![]() But then I get a plethora of suggestions for things that can be done in the songs from the other members, such as adding a beat or two here and there or changing the rhythm in various sections of the song, maybe a modulation or an alternate chord or phrasing. I have a very clear vision of how I want the songs I’ve written to sound, and I make sure I help the other writers to explain their vision for their songs as well. When Tower of Power comes together to record, as we did recently with our two newest CDs Soul Side Of Town and Step Up, it’s my job as leader/producer to work with the rhythm section on each new song. I’ve learned over the years that my calling is to bring great musicians together and be a sort of facilitator to them in helping them to play together in a tight and soulful cohesive unit. I’m a bit better as a record producer and songwriter but I’ve come to believe that my main gift is in being a bandleader. It’s the same with my vocals: certainly better over the passing years, but far short of world-class. As a sax player, I think of myself as barely average I play parts only, and have an extremely limited soloing ability. I actually don’t think of myself as a great musician. In fact, I feel absolutely blessed that God has allowed and enabled me to do all these various aspects of my work. I don’t point these things out to exalt myself. As a member of Tower of Power Horns, I’m a session player that’s played on countless recordings with other artists. I’m one of the main songwriters along with Doc Kupka and I have produced most of the band’s recordings. In our band, Tower of Power, I wear many hats: I’m the leader, the second tenor sax player, the main background vocalist and, on certain songs, the lead vocalist. That decision made by my father changed my life profoundly and the lives of many others for years afterward. ![]() But my father insisted that I “needed to accept that responsibility” and spoke to my brother and, as only he could do, made sure that I was a bandleader from that time forward. I was fearful that my brother’s feelings would be hurt and that the guys in the band wouldn’t respond well to me as a leader. I told him I didn’t want to be the leader, that Jack was older, et cetera. My father then called me into his room and said, “You need to be the bandleader!” He was older so it seemed right and natural, but by the time I turned 15, my father noticed that I was the musical force, driving the various members of the band to play at a certain level. We started our first band when I was 14, and my brother Jack, who’s 10 months older, was the leader. I’ve been a bandleader since I was 15 years old. The band’s new album, Step Up, is due out March 20. This is a guest post from Emilio Castillo, bandleader of the Oakland-based funk band Tower of Power.
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