The band Tower of Power, formed in California in 1968
History of Ailton Assis - Mato Grosso, Brasil
The band Tower of Power, formed in California in 1968, released the album "East Bay Grease" in 1970, marking a crucial point in the development of funk. Throughout the 1970s, the band contributed to popularizing funk, also influencing the funk-rock movement led by George Clinton, which resulted in the bands Parliament and Funkadelic. Funk, initially unknown to white audiences, gained prominence in the 1970s, especially through disco music. Groups such as Mandrill, BT Express, Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael Jackson and Prince contributed to the expansion of funk, which maintained its popularity even with the emergence of disco. Furthermore, funk was exported to Africa, giving rise to afrobeat, with Fela Kuti considered the creator of this style.