So Big..."Tower Of Power" Turns 48!

That's One Huge Tower!
Tower of Power

Tower of Power Celebrates 48th Anniversary in 2016 Doing What They Do Best: Playing their Brand of Soul, Funk, Jazz and Rock to Sold-Out Crowds Around the World

Like Towers? This one is huge!
 

Since their formation in 1968, Tower of Power have been recording and touring, playing hundreds of shows annually and releasing 18 studio albums, seven live albums, six compilations and three DVDs. Additionally, Tower of Power has recorded with hundreds of artists as diverse as Aerosmith, Elton John, Little Feat, Phish, Santana, Heart, and many others, forever infusing the radio airwaves with the band’s musical DNA. The legendary group, known for its unique blend of Soul, Funk, Jazz and Rock, plan to celebrate their 48th anniversary in 2016 doing what they love: performing for their fans. With new generations of fans discovering their timeless music, Tower of Power have never been busier or more in demand. "As we push the envelope globally, our audiences are getting bigger and bigger and younger and younger,” said Emilio Castillo, bandleader for Tower of Power. “What a blessing to see this younger generation seeking out this type of music and also to see so many up and coming Tower of Power ‘clone’ bands endeavoring to play our music." About Tower of Power: Since 1968, Tower of Power has been delivering its unique brand of “Oakland style” music and maintaining a class of its own. Leader and founding member Emilio Castillo labeled the group’s sound as “Urban Soul Music.” Over the years, Tower of Power has performed with some of music’s biggest names including Elton John, Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Huey Lewis, Little Feat, Dionne Warwick, David Sanborn, Paula Abdul, Aaron Neville, Aerosmith, Michael Bolton, Billy Preston, Rod Stewart, Toto, and more. Tower of Power’s rhythm section lays down a groove like no other band. The horn driven sound is unique from writing and arranging to mixing and performing. The group’s collection of hits includes “You’re Still A Young Man,” “So Very Hard To Go,” “Soul With a Capital S,” “Soul Vaccination,” “What Is Hip?” Each year, Tower of Power tours the United States, Japan and Europe, playing sold out shows all over the world. Tower of Power Tour Dates: Dec 19, 2015 Gent, Belgium Handelsbeurs Dec 20, 2015 The Hague, NL Paard van Troje Dec 30, 2015 New York, NY BB King's Dec 31, 2015 Hartford, CT Infinity Hall New Year's Eve Show Jan 8-13, 2016 Oakland, CA Yoshi's at Jack London Square Jan 15, 2016 Agora Hills, CA The Canyon Club Jan 21-24, 2016 Seattle, WA Jazz Alley Jan 26, 2016 Bremerton, WA The Admiral Theater Jan 30, 2016 Grand Ronde, OR Spirit Mountain Casino Feb 6, 2016 Stateline NV Harrah's Tahoe South Shore Room Feb 12-14, 2016 Las Vegas, NV South Point Hotel & Casino April 19, 2016 Alexandria, VA The Birchmere April 22, 2016 Collingswood, NJ Collingswood Scottish Rite Theater April 23, 2016 Glenside, PA The Keswick Theater April 26, 2016 Moscow, ID Kibbe Events Center - University of Idaho May 21, 2016 Cancun, Mexico Oasis Arena at the Grand Oasis Hotel & Resort

Sing Along With: Marti Frederiksen

Songwriter, producer, engineer and drummer Marti Frederiksen was a 10^th grade choir boy, yep that didn't take. Marti has had his a hand in some of the best hits of the last decade, co-writing “Jaded” by Aerosmith, “Undo It” by Carrie Underwood,“Sorry” by Buckcherry, and “Love Remains the Same” by Gavin Rossdale. 

With his restless drive Marti could hear the big picture, pick out the possibilities, and create new harmonies. He started, playing drums in a garage band and writing originals when he was only 15.

Three of Marti’s LA-area bands landed record deals, and that led Marti to producing. Soon he was with Virgin Records co-writing and producing for the Southern rock-tinged Brother Cane, including two songs that reached No. 1 in the Billboard Mainstream Rock Charts....with his many hyphenates look behind the control board, it's an engineer, it's a drummer, a songwriter...no, it's Super Marti!

 MS: You are the ultimate one degree of “American Idol” you have worked with everyone from Steven Tyler, Carrie Underwood, James Durbin & Daughtry – amongst others.

MF: I know man. Every year I think “who is it going to be this time”? (laughs) I've worked with so many of them. There were a couple of songs I wrote for Lee Dewyze that didn't make his current album.

MS: That's too bad.

MF: Well I'm actually kind of glad now, the album isn't doing much, and the songs ares still great maybe they will be recorded by somebody else,

MS: Hopefully someone with a higher profile.(laughs)

MF: Who knows, I hope they get accepted, or maybe...I don't know.

MS: It's interesting you have only worked with one of the two successful “American Idol” winners, Carrie Underwood. You have also worked with two successful “AI” alums who didn't win James Durbin and Chris Daughtry. Unless you are Carrie or Kelly Clarkson it seems you are better off not winning if you want to become a music biz success.

MF: That pretty much where it stands right now, but who knows, let's wait and see what happens with Phillip Phillips.

MS: You are a musician in your own right, you've played drums, guitar, keyboard and what else?

MF: Since I do all my own demos I take on every instrument, I even do vocals.

MS: Do you prefer songwriting and producing or being artist?

MF: Songwriting and producing, it's more all over the place. Being an artist you have to kind of focus on the one sound and dream, ya know.

MS: OK Marti, if you were an instrument which instrument would you want to be?

MF: Drums man. That was always my thing, if it wasn't for drums I don't think I would be writing songs.

Sing, sing a song with Marti at: http://martifrederiksen.com/