield’s adopted funky family is coming back to visit. MÁS Magazine presents Bay Area’s finest — Tower of Power — at the KC Fair’s Budweiser Pavilion, Thursday, Sept. 24, at 8 p.m. The concert is free with fair admission. Horn-heavy creators of “The Oakland Stroke,” along with classics like, “You’re Still A Young Man,” “What is Hip?” and “Soul Vaccination”
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among others — T.O.P.’s live show is a must for local music fans. With 16 studio albums, numerous compilations and imports, and live albums under their collective belt, Tower of Power, or T.O.P., have maintained their loyal following. And much like their SF musical brethren, Santana, Tower of Power continues to keep their creative pulse pounding by recording and performing regularly to soldout crowds everywhere.
Scoring a big break after auditioning for San Francisco artistic visionary, Bill Graham, during the heyday of the famed Fillmore West in the 1960’s, the band entered the Bay Area’s psychedelic music scene as young innovators. Who would have thought a band of soul music playing teenagers could infiltrate the “Flower Power” masses with sophisticated musical and funky styles — beyond the works of “The Godfather of Soul,” James Brown, that is. That was more than 40
years ago, and the band hasn’t slowed down one bit. In April, T.O.P. released their latest CD, “The Great American Soulbook,” a collection of soul classics, performed by the band and some special guests. UK soulstress Joss Stone, Tom Jones, rhythm & blues legend Sam Moore, and Huey Lewis all lent their voices to the project. Some songs included on the disc are, “I Thank You,” “It Take Two,” “Mr. Pitiful,” and “634-5789.” Looking at the disc’s liner Continued on page 12
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notes, recording sessions also included keyboardist George Duke, and original guitarist Bruce Conte. All packed with the T.O.P. touch, “The Great American Soulbook,” is a fitting tribute to their musical inspirations as well as a reminder that no one does funkier better than Tower. During last year’s KC Fair appearance, MÁS presented bandleader, Emilio Castillo, with the “MÁS Magazine Community Service Award” for his contributions to the arts. Castillo gracefully accepted the award and spoke of his love for the city of Bakersfield. Past recipients include Los Lobos and Bakersfield percussionist, Louie Cruz, among others. Tower of Power’s present line-up includes: Castillo — tenor sax, Stephen “Doc” Kupka — baritone sax, Francis “Rocco” Prestia — bass, David Garibaldi — drums, Larry Braggs — lead vocals, Roger Smith — keyboards, Tom E. Politzer — first tenor
MÁS presents: Tower of Power • Thursday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. • KC Fair Budweiser Pavilion • Admission free with fair admission www.kerncountyfair.com
sax, alto sax, Adolfo Acosta — trumpet, Michael Bogart — lead trumpet, and Mark Harper — guitar. The annual KC Fair Tower of Power show can best be described as a sort of “reunion night” for attendees. While dancing along to all the classic hits, take a look aroundand you’re bound to see old friends, musicians and families with kids, all bouncing in tune. It just goes to show, the power of “Tower!” www.towerofpower.com Log-on to: www.masbakersfield.com for a chance to win VIP seating to the concert!
Paula Barlow - lost 31 lbs
before
after
Edrico Oliver - lost 44.5 lbs
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after
PHOTO BY HOLLY CARLYLE
MÁS staffers Matt Muñoz and Elaine Estrada present Emilio Castillo with a commemorative edition of MÁS at the 2008 fair.
Tower of Power facts: ■ Bandleader Emilio Castillo’s heritage is Mexican and Greek. ■ The band was originally known as The Motowns, before changing it to the “hipper” name, Tower of Power during a recording session in Hayward, Calif. ■ James Brown made T.O.P. record listening sessions mandatory for his own band.
■ “You’re Still a Young Man,” is loosely based on a personal experience of Castillo’s. ■ Bakersfield saxophonist Paul Perez recorded on ensemble sessions for ‘93’s “T.O.P.” CD. ■ T.O.P has continued to perform non-stop since forming in 1968. ■ Emilio’s favorite part about performing at the fair — besides the fans — is the lengua tacos!
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