Rocco Prestia

[fmm]

Rocco Prestia passed away last night.

[mario_farufyno]

Oh, that's sad, what a loss!

[keith_h]

This is sad news. Rocco in ToP was one of my more prominent influences.

[David Houck]

There is a nice remembrance here:

https://www.soultracks.com/story-rocco-prestia-dies

[funkyjazzjunky]

His playing on "What Is Hip" is fantastic.
VMG

[JimmyJ]

Yeah, this one is a painful loss.  He had such a distinct and amazing voice on the bass which is why his playing influenced so many of us.  What he and Garibaldi gave us is an absolute joy.

Jimmy J

[pauldo]

ugh

Glad he has found peace.

Legend.  What Is Hip?  First heard it in High School at my friends house - his big brother was a trombonist and tossed the Tower of Power record at us...  and you know - BAM!

[soflbass]

Sad news...rest in peace Rocco.

[mica]

It's just too much with everything else. Will miss you, Rocco.

[bigredbass]

In my many years listening, considering, witnessing, and thinking about bass, I've seen so much from the viewpoint of a mere mortal watching giants at work some time. Stanley Clarke. Anthony Jackson. Jaco. So many, playing eye-opening music or even re-inventing it.

And yet there are plenty of guys quietly doing the job in renowned bands that impressed me so much as well. Walter Becker and the studio greats on all the SteelyDan catalog, among so many others.  Jimmy's thoughtful work with JT.

And yet I'd be hard-pressed to imagine anyone more locked in and fearlessly playing charts timed out to the second and killing it the way FRP did. A huge beacon to anyone who thinks playing in a welded-tight band blowing on serious charts and playing for keeps is the way to do it, to become a part of a wonderful collective that's even stronger than the considerably talented separate parts. What a player.

[edwardofhuncote]

Like so many other players, I might not have known about him but for this place. George Price put up a video of "Down To The Nightclub" a couple years ago with his Bubinga Series I, that made me go looking at T-O-P. What a sound! It was completely new and different to somebody who grew up pounding roots and fives in a string band. Between conversations here, I see once again how vast the musical world is beyond my somewhat limited exposure. RIP, and Thank You for the Grooves. 

[hankster]

I've always treasured this photo - now more than ever.  I was at a TOP show in Toronto with my daughter.  At some point before the show started we saw Rocco pass by the door of the big tent venue.  A few minutes later she disappeared - and came back ten minutes later, and said, "follow me".  She had gone backstage, found Rocco, and arranged for a meeting and a photo.  It was a special moment for me - he was a hero.  Still the most unique voice in funk bass playing in my view - no one seems to be able to play Rocco except Rocco (without resorting to a pick, anyway).  Anyway farewell to Rocco, my hero of many years, and a friend for a couple of minutes, anyway.

[David Houck]

Nice picture Richard!

[sonicus]

This is so sad . I my self as well as many other bass players were influenced by him or admired his playing . In a  conversation that I had with Jaco in the early 1980s I mentioned Rocco's playing and Jaco liked him as well it seems

[jazzyvee]

There is a zoom webinar with some top players discussing Rocco's influence.
You can register Here.
https://berklee.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2ZQ5RsI1S1qbPslulOK7hA