Emilio Castillo (born September 24, 1950) is an American saxophone player and

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

, best known as the founder of the band

Tower of Power Tower of Power is an American R&B and funk based band and horn section, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing since 1968. The band has had a number of lead vocalists, the best-known being Lenny Williams, who fronted ...

Background

In 1965, Emilio Castillo took to music after he and his brother Jack were caught stealing by his father who told him he could stay in his room until he thought of something to 'Keep him off the street'. Castillo and his brother chose music. Emilio chose saxophone and Jack chose drums. He took lessons in saxophone,

piano A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...

, and

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

, and also took lessons in music theory from one-time Dave Brubeck bass player Norman Bates. His first musical endeavor was in Extension Five which later became The Gotham City Crime Fighters due to the Batman craze at the time. He played both organ and sax. The group also consisted of his brother Jack on drums, Jody Lopez on guitar Frank “Rocco’ Houghton on bass (later going by the name of Francis Rocco Prestia), and Dave Genthner on vocals. In March, 1966 they released the song "Who Stole The Batmobile" After seeing Bay Area soul band The Spyders, Castillo switched to saxophone and formed 'The Motowns' playing

soul music Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in African-American culture, African-American African-American neighborhood, communities throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Catchy rhythms, stressed by handclaps ...

covers. After meeting baritone sax player Stephen "Doc" Kupka Castillo switched, on Kupka's suggestion, to performing original material and the band changed its name to 'Tower of Power'. The band recorded their first album, ''East Bay Grease'', in 1970. Castillo has been with the band ever since, as leader and 2nd tenor saxophonist. He and Kupka are also responsible for writing many of the band's best-known songs.

Work with other artists

He contributed to the track "Shoo-Fly" which was on José Feliciano's ''For My Love...Mother Music'', released in 1974. Castillo and Stephen Kupka worked with Frankie B., producing both sides of the 1982 single "I'm A Midnight Mover" which was written by Bobby Womack and Wilson Pickett". He provided background vocals on "Who Do You Love" which was on Carlos Santana's 1983 album '' Havana Moon''. Along with Stephen Kupka, Castillo co-composed the music for the song "Que Nivel De Mujer" which appears on the '' Aries'' album by Luis Miguel, released in 1993. He also played tenor saxophone on the track.Discogs
Luis Miguel – Aries
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References

External links

Emilio Castillo info on the Tower of Power websiteEmilio Castillo
NAMM Oral History Program Interview (2005)
AllMusic: Emilio CastilloDiscogs: Emilio Castillo
{{DEFAULTSORT:Castillo, Emilio Living people American funk saxophonists American male saxophonists Tower of Power members 1950 births American musicians of Mexican descent 21st-century American saxophonists 21st-century American male musicians