Francis ‘Rocco’ Prestia is the bass player for “Tower of Power,” the famed Oakland-based horn band.

His “pulsing” sixteenth notes along with David Garibaldi’s funky drumming style formed the rhythm section that drove the band’s trademark funky groove underneath the horn section on all of their early 1970s albums. He is a master of finger-style funk.

Rocco’s signature sound is produced largely by using a left-hand muting technique whereby fingers 1 and 2 fret the chosen note while the other fingers of that hand rest lightly on the same string ‘choking’ its full sustain. This allows for a more vigorous right-hand plucking attack without losing control of the string’s resonance. The sound produced is fiercely drum-like and percussive, yet without distortion, with the pitch remaining clear and accurate.

Until recently, it was on most occasions a Fender Precision Bass that has been used by Prestia, and for a period around 1991 a custom built Fernandes bass, but he now tours and records with a 4-string co-custom designed Conklin Bass.

He has a solo album too, entitled ‘Everbody on the Bus !’

Rocco and his band, Tower of Power, played several times with the Latin singer Luis Miguel, providing his songs with a powerful and funky sound they never had.

He underwent a successful liver transplant surgery in 2002.

References

• Genuine Diamonds, Cheap Diamond Jewelry, Diamonds By The Yard Diamond Jewelry: Discount Diamonds, Diamond Solitaire, Diamonds By The Yard, Tiffany Look A Like Jewelry - DIAMOND JEWELRY COLLECTION Designer inspired
• Diamond Jewellery, Diamond Engagement Rings and Wedding Rings from Find the perfect diamond; with over 50000 diamonds listed ZS Diamonds offer unique diamonds to buy online. High quality diamond jewellery available,
• Diamonds at MySolitaire.com America's choice Diamond Center Create one-of-a-kind certified diamond jewelry. Each piece comes accompanied by a diamond grading report and a fine Jewelry appraisal .
• Diamonds You need to use other radioactive decay schemes (e.g., uranium-lead) to date inclusions in diamonds. Inclusions used for dating are around 100 microns in
• Diamond Prices and Loose Diamonds | Original-Diamonds Loose Diamonds, certified diamonds, wholesale diamonds and all diamond prices. Diamond delivery world wide, Original Diamonds the diamond source.
• Loose Diamonds: Shop, Find, Compare, and Price - AOL Shopping Looking for Loose Diamonds? AOL Shopping has the lowest prices from thousands of merchants to shop, price, and compare Loose Diamonds.
• DIAMONDS AND ENGAGEMENT RINGS .com - ENGAGEMENT RING Antique Diamonds and Diamond Engagement Rings Wholesale. All the latest styles in diamond, antique, platinum, three stone, and diamond rings all at 50%-70% below
• Engagement Rings Diamonds London UK Engagement rings & diamonds London UK: 4Cs Diamonds specialises in beautiful diamond engagement rings, loose diamonds and fine diamond jewellery at highly
• Blood Diamonds | Conflict Diamonds | Kimberly Process | GEOLOGY.com What are Blood Diamonds? What is the Kimberly Process?
• Home - DiamondFacts.org Most people are unaware of the role diamonds play in bringing real benefits to people in the countries around the world where diamonds are sourced.