Rest In Peace Mic Gillette. One of the original members of Tower of Power. Your ability to hit high notes on the trumpet and switch back and forth to the trombone will be greatly missed. I had no idea that this man died of a heat attack Jan 2016. There will never be another Mic Gillette.
Fresno California LOVED Tower of Power!! 1973!! I was 14 years old and going to all the concerts at selland arena like I was Grown!! boy those were the days😂😂 what an awesome unbelievable time of my life till I graduated in 1975 and got married and then that was it it was over😂😂😂
Lenny put them in a class all by themselves… they tried over the years, but could never replace Lenny. Never had the chance to see in person, can listen to them everyday Thanks so much
It's such a over used term, but they really don't put out music like this anymore. Personally, I think the 70s was the last decade of GREAT music across all genres.
Lenny is probably best known as the sax player (since 1985) and musical director (since 1995) of Saturday Night Live. I've never seen him move like that on SNL, though!
I just like watching LP’s feet. And for a change we actually catch a glimpse of Brent Byars on congas. He wasn’t overpowering, but he added something to the overall sound of the group.
I love this lineup and I miss both Lennys and Mic Gillett. But Larry Braggs is a STUD! And Richard Elliott is an awesome sax player too. Too bad Larry left too.
Hey Tower fans, check this out: I was live-streaming a Tower concert from Ventura a few weeks ago and when they were playing Don't Change Horses my 27 year old niece says "this song would sound much better if Lenny Williams was singing it." I told her that Lenny was the original singer on it and she thought I was crazy...she had no idea that he was with Tower and only knew him from hearing Steve Harvey playing him on the radio.
Lenny Williams was the best. Saw him with his own group at The Old Waldorf in San Francisco. I still have the 35mm slides of that gig. Greg Adams was Class of '70 at Westmoor High School, up the hill from us at Jefferson High. He was writing charts for their jazz band, and played at the Westlake Shopping Center, in Daly City, CA LP playing a King Silversonic with Berg Larsen mouthpiece.
Pennsy Admini Thanks for providing the correct info. FEBRUARY 16 1945 is Mr. Williams born day. That makes him 73 . And yes he can still hit them high notes. And btw, he is still married.
Awesomeness personified. I lived in SF back then and these guys songs played on the radio all the time and blew me away. Best funk horn band ever. Lenny Pickett was a friggin monster on tenor. I can't think of anyone who could or can play altissimo like him. Incredible!!! Plus Who the fuck else could ever dance like that with a tenor around their neck? I loved them then and still do today.
@@pgonzo98 Not true. The original lead was Rufus Miller. Rick was co-lead. Then Rufus quit. Rick took over as the solo lead singer. In my book Rick was better, but just my opinion. Lenny Pickett wasn't in the original line up either. He was a fabulous addition!
This is the best of tower of power. I m been a fan from the beginning. In 1973. Lenny Williams I thought was the best.also, David garababali was the best with Francis. I love you franisis preitesa. Best bass player I will ever here in my life. I would love to meet you again. Yei met you in 1983. What a thrill my friend icon musisician. Love you all !!
Mannnn!......This was the best lineup,...the horn section is off the chain,... In high school we were always trying to emulate the horn section of Tower Of Power or the band Chicago,..
+Trumpet Tunes Leo P. of Too Many Zooz must be his grandson, or at least his modern equivalent cause the dude dances around like that and more so while playing bari.
He was the baby of the group---not by many years---but he had to step into Skip Mesquite's shoes who left for Cold Blood. That's a tall order. Also trumpet/trombonist Mic Gillette was also a member of Cold Blood. Sadly both Mr Mesquite & Mr Gillette have passed on---rest easy fellows
This band was just Great They played the Tower Theater in Philly in the mid 1970's.The true story line was the seat you payed for but never sat in They where that Hot
These guys are do tight oh my goodness man oooh yeah ❤️ this bad band is cooking even it old they still sounds good 👍 oh my stepping out in the crowd. What's wrong with that ooh my my my
if am thinking of what you're saying. just because it was a different time people went out to have a good time no violence no guns no hassles may b that why they could go into the audience if that's what you're saying ✌
Hear Lenny do 'Cause I Love You and several other tunes LIVE in front of a very enthusiastic audience on New Years Eve 1978 in high def at ruclips.net/video/ip8OY5D7V4I/видео.html. (I was blessed to get to know Lenny =and= Rick over the years. Two truly =great= guys.)
Totally agree. Great song, super horn parts, and Lenny's singing is heartfelt and absolutely tailor- made. I was in a big band in college and one of my buddies, a trumpet player, loved this song...until he had a heart wrenching breakup with his girlfriend. Then he literally could not listen to it without being reduced to blubbering.
Like the Santana band(s) of 1970-1973, and The Eagles 1972-79, this lineup of TOP was the killingest! Anyone know why Lenny Williams left the group early on? Was it because he felt he *was* what made the group? If so, that was a bad call on his part. Few artists in popular musical groups realize that it is the sum of parts rather than the individual that make it work.
Mic Gillette agreed with me that this was Towers best lineup. Garibaldi was much more funkier and creative in these years compared to now. Now he is more technical and refined in his playing. Still funky but not like 70.s
I was raised on this lineup. Best musical grooming I could have ever had. TOP with Lenny was amazing!
And Garibaldi - one of the tightest rhythm sections ever.
And Rocco. Rocco. Rocco.
Rest In Peace Mic Gillette. One of the original members of Tower of Power. Your ability to hit high notes on the trumpet and switch back and forth to the trombone will be greatly missed. I had no idea that this man died of a heat attack Jan 2016. There will never be another Mic Gillette.
curtiss2000 in San Diego at the Belly Up in my 30s he bought me a stranger a drink..talking trumpet. Rest in Peace.
I miss the Conga player Brent Byars,too.& Frank Biner.
Tower of Power at its best no group comes close
Lenny Williams brings the best out of the group, lets the audience feel the soul and funk all night
Fresno California LOVED Tower of Power!! 1973!! I was 14 years old and going to all the concerts at selland arena like I was Grown!! boy those were the days😂😂 what an awesome unbelievable time of my life till I graduated in 1975 and got married and then that was it it was over😂😂😂
Lenny put them in a class all by themselves… they tried over the years, but could never replace Lenny.
Never had the chance to see in person, can listen to them everyday
Thanks so much
It's such a over used term, but they really don't put out music like this anymore. Personally, I think the 70s was the last decade of GREAT music across all genres.
I agree..it's a shame..there are a few good artists sprinkled here now but the 70's was it..
Lenny Pickett is like, 18 years-old in this clip,
& ALREADY killin' it! Damn!
Lenny Pickett was just NINETEEN years old here. Let that sink in, folks.
Williams..
cleopatrabon. Lenny Pickett is the dancing saxophone player, not the lead singer.
Lenny Picket had to the bone Chester Thompson amazing
Lenny is probably best known as the sax player (since 1985) and musical director (since 1995) of Saturday Night Live. I've never seen him move like that on SNL, though!
In 1973 he was 28 years old born in 1945
Lenny Williams is a Beast on the Mic.. He can flat out SING.
After all of these years TOP still gives me goose bumps. That's kind of nice. Lenny was irreplaceable.
Agreed. Best line up
My favorite TOP lineup. Wish I could put myself in a time capsule. Got your fox fur on and got my game on tight
So very hard to go, my favorite Tower of Power song!
my favorite version of TOP
Lenny Pickett dancing. Man I miss that guy!
Now he has a great gig on SNL
Best Singer Tower of Power ever had....Hands Down
Lenny Williams (in my humble opinion) was the best singer/frontman for TOP ever…
so funny I was at this event 👌
THIS IS THE BEST VERSION OF TOP..AND I'VE FOLLOWED THEM SINCE 1972...LENNY WILLIAMS HAD THAT CERTAIN EXTRA THAT THE OTHER SINGERS DID NOT HAVE
I agree 100%. I'm 73 and in my opinion, he was the best.
Rick Stevens too.
Large Braggs did great too
Larry
Rick Stevens was the best in my book. There have been so many lead singers. I am sure each one is a favorite of somebody.
Lenny Williams had a such an incredibly spectacular voice. This recording of the band is pure gold.
I just like watching LP’s feet.
And for a change we actually catch a glimpse of Brent Byars on congas.
He wasn’t overpowering, but he added something to the overall sound of the group.
Lenny Williams voice naturally blends in with the horns and that's what made the whole TOP sound. There will never be another!
I was today years old when I realized he is SNLs musical director!!!
Love the dancing of Lenny Pickett
The Swirl and Twirl.--- Oakland Stroke
my absolute favorite horn/funk band of all time. Lenny Williams=the best singer TOP ever had.
Actually in the top 3 of all time lead singers ! Cant think of other two..
I agree
Rick Stevens for me!
The best lineup ..ever jack
Sure wish there was more video of this edition of TOP available to see.
I love this lineup and I miss both Lennys and Mic Gillett. But Larry Braggs is a STUD! And Richard Elliott is an awesome sax player too. Too bad Larry left too.
@@georgegonzalez1996 somebody went to c m at mountaineerr casino in wva by me...still kick butt he sez
Lenny Williams with TOP. It just doesn't get any better than that!
Lenny Pickett ain't half bad on Tenor Sax.
Record sales = Lenny Williams as the best singer ever with Tower of Power! CAn't argue with the register receipts :)
Did we live in the best of times in all of Human History.................??
Sing It Lenny !!!
1-19-23
T.O.P. One of the greatest bands of all time great musicians and the best lead singer they ever had Lenny Williams
Rick Stevens was great..he was the original singer of you're still a young man...
@@cleopatrabonz Yep -- can't forget him.
Down to the nightclub,
2020 and Tower of Power remains.... Go Lenny!!! Funk never dies and the message resonates!!!
Funk can never be unfunked!
Lenny always danced like that. His energy was amd is infectious to the band
this is what soul music dose to your soul brings all these nationalities in a band to make soul music good music top your the BEST.
Definitely and under rated singer. I forgot how good he was.
LENNY WILLIAMS AS THE LEAD SINGER OF T.O.P. , NO ONE BETTER , ONE OF THE ALL TIME GREAT GROUPS , PERIOD !
Jerry Ferko Brent Carter was THE Man!
That '73 T.O.P. album is truly the best! They completely changed the game.
At the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, great days.
Tower of Power This Group untouchable Lenny Williams out front WOW
Hey Tower fans, check this out: I was live-streaming a Tower concert from Ventura a few weeks ago and when they were playing Don't Change Horses my 27 year old niece says "this song would sound much better if Lenny Williams was singing it." I told her that Lenny was the original singer on it and she thought I was crazy...she had no idea that he was with Tower and only knew him from hearing Steve Harvey playing him on the radio.
Lenny Williams was the best. Saw him with his own group at The Old Waldorf in San Francisco. I still have the 35mm slides of that gig.
Greg Adams was Class of '70 at Westmoor High School, up the hill from us at Jefferson High. He was writing charts for their jazz band, and played at the Westlake Shopping Center, in Daly City, CA
LP playing a King Silversonic with Berg Larsen mouthpiece.
What a rhythm section. Dave Garibaldi and Rocco Prestia.
My very favorite lineup of Tower of Power 🔋
Every member a star in his own right.
The line up here is unbelievable!! I so miss Mic Gillette!!
lenny is in his 70's now but he still sounds good.
+ed herman He's only 62, born in '54. He's still a young man.
No. He was born in 1945. Look at the video again. Does he really look 19 in that video?
Pennsy Admini Thanks for providing the correct info. FEBRUARY 16 1945 is Mr. Williams born day. That makes him 73 . And yes he can still hit them high notes. And btw, he is still married.
How can anyone give this a thumbs down? There’s 8....? This kills
Facts!!!!!!
Micropenis.
Because they have issues...
TOP is top shelf! Lenny Pickett amazed me.
Awesomeness personified. I lived in SF back then and these guys songs played on the radio all the time and blew me away. Best funk horn band ever. Lenny Pickett was a friggin monster on tenor. I can't think of anyone who could or can play altissimo like him. Incredible!!! Plus Who the fuck else could ever dance like that with a tenor around their neck? I loved them then and still do today.
Man!... that was the band!
Those are the original kats too.
They were the best....
Thanks for the memories.
the original lead singer was rick stevens...lenny is in my opinion the best TOP vocalist....so not the original band...
@@pgonzo98 Not true. The original lead was Rufus Miller. Rick was co-lead. Then Rufus quit. Rick took over as the solo lead singer. In my book Rick was better, but just my opinion. Lenny Pickett wasn't in the original line up either. He was a fabulous addition!
The Lenny Pickett show.
LENNY!!!
This is such a very rare "live" recording of this song being performed by TOP "with" the young Lenny Williams. THANK YOU for uploading this one.! WOW.
It was a GREAT show....I see me in my big azz hat 13:04 and elsewhere funkin in the front row.
Yes sir Some Tower of Power for the soul and mind
Truly a classic and badass Band from back in the day .
I Loved This Band Two Years After I Graduated High School They Came On The Sean
Nice band - nobody had the horns like these dudes
AWB
Sons of Champlin too.
How to make woodwinds and horns become percussion instruments. Doesn’t get any tighter than these guys. ♥️
This is the best of tower of power. I m been a fan from the beginning. In 1973. Lenny Williams I thought was the best.also, David garababali was the best with Francis. I love you franisis preitesa. Best bass player I will ever here in my life. I would love to meet you again. Yei met you in 1983. What a thrill my friend icon musisician. Love you all !!
Best horn band of my time
Dio mio! La forza della natura ! una band incredibile!
I don’t care WHO they get to sing lead…..no one fits TOP better than Lenny!!!!!!
Lenny wasn't the original lead of top the first lead who sang still a young man and sparkling in the sand went to prison for 30 years for murder
Dios mío, el mejor Show ,
Insuperable.
I was there and it was awesome
Mannnn!......This was the best lineup,...the horn section is off the chain,... In high school we were always trying to emulate the horn section of Tower Of Power or the band Chicago,..
This was the 1st TOP concert I attended while in High school. Awesome!
These cats are the bomb! LOL
Dayamm! I was there! Brings back great memories!
Yeah, but NOBODY danced like LP! Or played like him, for that matter. 19-years old and smoking!!
+Trumpet Tunes Leo P. of Too Many Zooz must be his grandson, or at least his modern equivalent cause the dude dances around like that and more so while playing bari.
Trumpet Tunes Kenny Pickett was zoomin
He was the baby of the group---not by many years---but he had to step into Skip Mesquite's shoes who left for Cold Blood. That's a tall order. Also trumpet/trombonist Mic Gillette was also a member of Cold Blood. Sadly both Mr Mesquite & Mr Gillette have passed on---rest easy fellows
My first TOP concert!! of many !! Santa Monica Civic !!
The funky LW and the soulful TOP.
Awesomeness!!
My home
East Bay Funk!
RIP Rocco
The best ... EVER
Great show!!!!
LP
Rocco
This band was just Great They played the Tower Theater in Philly in the mid 1970's.The true story line was the seat you payed for but never sat in They where that Hot
Wow^
Rick Steven's was the original lead singer for top who sang still a young man and sparkling in the sand he went to prison for 30 years for murder
These guys are do tight oh my goodness man oooh yeah ❤️ this bad band is cooking even it old they still sounds good 👍 oh my stepping out in the crowd. What's wrong with that ooh my my my
if am thinking of what you're saying. just because it was a different time people went out to have a good time no violence no guns no hassles may b that why they could go into the audience if that's what you're saying ✌
Top wrecked the stage and lenny williams was bringing it
That’s NOT an exaggeration!
At the old Santa Monica Civic Center ... great days
...and don't miss the seldom heard improvisation soloparts of Doc and Mimi!
Early Tower it is...
Lenny Pickett is such a bad-ass!!
Hear Lenny do 'Cause I Love You and several other tunes LIVE in front of a very enthusiastic audience on New Years Eve 1978 in high def at ruclips.net/video/ip8OY5D7V4I/видео.html. (I was blessed to get to know Lenny =and= Rick over the years. Two truly =great= guys.)
Rip / MIC / RICK 🌹🌹😎
❤️🐐
THE GREAT LENNY PICKETT LEAD SAX BRET BAIR CONGO'S ( JUMP SHOT JOHNSON) HILL DISTRICT PITTSBURGH, PA.
Kenny Pickett is the musical director on Snl
TOP especially Hard To Go on constant repeat.......
Totally agree. Great song, super horn parts, and Lenny's singing is heartfelt and absolutely tailor- made. I was in a big band in college and one of my buddies, a trumpet player, loved this song...until he had a heart wrenching breakup with his girlfriend. Then he literally could not listen to it without being reduced to blubbering.
Sam White Awwwwww poor guy; I can definitely see where this would tear his heart out!!
Too bad they never got that original sound back after Brent Byers Congo and Lenny Williams left.
HonkyPox 🤩
Like the Santana band(s) of 1970-1973, and The Eagles 1972-79, this lineup of TOP was the killingest!
Anyone know why Lenny Williams left the group early on? Was it because he felt he *was* what made the group? If so, that was a bad call on his part. Few artists in popular musical groups realize that it is the sum of parts rather than the individual that make it work.
Blow That Sax !!!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
3 - 28 - 24
Mic Gillette agreed with me that this was Towers best lineup. Garibaldi was much more funkier and creative in these years compared to now. Now he is more technical and refined in his playing. Still funky but not like 70.s
I think this was the legendary date with Cheech and Chong. TOP was the opening act. Was Dave here?
+bpabustan No Man, Dave's not there. He's still out in the hall banging on the fucking door trying to get in.
I saw them in 1977 at the Cow Palace outside San Francisco when l was in the Navy. Creech And Chong opened for them
Cheech and Chong at 3:39?
+Donald Frederiksen Affirmative.......but was Dave here?
@@bpabustan Dave's not here!
was Lynyrd Skynyrd there that night, if so I was there
Wh0S on Congas ?
Cheech & chong
Who is Lenny Pickett ?🤷🏾♂️🤔