Interview - Tower of Power Remember Bass Legend Rocco Prestia

[@joeymyopic]

Rocco and David , greatest rhythm section of all time

[@milanomaker]

Always loved Tower of Power. First time I heard them was So Very Hard To Go. Followed them for 50 years. Funkiest band ever.

[@vazz22]

Rocco was the funky Soul sound to the band...he will be missed!🎸🎶

[@alcambrola2834]

I have a humorous Rocco story to share. Back in 1985, the band was playing at this tiny little night club in Newport, RI called "The Blue Pelican." The place was as big as a postage stamp. When I first walked in, I said to myself, "Where in the hell is the band going to fit?" I remember, Willie James Fulton was back on guitar and Ellis Hall was doing lead vocals and keys. Dave Mathiews was also on keys. First time I ever saw the band with 2 keyboard players..........................Anyway, since I had a couple of libations on the way to the club, the first place I hit was the bathroom. As I opened the door, who is standing there but Rocco and Willie with a baby powder container spreading it on their strings. I guess to thwart playing blisters. Of course I kid them about it because of the white powder and it being the 80's. I went about my business and about 20 minutes later, ToP played and blew the roof off the place. Richard Elliot on lead sax also and from what I recall they put on 2 shows! RIP Rocco

[@howardpittman883]

I’m a 70s TOP Funk lover- back when Lenny was the lead singer-I think that band was best in the Land….. but I do appreciate Emilio for keeping it together for all these 50 years… miss you ROCCO it won’t be the same..RIP

[@VegasAlien1]

I'm privileged to have seen Rocco and TOP play on several occasions, and once got to meet the band at a meet and greet after a show. Rocco and David were sitting together, so I shook their hands and thanked them for their music. Legends.

[@tonyallen6510]

I met him.once after a concert good people!🎸

[@tonyallen6510]

They are sill playing real funk music !!!🎷🎺🎺

[@markgehres]

TOP, belongs the the Rock and Roll HOF and receive a Grammy lifetime achievement reward. IMHO

[@jptaylor]

I had the good fortune to play keyboards with Rocco and my good friend, drummer Steve Monreal in a group that billed itself as the Tower Rhythm Section, circa 1986 in Los Angeles. It was really a great time, and Rocco was the kindest, gentlest soul and person you could meet. Not a harsh bone in his body, and such a wonderful natural musician that always seemed to know the right thing to play in whatever song was being played - even non-Tower songs. My wife and I sat next to him and his table in Vegas about 3 years ago or so at the TOP 50th Anniversary Show at the Suncoast. I was shocked as to how frail he was, as I hadn’t seen him in over 30+ years. Tragic loss of a wonderful person. RIP Rocco. 😢

[@alcambrola2834]

Didn't Steve actually fill ToP's drummers chair for a bit back in the 80's also?

[@jptaylor]

@@alcambrola2834 yes he did - that’s when I met Steve, in 1985 when I moved to L.A., and he got me a job at Guitar Center, West Covina. He then became the drummer for T.O.P. for a couple of years until about 1989-90, I think. He then joined a band I co-founded, The Art of Sax, with saxophonist Will Donato and bassist Eddie Reddick. Steve was and is a great guy and a monster musician. He recently texted me after not hearing from him for 30 years. It was great hearing from him again after all these years… Where in the heck has the time gone?!? Crazy.

[@DetroitFettyghost]

@@jptaylor man. Would love to hear you play. Don't ever set it down, keep rocking till your a 100, much love

[@ericwilhelm2941]

Very Heartbreaking and sad to hear how they lost their amazing bass player.

[@2AChef-n-BBQ]

Summer NAMM 2015, About a year after his liver surgery, I ran into Rocco and his rep at the Dunkin Donuts in the Music city center in Nashville. I saw Rocco in 1977 for the first time as a kid just starting to play bass. I was immediately a ToP fan and a Rocco fan. To meet him, finally after almost 40 years was incredible. During that NAMM show, Rocco stopped bat my booth 3 times, just to say hi as he was making the rounds. He said, he knew he made an impact when we talked in DD, because I didn't seem like a guy to get starstruck, and he said I was a bit nervous. He was right on both accounts. RIP Rocco, a true hero, and incredibly nice guy to me. Sometime your Heroes are worthy of that pedastal!!!

[@rongreenfield340]

I had a five minute conversation with him outside a a venue while we enjoyed a smoke . Very Cool Dude

[@Bomono65]

Met Rocco once. Seemed like a really nice guy! My band played before TOP at a festival, and afterwards I ran into him backstage. He stopped and shook my hand and told me he’d had a lot of fun listening to our band. Also his amp hadn’t arrived so he borrowed our bassplayer’s Ampeg and blew it out on the very first song :-D

[@skipbauchmam5995]

I’ve Been a Tower Of Power Fan From day one. I’ve seen them in Small Venues, Like the Roxy in Hollywood to large venues and Music Festivals. 2 things were consistent about the shows. The music was incredible and the fans were incredibly excited. A family brought their matriarch a show. When The band played the intro to “You’re Still A young Man. The Horns kicked in. With tears in her eyes. this kindly matriarch sprung to her feet and screamed. “That’s My Song.” When after decades of the songs release, people react like that. You know you have something right.

[@juleshyperlite9176]

You have well deserved your Rest in Peace Mister Francis Rocco Prestia because you are a Legend ! TOWER OF POWER is not just the funky and soul band, it’s a vitamin, a huge work in the structure of their tracks and fucking more with an alien groove for more than 50 years!!! Also a big thought too for Mr Emilio Castillo and the Doc , thank you very much for everything, you have a lot of love in the hearts of millions of people and we will never forget you! May God protect you and your families. I'm french sorry for translate ... Love

[@timavery7984]

These guys are so humble , but absolute, epic , heavy -hitters musically …so nice how they remembered their dear friend.

[@robertdowler3347]

He was always very kind to me as a fan.

[@316minister]

This has brought tears. The things I learned from these guys!

[@buddystewart2020]

When I was in the Navy and stationed at Mare Island, me and my ex went up to Marine World Africa USA. Or something like that. It was a county fair and we paid 5 bucks each to go in and see TOP. I get to meet Rocco. I knew several of his bass lines and he was a big influence on my playing. He was a super nice guy, and I got a photo with him. We stood down front at the barricade and watched that show, and it was awesome. Saw them again years later in St. Pete Florida, they killed it on that show too.

[@antarcticorb9197]

I met him in Vegas after a show, got to tell him how much I loved his style, and he was very cool...great guy!

[@marklynott3585]

As was said about the late Bill Graham..”don’t expect to see the likes of him again”. Like Jaco Pastorius, an original. R.I.P. Rocco.

[@scottberry4056]

Terribly sad loss. Tragic. Thanks for this interview & video. I love the TOP!

[@kevinsandlin843]

Love this interview. Roco was incredible!

[@jeffreyjohn2037]

I saw Tower of Power at the palace theater in Stamford. Rocco and David kept eye contact all night. Absolute solid pocket!

[@jasonporter6078]

Cleanest band around-and I've thought that since I first heard them in 1991! RIP Rocco.

[@mdturnerinoz]

This was GREAT John! As a cover-band bass player, 1965-1989 -- and San Francisco Bay Area resident 1977-2006 -- admired, no, practically musically worshiped TOP. Funk was, and still is, one of my most fave musical forms, and TOP were/are/and-always-wil-be the TOP of funk! Thanks for the interview; looking forward to more.

[@patrickkelcey2435]

....the boys from the bay.... all of them... nice work....

[@brianchiu69]

A legendary bass player who should be remembered and missed forever.

[@reginaldodecastro4436]

I love Tower of Power

[@noblenotes27]

The best of the best interviews of any interviews of anybody.!!!!!!!!!!!

[@RitchieColeman]

I attended the TP concert in Ann Arbor MI several years ago and had a chance to meet David and Roco after the show, they were amazing and always in the pocket, RIP Roco!

[@alexanthony62]

John I really appreciate your interviewing skills. You ask great questions and you listen (and let us listen 😊). Just a quick note of appreciation brother….

[@RockHistoryMusic]

Thanks so much. I really appreciate that...Thanks for watching...John

[@donningemie6658]

Missing my brother Rock every day...

[@jermainem3399]

RACCO was one of the baddest bass player I've heard in a life time he and Larry Graham unique in there own ways were the baddest bassist every one who could play wanted to be like TOP will forever be loved like and remembered as the best band that ever hit the stage God Bless Sir Racco and his fast fingers lol he will be greatly missed thank you TOP God Bless the whole band bay areas best...Towrr of Power

[@zdogg8]

I was a bandmate - band backing a blues singer - and roommate of RP when he was first let go from Tower in late seventies. I knew his ex-wife, nice black lady, who would call him "Frank" I stayed at their home in Oakland. Rocco would drink Old English - daily....on his way to full recovery, but that was still a ways off....we parted before that came to be....so I don't know exactly how long that took. I ran into him years later in Beverly Hills, he was visiting his lawer's office and was pretty obviously in a state of sobriety. He was gruff and funny, a very good hearted man, he thought he was kind of a tough guy and carried himself that way. He could ONLY play T of P songs, and blues, that was it, at jam sessions he was no good. I did not know if he was actually that good of a bass player or not, strange as that might seem, since he knew not one jazz standard I thought maybe not so much, but I caught him at probably one of his lowest points. Rocco, I love you, man....Memory Eternal.

[@tonye.morgan1162]

Tower Of Power Musical Heroes had the chance to have my picture taken with my bass playing hero got it hanging now in my jam barn

[@murenismail1399]

I miss I love ❤

[@jonwatkins675]

RIP Rocco! Any question why these guys are TOP?!

[@shaunkelly9860]

Rocco was a monster. RIP

[@josephanthony392]

Rocco was a bad dude. Saw a show one time, went to the bathroom right before it started and looked over and there he was taking a piss.

[@DavidSmith-kz8lr]

Rocco.......was Mr. FUNK...!

[@philandgayelynnbethel5380]

Franco is sooooo missed.

[@brianmoss5483]

Wood shop

[@policeluber6720]

Why didn’t no one stop Rocco,from smoking like a chimney ?

[@dspiffy]

Smoking isnt what killed him.

[@itsnotacello2296]

It is just a cover band without Rocco.

[@IanRans]

Lead vocalist? Are you kidding

[@msrainbow6242]

Rocco could never sober up and love himself, so sad.

[@policeluber6720]

Like Dave never did drugz ....liar

[@dspiffy]

Dave didnt do a lot of drugs.