News and Updates
National Anthem, June 25, 2010, AT&T Park, San Francisco
Leave it to Mic to slip a few notes of You're Still a Young Man into the National Anthem! Check it out:
Mic Gillette rejoins Tower of Power
After a 25-year "hiatus," Mic Gillette rejoined Tower of Power as a full-time band member and leader of the horn section beginning at the San Mateo County Fair in California on August 19, 2009.
Mic replaces "Iron" Mike Bogart, who left the band after nine stellar years as lead trumpet and trombone player to continue his career in the US Navy Band.
"I have spent the past 25 years tending to and loving two very fine girls and wouldn't have missed a minute of it for anything, Mic said. "I never thought I'd actually return to the band I helped build and staked my reputation on, but
here we go again.
"Mike Bogart has been everything the band wants and deserves as a lead trumpet, and I am so proud of him, as well as happy for him for leaving while he is on TOP."
Mic was one of the original members of the mighty Tower of Power horn section that has recorded for some of the biggest names in the music business. He's made a number of guest appearances with the band in the past couple of years, including the big 40-year reunion at the Fillmore in San Francisco in October 2008.
"I can't describe what it feels like to lead and play in the tightest, best horn section in the world," an enthusiastic Gillette stated. "I can only tell you it feels like coming home musically.
Standing and playing next to my old and dear friend, Doc, is simply indescribable. We have made, and will continue to make history, as well as great music.
Along with bandleader Emilio Castillo, baritone saxophonist Stephen "Doc" Kupka, drummer David Garibaldi, and bass guitarist Francis Rocco Prestia, this means that half of the ten-man band in 2009 will be composed of original members from the "classic" Tower of Power lineup of the early 1970's. And Mic assures his fans, with a grin, that he can still part your hair from 30 paces!
There will be more news and information to come regarding this story. Stay tuned!
"Thanx again to the band for asking me back again, and to my wife and daughter who have encouraged me to do so," Gillette said.
Remembering Joe Martinez
A PERSONAL NOTE FROM MIC GILLETTE: Saturday, January 10, 2009, we lost my great friend and biggest fan, Joe Martinez (pictured above, left, in his prime!). He was, of course, the Father of my wife, Julia and the last surviving grandparent of my daughter Megan. He was to help me walk Megan down the aisle at her wedding in March 2009, and we are all deeply saddened at his departure.
Joe was of Spanish descent, both parents from Spain, and the fifth of seven brothers. He was a golden gloves boxer out of Hayward, CA and one of the toughest men I have ever come across. Born April 10, 1927, he saw 81+ years and was looking forward to several more. He left three daughters and a son, as well as five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. His widow is Constance Martinez, and they lived in Avery, CA.
Megan and Julia have established a memorial/donation page for him. All donations received are sent directly to the American Heart Association and helps further their research, education and community programs to fight against cardiovascular disease. This is his page… .American Heart Association - National - Megan Gillette's Fundraising Page.
God Bless You Joe. You are sorely missed. - Mic
A Special Day at BR Cohn Winery
Mic joined Lara Johnston, Cold Blood, Huey Lewis, The Doobie Brothers, and Tower of Power for a special day at BR Cohn Winery in Sonoma, California, on September 29, 2007. Not your ordinary day! Mic was the first musician ever to play with all five groups at this annual gig. Joel Selvin of the San Francisco Chronicle did a nice writeup about this event. [Posted 10/31/07]
Here's a photo from that gig with Tower of Power:
And another photo with Huey Lewis:
And with the Doobie Brothers:
And with Lara Johnston and Marc Russo:
Mic and Josh
Enjoy this short video clip of Mic Gillette working with one of his young students, Josh. [Posted 10/29/2007]
CD Release Party Photos.
Over 120 photos from Mic's October 6, 2005 CD Release Party are now available on this Web site at this address: http://www.micgillette.com/cd_release_party.php. Enjoy! [Posted Dec. 4, 2005]
A Funky Good Time!
The CD release party for Mic Gillette's 2005 CD, "Ear Candy," was held in Roanoke, Virginia on October 6. The musicians got together for this group photo (see below). How many can you identify? Hint: Mic is in the blue shirt in the foreground. You can also find Larry Braggs and Stephen "Doc" Kupka from Tower of Power, Bill Champlin from the Sons of Champlin, and more.
Mic at Martinsville.
Mic spent the 2005 4th of July weekend in Virginia, where he appeared on the same program at the Martinsville Speedway (NASCAR) with The Domino Band. Headliner: Trick Pony. This free event drew a crowd of more than 40,000. See photos directly below this item. [Posted 07/05/2005]
Mix Magazine Article
Mix Magazine recently did an article in their October issue about the historic recording session of the original Tower of Power Horns (see below). You can read the article at this Web address: http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_hip_sy_kopps/. [Posted 11/13/2004]
An Historic Day in Oakland
On July 18, 2004, a bunch of old friends got together
to lay down some tracks for Mic Gillette's forthcoming solo CD, due out in the
latter part of 2004. The Tower of Power horn section from 1972—Emilio
Castillo, Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Skip Mesquite, Greg
Adams and Mic Gillette—got together with bassist Francis Rocco
Prestia to make some new music. There was also another recognizable name in
attendance—Bruce Steinberg, famous for his numerous album and CD covers
and artwork. Rocky Barbanica of ROC Video Productions was in attendance and shot
video footage of this historic occasion. There are 17 pages of photographs from
this session on Rocky's Web site, as well as a 2-minute video. If you want to
see live footage of the guys at work (30+ years after they last worked
together!), check out Rocky's Web site at: http://www.RockVideos.us.
A sample photo from Rocky's collection is shown above. Pictured from left: Greg,
Doc, Mic, Skip, Bruce and Emilio. Click
here for a keepsake photo of this 5-man horn section. [Posted 07/28/2004]
Photos Copyright © 2004, Rocky Barbanica,
ROC Video Productions. Used with permission.
Towering Trumpets
Three good friends recently got together for a gig in Modesto, California (see photo below): Lee Thornburg, Greg Adams and Mic Gillette. [Posted 02/20/2004]
Hey Big Brother
Newly-published is a biography by Michael Spoerke about Big Brother and the Holding Co. The book includes remarks about Mic Gillette and the Tower of Power Horn Section who appeared on the band's 1970 album, Be A Brother. Mic Gillette is one of many artists who was interviewed for this publication. A newly-created Web site is also available for those who are interested (it is written entirely in German): http://www.bbhc-the-biography.com/. [Posted 08/24/03]
Mic
Endorses Marcinkiewicz
Mic Gillette announced recently that he will play and endorse Marcinkiewicz trumpets and mouthpieces. See Mic's Equipment page for details. [Posted 07/15/03]
Will Porter CD Now Available
The new Will Porter CD, Happy, featuring Billy Preston, Barbara Lewis, Leo Nocentelli of The Meters, and Mic Gillette is now available on Porter's Web site at: http://www.willporter.com. [Posted 02/18/03]
New Sons CD Now Available
The January 2003 Sons of Champlin CD, Secret, is now available on their Web site: http://www.sonsofchamplin.com. Mic is pictured below during one of the actual recording sessions for this CD. [Posted 01/26/03]
Jazz Festival Appearance
Mic Gillette will be featured at the Lafayette (California) Jazz Festival playing with the big bands from Stanley Middle School and Acalanes High School, March 6 and 8, 2003. He will be performing an arrangement of This Time It's Real, and a medley of You're Still a Young Man, You Got to Funkifize, and Give Me The Proof. [Posted 01/22/03]
Mic Contributes to #1 CD
This from Tony Adamo, the mighty fine Bay Area vocalist whose 2002 CD, Simple Groove, is now available online: "Not only did Mic play on my Simple Groove CD. On No Strings Attached Mic also wrote the horn arrangement. No Strings Attached was #1 for two weeks at loudenergy.com's Smooth Jazz charts. On my new CD, Dance of Love on Rhombus Records, Mic wrote the horn arrangements and plays on Mystery, No Strings and Rhythm of Your Love. Mic's horn section on Dance of Love includes Skip Mesquite and the funky Doc Kupka." For more information about Tony Adamo's recordings, visit http://www.jazznow.com/Adamo/adindex.html. [Posted 10/15/02]
