Tower of Power Announces 55th Anniversary Tour Dates

Article Contributed by Ariel Rosemberg | Published on Monday, December 5, 2022

Oakland funk and soul icons, Tower of Power, detail their Winter 2023 tour celebrating the band’s 55th anniversary

Bay Area funk and soul pioneers, Tower of Power, have detailed the kick-off to their 55th anniversary tour. The band, known for their iconic hits such as “You’re Still A Young Man,” “What is Hip?” and “So Very Hard To Go” has been leaving their fans wowed since their earliest days in Oakland.

Tower of Power will be hitting the road in January to celebrate the 55 years of genre-shaping music, including a stop in Buffalo, NY with the Buffalo Philharmonic. The tour raps from the West Coast down through the Southeast, performing in marquee theaters and performing arts centers. “We were a soul band called the Motowns,” shared founder and bandleader Emilio Castillo. “Rocco was the bass player, I was there and my brother was the drummer. I met Doc back in 1968 and gave him an audition. He came in the band and we eventually changed our name to the Tower of Power.”

In its current formation, the band features original members Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka and David Garibaldi, along with longtime members Jerry Cortez, Roger Smith, Tom Politzer, Adolfo Acosta and Marc van Wageningen. Most recently TOP was rejoined by former member Mike Bogart and is now being led by vocalist and one-time performer on the Voice, Mike Jerel.

“WOW, 55 years!! Tower of Power is heading coast to coast in 2023 to celebrate 55 years of being a band,” Castillo went on. “I can remember back in the day dreaming about getting all the way to Sacramento [from Oakland]. To say the least, we’ve far exceeded our wildest dreams. An eternal thank you to our fans for keeping the spirit of Tower of Power alive for all these years. Looking forward to seeing you in 2023 for a proper SOUL VACCINATION!”

Tower of Power’s complete tour is as follows:

December 31 - The Cabot - Beverly, MA

January 27 - Nugget Casino Ballroom - Sparks, NV

January 28 - Silverton Casino - Las Vegas, NV

February 9 - Harris Center for the Arts - Folsom, CA

February 10 - Turlock Community Center - Turlock, CA

February 11 - Yaamava Resort and Casino - Highland, CA

February 17 - Kleinhans Music Center - Buffalo, NY (with the Buffalo Philharmonic)

February 18 - Colonial Theatre - Laconia, NH

February 19 - American Music Theater - Lancaster, PA

February 21 - Paramount Theatre - Charlottesville, VA

February 22 - Lexington Opera House - Lexington, KY