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{{Short description|American guitarist (1950–2021)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
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| occupation = Musician
| occupation = Musician
| years_active = 1967–2021
| years_active = 1967–2021
| associated_acts = [[Tower of Power]]
| past_member_of = [[Tower of Power]]
| website = {{URL|www.bruceconte.com}}
| website = {{URL|www.bruceconte.com}}
}}
}}


'''Bruce Anthony Conte''' (March 3, 1950 – August 8, 2021) was an American [[R&B]] and [[jazz]] fusion guitarist, known primarily for his work with the band [[Tower of Power]], of which he was a member from 1972 to 1979. He performed on seven albums, and rejoined the band for live work briefly in 2006-2007.
'''Bruce Anthony Conte''' (March 3, 1950 – August 8, 2021) was an American [[R&B]] and [[jazz fusion]] guitarist, known primarily for his work with the band [[Tower of Power]], of which he was a member from 1972 to 1979. He performed on seven albums, and rejoined the band for live work briefly in 2006-2007.


==Biography==
==Biography==
Bruce Conte was born in [[Sanger, California|Sanger]], 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 (band)|Common Ground]], playing the local [[club scene]] in 1967–69.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tower of Power |first=David |last=Hale |newspaper=[[The Fresno Bee]] |date=October 28, 1977}}</ref>
Bruce Conte was born in [[Sanger, California|Sanger]], 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 (band)|Common Ground]], playing the local [[club scene]] in 1967–69.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tower of Power |first=David |last=Hale |newspaper=[[The Fresno Bee]] |date=October 28, 1977}}</ref>


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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bruceconte.com/BRUCE.htm |title=Bruce Conte Biography |website=bruceconte.com |access-date=September 30, 2017}}</ref>
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 songwriters for the group—and began co-writing songs with them and occasionally sitting in with the band.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bruceconte.com/BRUCE.htm |title=Bruce Conte Biography |website=bruceconte.com |access-date=September 30, 2017}}</ref>


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 of band members and Conte and fellow Loading Zone member [[Lenny Pickett]] were invited to join, along with lead vocalist [[Lenny Williams]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Classic Tracks: Tower of Power's 'What Is Hip' |first=Maureen |last=Droney |magazine=[[Mix (magazine)|Mix]] |issn=0164-9957 |url=http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_tower_powers_hip/index.html |date=November 1, 2004 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315065120/http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_tower_powers_hip/index.html |archivedate=March 15, 2011}}</ref>
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 of band members and Conte and fellow Loading Zone member [[Lenny Pickett]] were invited to join, along with lead vocalist [[Lenny Williams]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Classic Tracks: Tower of Power's 'What Is Hip' |first=Maureen |last=Droney |magazine=[[Mix (magazine)|Mix]] |issn=0164-9957 |url=http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_tower_powers_hip/index.html |date=November 1, 2004 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315065120/http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_tower_powers_hip/index.html |archivedate=March 15, 2011}}</ref>


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.
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 cited as his primary influences [[Albert King]], [[Grant Green]], [[George Benson]] and [[Jimmy Nolen]] (primarily his work with [[James Brown]]).<ref name="legacy">{{cite book |first=Robb |last=Lawrence |title=The Early Years of the Les Paul Legacy 1915-1963 |year=2008 |publisher=[[Hal Leonard Corporation]] |isbn=978-0-634-04861-6 |page=126}}</ref> Conte's lead playing is mostly in an expanded blues style often using [[blues]], [[pentatonic]] and [[Dorian mode]] scales.<ref>{{cite AV media |first=Bruce |last=Conte |title=Bruce Conte's Rhythm & Blues Techniques, An Instructional DVD |date=January 27, 2009 |medium=DVD}}</ref>
In an interview with [[Robb Lawrence]], Conte cited as his primary influences [[Albert King]], [[Grant Green]], [[George Benson]] and [[Jimmy Nolen]] (primarily his work with [[James Brown]]).<ref name="legacy">{{cite book |first=Robb |last=Lawrence |title=The Early Years of the Les Paul Legacy 1915-1963 |year=2008 |publisher=[[Hal Leonard Corporation]] |isbn=978-0-634-04861-6 |page=126}}</ref> Conte's lead playing is mostly in an expanded blues style often using [[blues]], [[pentatonic]] and [[Dorian mode]] scales.<ref>{{cite AV media |first=Bruce |last=Conte |title=Bruce Conte's Rhythm & Blues Techniques, An Instructional DVD |date=January 27, 2009 |medium=DVD}}</ref>
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In 2006 Conte rejoined Tower of Power, touring with the band for 14 months, before moving to [[Cebu]] in the [[Philippines]].
In 2006 Conte rejoined Tower of Power, touring with the band for 14 months, before moving to [[Cebu]] in the [[Philippines]].


Back in Los Angeles in 2012, Conte, an insulin-dependent [[diabetic]], announced that a routine blood test in July of that year had revealed that he has [[leukemia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.towerofpower.com/bruceconte |title=A Benefit for Bruce Conte |website=[[Tower of Power]] |date=March 6, 2015 |access-date=April 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403155342/http://www.towerofpower.com/bruceconte |archive-date=April 3, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> An appeal to raise funds for his medical treatment was established via the Jeremy Wilson Foundation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thejwf.org/bruce-conte/ |title=Bruce Conte Grant Fund |website=Jeremy Wilson Foundation |access-date=September 30, 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218080922/http://thejwf.org/bruce-conte/ |archivedate=February 18, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Back in Los Angeles in 2012, Conte, an insulin-dependent [[diabetic]], announced that a routine blood test in July of that year had revealed that he had [[leukemia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.towerofpower.com/bruceconte |title=A Benefit for Bruce Conte |website=[[Tower of Power]] |date=March 6, 2015 |access-date=April 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403155342/http://www.towerofpower.com/bruceconte |archive-date=April 3, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> An appeal to raise funds for his medical treatment was established via the Jeremy Wilson Foundation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thejwf.org/bruce-conte/ |title=Bruce Conte Grant Fund |website=Jeremy Wilson Foundation |access-date=September 30, 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218080922/http://thejwf.org/bruce-conte/ |archivedate=February 18, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>


==Equipment==
==Equipment==
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== Death ==
== Death ==
Conte died on August 8, 2021, after being diagnosed with [[leukemia]]. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kmjnow.com/2021/08/09/local-guitar-legend-bruce-conte-passes-away/ |title=Local Guitar Legend Bruce Conte Passes Away |website=KMJ-NOW |publisher=KMJ-AF1 |date=August 9, 2021 |access-date=August 11, 2021}}</ref>
Conte died on August 8, 2021, after being diagnosed with [[leukemia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kmjnow.com/2021/08/09/local-guitar-legend-bruce-conte-passes-away/ |title=Local Guitar Legend Bruce Conte Passes Away |website=KMJ-NOW |publisher=KMJ-AF1 |date=August 9, 2021 |access-date=August 11, 2021}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
*{{Allmusic |class=artist |id=bruce-conte-mn0000634425}}
*{{AllMusic |class=artist |id=bruce-conte-mn0000634425}}
*{{Discogs artist|362001-Bruce-Conte}}
*{{Discogs artist|362001-Bruce-Conte}}


Latest revision as of 16:20, 3 October 2024

Bruce Conte
Born(1950-03-03)March 3, 1950[1]
Sanger, California, U.S.
DiedAugust 8, 2021(2021-08-08) (aged 71)
Cebu, Philippines
GenresRhythm and blues
jazz fusion
OccupationMusician
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1967–2021
Formerly ofTower of Power
Websitewww.bruceconte.com

Bruce Anthony Conte (March 3, 1950 – August 8, 2021) was an American R&B and jazz fusion guitarist, known primarily for his work with the band Tower of Power, of which he was a member from 1972 to 1979. He performed on seven albums, and rejoined the band for live work briefly in 2006-2007.

Biography

[edit]

Bruce Conte was born in Sanger, 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.[2]

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 songwriters for the group—and began co-writing songs with them and occasionally sitting in with the band.[3]

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 of band members and Conte and fellow Loading Zone member Lenny Pickett were invited to join, along with lead vocalist Lenny Williams.[4]

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 cited as his primary influences Albert King, Grant Green, George Benson and Jimmy Nolen (primarily his work with James Brown).[5] Conte's lead playing is mostly in an expanded blues style often using blues, pentatonic and Dorian mode scales.[6]

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 to Cebu in the Philippines.

Back in Los Angeles in 2012, Conte, an insulin-dependent diabetic, announced that a routine blood test in July of that year had revealed that he had leukemia.[7] An appeal to raise funds for his medical treatment was established via the Jeremy Wilson Foundation.[8]

Equipment

[edit]

Conte's guitar throughout nearly his entire period with Tower of Power was a 1957 Gibson 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.[5]

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.

Death

[edit]

Conte died on August 8, 2021, after being diagnosed with leukemia.[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ California Birth Index, Fresno, California
  2. ^ Hale, David (October 28, 1977). "Tower of Power". The Fresno Bee.
  3. ^ "Bruce Conte Biography". bruceconte.com. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  4. ^ Droney, Maureen (November 1, 2004). "Classic Tracks: Tower of Power's 'What Is Hip'". Mix. ISSN 0164-9957. Archived from the original on March 15, 2011.
  5. ^ a b Lawrence, Robb (2008). The Early Years of the Les Paul Legacy 1915-1963. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 126. ISBN 978-0-634-04861-6.
  6. ^ Conte, Bruce (January 27, 2009). Bruce Conte's Rhythm & Blues Techniques, An Instructional DVD (DVD).
  7. ^ "A Benefit for Bruce Conte". Tower of Power. March 6, 2015. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  8. ^ "Bruce Conte Grant Fund". Jeremy Wilson Foundation. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  9. ^ "Local Guitar Legend Bruce Conte Passes Away". KMJ-NOW. KMJ-AF1. August 9, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
[edit]
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