UPDATE 1:00 PM EST JANUARY 13, 2017
A statement From Emilio Castillo, leader of Tower of power:
"I was at the hospital last night and saw David but Marc was in intensive care and I wasn't able to see him. Dave's head and face were pretty swollen and bruised but he was lucid and expected to recover. Marc came through surgery well; his internal bleeding was stopped and they were waiting for him to stabilize in order to do further testing. The doctors were cautiously optimistic. We appreciate the responses and prayers from our former bandmates, friends, and fans and we all remain hopeful and in prayer."
(January 13, 2017) In a tragic accident, two members of the legendary R&B and funk group Tower of Power have been injured, hit by an Amtrak train near Oakland's Jack London Square. Both members were admitted into the hospital in serious condition, and fortunately are now expected to recover.
UPDATE 1:00 PM EST JANUARY 13, 2017
A statement From Emilio Castillo, leader of Tower of power:
"I was at the hospital last night and saw David but Marc was in intensive care and I wasn't able to see him. Dave's head and face were pretty swollen and bruised but he was lucid and expected to recover. Marc came through surgery well; his internal bleeding was stopped and they were waiting for him to stabilize in order to do further testing. The doctors were cautiously optimistic. We appreciate the responses and prayers from our former bandmates, friends, and fans and we all remain hopeful and in prayer."
(January 13, 2017) In a tragic accident, two members of the legendary R&B and funk group Tower of Power have been injured, hit by an Amtrak train near Oakland's Jack London Square. Both members were admitted into the hospital in serious condition, and fortunately are now expected to recover.
Jeremy Westby, a public relations spokesman for Tower of Power, released the following statement: “In an unfortunate accident tonight, two members of the award-winning group Tower Of Power, drummer David Garibaldi and current bassist Marc Van Wageningen, were struck by a train in California. Both men are responsive and being treated at a local hospital in Oakland.” The group's manager, Tom Consolo, followed with, "There will be an update on their conditions tomorrow but for tonight please send your prayers."
The Amtrak train regularly travels the route between Sacramento and Palo Alto, and had more than two dozen passengers at the time of the accident. The specifics of the accident are unknown.
Tower of Power's nearly five decade odyssey began in 1968 when Emilio Castillo met Stephen "Doc" Kupka in July of that year. That began the creation of one of R&B's all-time great bands, known particularly for their world class horn section. Tower of Power had a string of terrific hits in the 1970s, including "So Very Hard To Go," "You're Still A Young Man" and "What Is Hip?", and gained a reputation for a tremendous live show.
While the personnel of the group have changed substantially over the years, the quality and sound have not. The group cancelled its Thursday show at Yoshi's in San Francisco after the accident.
SoulTrackers and music fans everywhere will be praying for a speedy recovery for David Garibaldi and Marc Van Wageningen.