![]() We've been through a lot of ups and downs and learned a lot along the way. “You can't believe it? I'm the one that can't believe it. “People come up to me all the time and say, ‘Wow man, 50 years! We can't believe it,’” laughs Castillo. 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 arrive at a better time. Castillo says their love of the stage is the same today as it was back in 1968.ĥ0 years later, in 2018, they returned to Oakland to celebrate their landmark 50th anniversary. 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. I told the guys that I was leaving for the holidays, and if nothing happened with this audition, I wasn’t coming back.”įortunately, he did, and the rest as they say, is history.Įast Bay Grease defined their sound and landed them with Warner Brothers. We wrote the songs for East Bay Grease, and by November, we were at the end of our rope. Then, my parents moved to Detroit, and I was on my own, broke and hungry, and all I did was rehearse. One night, the ABC came in, and caught the trumpet player drinking, and the next thing we knew, a notice was out across the Bay Area that if they hired us again, clubs would lose their liquor license. “We had been playing nightclubs, and we had gotten busted for being underage. The Fillmore was a major goal, which came along at the right time. ![]() Doc then suggested that we start writing our own songs.” ![]() We grew our hair long, and started to be hippies, and changed our name. “We wanted to get into the Fillmore Auditorium and with a name like the Motowns, dressed in suits with razor cuts, we knew we’d never get in there. 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. I met “Doc” Kupka back in 1968, and gave him an audition. “Rocco was the bass player, I was in there, and my brother was the drummer. Jerel is an advocate for continuing education and commits to encourage each student to work hard and expect results.For over 55 years, Tower of Power has delivered the best in funk and soul music.“We were a Soul band called The Motowns.” recalls Emilio Castillo. Though much of his career has been filled with numerous opportunities, Jerel counts it as an honor to walk in the same halls as a music educator, where He once was a student. Jerel has traveled extensively throughout Southeastern US, South America and Europe. Jerel’s vocal and keyboard flair caught the attention of notable musicians including John Legend, Nick Jonas, Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton, Brittany Howard, Alabama Shakes, Carlos Samayoa, resulting in performances on NBC's hit TV show, 'The Voice', and throughout Alaska & Canada with the B.B. Stints with River City Horns, Fountain City Players, Deeper Shades of Soul, aka D.S.O.S., P-Funk Connection, and the Chemistry Project Band helped mold his stage show. Stepping into the professional world armed with his music degree, Jerel was schooled again this time in the world of corporate gigs and cover bands. But perhaps more formative to his current sound and style, Jerel immersed himself into CSU’s Popular Music Ensemble and Top Jazz Combo. Jerel studied voice with Professor Earl Coleman, was cast as Nemorino in the opera, The Elixir of Love, won Georgia and Southeast Regional NATS Competitions plus sang with Schwob’s Choral Union and University Singers. Fast-forward to formal studies at Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music. His humble musical roots began while traveling the streets of Turner County with his Grandmother, offering songs of comfort to those convalescing – performance pay, a McDonald’s Happy Meal. Mike is influenced by and compared to some of the very best: Stevie Wonder, Lenny Williams, Miles Davis, Bruno Mars and PJ Morton. As an Ashburn GA native, Jerel connects with the hearts of his audience.
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