What gives them the power: Their 5-piece horn section.

Why the power is legend: After playing funky soul music for 36 years, the Oakland, Calif.-based group was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at this summer's California Music Awards (formerly the Bammies).

Hits you may remember: "What Is Hip," "You Got to Funkifize" and "Down to the Nightclub."

Insider nugget: Every drum and bass team worth its salt learns to play the groove from "What Is Hip."

" Review of their performance at the AT&T LoDo Music Festival, Denver

"Tower of Power, the 10-man Oakland, Calif., soul band built around three middle-age saxophonists, may be 36 years old this week, but its junior members give the band a shimmying, funky vitality.

In a luxurious hour-and-a-half set . . . Tower of Power recalled a bygone era of horn-based soul music. Bandleader Emilio Castillo went out of his way to toast the "Godfather of Soul" as a primary influence in Diggin' on James Brown, and it's obvious the tight, horn-heavy structure of Brown's JB's has provided not only Tower's blueprint but its livelihood.

The band has made concessions to a newer, more polished and streamlined R&B sound, with recent tracks such as Could've Done It Better and Give Me Your Love. On these, in particular, energetic young singer Larry Braggs was a galvanizing force, jumping up and down and hitting every high note when the horn players were bogged down with their parts."

— Denver Rocky Mountain News,

July 10, 2004

HEAR THEM TONIGHT

Where: Jefferson Center's Shaftman Performance Hall

Show time: 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $35

Call: 345-2550 or visit jeffcenter.org.

Why it's worth $35: Benefits the Downtown Music Lab, a nonprofit, after-school program.

Hear classic Tower tunes:

What is Hip? and Down to the Nightclub (RealPlayer required).