Rocco Prestia

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Tower of Power [L-R: Greg Adams (trumpet), Mic Gillette (trumpet), Stephen Kupka/Doc/The Doctor (sax), Emilio Castillo (sax), David Bartlett (drums), Lenny Picket (sax), Francis Prestia/Rocco (bass), Lenny Williams (vocals), Bruce Conte (guitar), Chester Thompson (keyboards)] performs on Soul Train episode 126, aired 2/1/1975

“Guys would come up and tell me, ‘I can play such-and-such a Tower of Power song note-for-note.’ But who cares?” The magic of Rocco Prestia’s bassline on Tower of Power’s Only So Much Oil in the Ground

By Chris Jisi published

How to play Rocco Prestia’s classic Tower of Power bassline

Photos of Francis Rocco PRESTIA & Josh Smith

“Rocco Prestia could have held that 16th-note pattern in his sleep – it’s airtight” Halestorm bassist Josh Smith picks his top 5 bass albums

By Nick Wells published

From Tower Of Power to The Beatles, Josh Smith reveals the influences that helped shape his heavy-riffing bass style with Halestorm

Francis Rocco Prestia performing with Tower of Power at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 1, 2008

Legendary Tower of Power bassist Rocco Prestia dies aged 69

By Richard Bienstock published

The fingerstyle funk master was one of the most influential bassists of the past 50 years