Bruce Conte
Encyclopedia
Bruce Conte is an American R&B / jazz
fusion guitar
ist, known primarily for his work with the band Tower Of Power
of which he was a member from 1972 to 1979, performing on seven albums and rejoining the band for live work briefly in 2006-7.
, and grew up in Fresno
, California
USA. Conte and his cousin Victor Conte
began playing in a 'family' rhythm and blues
band as junior high school students in the early 1960s. Throughout high school they performed in the rhythm sections of several local bands, including Common Ground, playing the local club scene in 1967-69.
In 1969 Conte moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and joined The Loading Zone
, who shared rehearsal halls with, and regularly opened shows for, Tower Of Power. Conte became close to Tower Of Power's founder and leader, Emilio Castillo, and to Stephen Kupka—the primary song-writers for the group—and began co-writing songs with them and occasionally sitting-in with the band.
In 1972, Tower Of Power began recording their eponymously titled third album but, at the beginning of the sessions, Castillo decided to change a number band members and Conte and fellow Loading Zone member Lenny Pickett were invited to join, along with lead vocalist Lenny Williams
.
Conte remained with Tower Of Power until 1979, performing on the albums Tower of Power, Back To Oakland, Urban Renewal, In The Slot, Ain't Nothin' Stoppin' Us Now, We Came To Play, and the live album Live And In Living Color. Conte also contributed backing vocals as well as a number of songs to these albums both as sole and co-writer.
In an interview with Robb Lawrence, Conte cites as his primary influences Albert King
, Grant Green
, George Benson
and Jimmy Nolen
(primarily his work with James Brown
). Conte's lead playing is mostly in an expanded blues style often using blues
, pentatonic and Dorian mode
scales.
After leaving Tower Of Power in 1979, Conte played in a number of groups in the San Francisco and Los Angeles
areas, as well as with Al McKay
in his All-Stars, and released four solo albums. One of these is Bullet Proof on Severn Records
(2002).
In 2006 Conte rejoined Tower Of Power, touring with the band for 14 months, before moving permanently to Cebu
in the Philippines
.
Les Paul
Goldtop. Conte performed primarily using the neck pick-up and played the guitar so much that he wore through the pickup cover. Conte sold the guitar in 2006.
During the Tower Of Power years, Conte played through a 1967 Fender
Super Reverb in the studio, using a Fender Quad Reverb or sometimes Twin Reverb for live work. He also used Vox wah wah and MXR Phase 90 effects pedals. More recently Conte has played a Baker guitar through a Rivera
amplifier.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
fusion guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist, known primarily for his work with the band Tower Of Power
Tower of Power
Tower of Power is an American R&B-based horn section and band, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing for over 43 years. They are best known for their funky soul sound highlighted by a powerful horn section...
of which he was a member from 1972 to 1979, performing on seven albums and rejoining the band for live work briefly in 2006-7.
Biography
Bruce Conte was born in SangerSanger, California
Sanger is a city in Fresno County, California, United States. The population was 24,270 at the 2010 census, up from 18,731 at the 2000 census. Sanger is located east-southeast of Fresno, at an elevation of 371 feet .- Geography :...
, and grew up in Fresno
Fresno
Fresno is the fifth largest city in California.Fresno may also refer to:-Places:Colombia* Fresno, TolimaSpain* Fresno, a ghost village in Nidáliga, Valle de Sedano, Burgos* Aldea del Fresno, Madrid* Fresno de la Vega, Ribera del Esla, León...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
USA. Conte and his cousin Victor Conte
Victor Conte
Victor Conte is a former musician with Tower of Power and founder and president of BALCO, a sports nutrition center in California. He served time in prison in 2005 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute steroids and money laundering....
began playing in a 'family' rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
band as junior high school students in the early 1960s. Throughout high school they performed in the rhythm sections of several local bands, including Common Ground, playing the local club scene in 1967-69.
In 1969 Conte moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and joined The Loading Zone
The Loading Zone
The Loading Zone was an American rock band of the late 1960s and early 1970s. They issued two albums worth of material, with differing band lineups, before disbanding in 1971.-Career:...
, who shared rehearsal halls with, and regularly opened shows for, Tower Of Power. Conte became close to Tower Of Power's founder and leader, Emilio Castillo, and to Stephen Kupka—the primary song-writers for the group—and began co-writing songs with them and occasionally sitting-in with the band.
In 1972, Tower Of Power began recording their eponymously titled third album but, at the beginning of the sessions, Castillo decided to change a number band members and Conte and fellow Loading Zone member Lenny Pickett were invited to join, along with lead vocalist Lenny Williams
Lenny Williams
Leonard Charles "Lenny" Williams is an American singer known for his work in the R&B and soul music genres. During the 1970s, he was the lead vocalist for Tower of Power...
.
Conte remained with Tower Of Power until 1979, performing on the albums Tower of Power, Back To Oakland, Urban Renewal, In The Slot, Ain't Nothin' Stoppin' Us Now, We Came To Play, and the live album Live And In Living Color. Conte also contributed backing vocals as well as a number of songs to these albums both as sole and co-writer.
In an interview with Robb Lawrence, Conte cites as his primary influences Albert King
Albert King
Albert King was an American blues guitarist and singer, and a major influence in the world of blues guitar playing.-Career:...
, Grant Green
Grant Green
Grant Green was a jazz guitarist and composer....
, George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
and Jimmy Nolen
Jimmy Nolen
Jimmy Nolen was an American guitarist, known for his distinctive "chicken scratch" lead guitar playing in James Brown's bands.-Early life and career:...
(primarily his work with James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
). Conte's lead playing is mostly in an expanded blues style often using blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, pentatonic and Dorian mode
Dorian mode
Due to historical confusion, Dorian mode or Doric mode can refer to three very different musical modes or diatonic scales, the Greek, the medieval, and the modern.- Greek Dorian mode :...
scales.
After leaving Tower Of Power in 1979, Conte played in a number of groups in the San Francisco and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
areas, as well as with Al McKay
Al McKay
Al McKay is a guitarist, songwriter, producer and former member of the American funk band Earth, Wind & Fire. Al used to lead his own group Al McKay's L.A...
in his All-Stars, and released four solo albums. One of these is Bullet Proof on Severn Records
Severn Records
Severn Records is an American independent record label that concentrates on blues music. Since its founding in 1998, Severn has issued more than 50 albums. Its motto is "Roots Music for the 21st Century".-History:...
(2002).
In 2006 Conte rejoined Tower Of Power, touring with the band for 14 months, before moving permanently to Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Equipment
Conte's guitar throughout nearly his entire period with Tower Of Power was a 1957 GibsonGibson
Gibson may refer to:* Gibson Amphitheatre* Gibson Appliance* Gibson Girl* Gibson Guitar Corporation* Gibson * Gibson Generating Station-Places:In the United States:* Gibson, Arkansas* Gibson, Georgia* Gibson, Iowa* Gibson, Louisiana...
Les Paul
Les Paul
Lester William Polsfuss —known as Les Paul—was an American jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which made the sound of rock and roll possible. He is credited with many recording innovations...
Goldtop. Conte performed primarily using the neck pick-up and played the guitar so much that he wore through the pickup cover. Conte sold the guitar in 2006.
During the Tower Of Power years, Conte played through a 1967 Fender
Fender
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, commonly referred to as simply Fender, of Scottsdale, Arizona is a manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers, such as solid-body electric guitars, including the Stratocaster and the Telecaster...
Super Reverb in the studio, using a Fender Quad Reverb or sometimes Twin Reverb for live work. He also used Vox wah wah and MXR Phase 90 effects pedals. More recently Conte has played a Baker guitar through a Rivera
Rivera
Rivera is the capital of Rivera Department of Uruguay. It is located at the north end of Route 5, on the border with Brazil. The Brazilian city of Santana do Livramento is right across the border, only a street away of it...
amplifier.