Marc Van Wageningen Archives

Oakland’s finest soul band, Tower of Power, has announced a winter tour for 2023 to celebrate the band’s 55th anniversary. The band is still led by Emilio Castillo, who founded the group in 1968 with his brother Jack Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka, and bassist Francis “Rocco” Prestia.

Tower of Power has, unfortunately, had to nix their European dates for 2022, but they’ve also unveiled a fall tour of the U.S. The iconic R&B-based group will kick things off at the end of September with Marc van Wageningen on bass.

Tower of Power has unveiled a new spring tour of the U.S. that marks their first major outing since the beginning of the pandemic. Bassist Marc Van Wageningen, who had filled in for Rocco Prestia through the years, will carry on the tradition.

The bass world lost a legend last week with the passing of Tower of Power bassist Francis “Rocco” Prestia. Now, a huge gathering of the bass community will be getting together to remember him.

Ten days ago, NPR tested the limits of their Tiny Desk concert space with a visit from Tower of Power. The band treated the audience to three tunes: “On the Soul Side of Town,” “So Very Hard to Go,” and “What Is Hip?” Marc van Wageningen had some big shoes to fill too, taking over for Rocco Prestia while he...

The music world was shocked in January when Tower of Power bassist Marc Van Wageningen and drummer David Garibaldi were struck by a train on their way to a gig at Yoshi’s Night Club in Oakland, California. Thankfully, they both survived, though Van Wageningen (aka Marc VW) was put in the hospital in serious condition. One week after the accident,...