227. Getting FUNKY and FUNNY with Emilio Castillo who started Tower of Power 54 years ago.

<p>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, <a href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano">piano</a>, and <a href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitar">guitar</a>, and also took lessons in music theory from one-time <a href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Brubeck">Dave Brubeck</a> bass player <a href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Bates_(musician)">Norman Bates</a>. 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 <a href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocco_Prestia">Francis Rocco Prestia</a>), and Dave Getner on vocals. In March, 1966 they released the song "Who Stole The Batmobile" After seeing <a href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Bay_Area">Bay Area</a> soul band The Spyders, Castillo switched to saxophone and formed 'The Motowns' playing <a href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_music">soul music</a> covers.</p> <p>After meeting baritone sax player <a href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Kupka">Stephen "Doc" Kupka</a> 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, <em>East Bay Grease</em>, 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.</p> <p>Emilio openly talks about the importance of getting sober and how that motivated him to live his life with principals first. His approach now with Tower of Power is, “I want