Francis Rocco Prestia: A legend in Funk

With BB King’s folded strings, Chuck Berry’s two-note chords and Larry Graham’s thumb, Francis “Rocco” Prestia’s 16-note muffled groove-defining use became an instant recognizable innovation in the neck that remained a constant comforting for the soul. rapidly changing world.

Forged in the iconic R&B band Tower Of Power, the magic and mystery of Prestia’s music – and how he was able to fit so many notes in his pocket – remains 50 years later. Some have tried to explain the propelling and percussive mastery found in the Tower’s lower hymns like What Is Hip ?, You need to have fun, soul vaccinations, pumpkin cakes and credits.

TOP saxophonist / band leader Emilio Castillo guessed: “Rocco is an original. He doesn’t have the technical knowledge of many other great bass players, but that’s what makes him so special. Everything comes from the heart, from the intestine. Many bass players try to imitate his style using their heads, which is why none of them came close to what he felt. ”

Jeff Berlin cites Prestia’s mastery of space within a chain of sixteenth notes, created primarily by the application of muted notes or ghosts. For Rocco, it is a simpler answer: “The key to playing a lot without getting in the way is to put it in rhythm”.

Once the band played soul music – James Brown, Motown, Stax / Volt, Muscle Shoals – that’s when it started for us. I didn’t know their names at the time, but I was influenced by players like James Jamerson, Duck Dunn, Chuck Rainey, Jerry Jemmott, David Hood and Willie Weeks.

Locally, I met Larry Graham, whose percussive approach had an impact on me. And I met and became friends with Paul Jackson, whose creativity certainly attracted me.

Furthermore, I realized that playing more percussively, with notes of staccato, seemed to stop better with Dave’s drums, so dead notes and ghosts became a big part of my style.

Sadly, Rocco passed away in 2020, an irreparable loss to music and Groove, but his legacy lives on.