# Bruce Conte > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bruce_Conte > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bruce_Conte.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Conte > Source revision: 1332479136 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American guitarist (1950–2021) Bruce Conte Born (1950-03-03)March 3, 1950[1] Sanger, California, U.S. Died August 8, 2021(2021-08-08) (aged 71) Cebu, Philippines Genres Rhythm and blues jazz fusion Occupation Musician Instrument Guitar Years active 1967–2021 Formerly of Tower of Power Website www.bruceconte.com Musical artist **Bruce Anthony Conte** (March 3, 1950 – August 8, 2021) was an American [R&B](/source/R%26B) and [jazz fusion](/source/Jazz_fusion) guitarist, known primarily for his work with the band [Tower of Power](/source/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 Bruce Conte was born in [Sanger](/source/Sanger%2C_California), and grew up in [Fresno](/source/Fresno), California USA. Conte and his cousin [Victor Conte](/source/Victor_Conte) began playing in a 'family' [rhythm and blues](/source/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](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Common_Ground_(band)&action=edit&redlink=1), playing the local [club scene](/source/Club_scene) in 1967–69.[2] In 1969, Conte moved to the San Francisco [Bay Area](/source/Bay_Area) and joined [The Loading Zone](/source/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](/source/Emilio_Castillo), and to [Stephen Kupka](/source/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](/source/Lenny_Pickett) were invited to join, along with lead vocalist [Lenny Williams](/source/Lenny_Williams).[4] Conte remained with Tower Of Power until 1979, performing on the albums *[Tower of Power](/source/Tower_of_Power)*, *[Back to Oakland](/source/Back_to_Oakland)*, *[Urban Renewal](/source/Urban_Renewal)*, *[In The Slot](/source/In_The_Slot)*, *[Ain't Nothin' Stoppin' Us Now](/source/Ain't_Nothin'_Stoppin'_Us_Now)*, *[We Came to Play!](/source/We_Came_to_Play!)*, and the live album *[Live And In Living Color](/source/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](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robb_Lawrence&action=edit&redlink=1), Conte cited as his primary influences [Albert King](/source/Albert_King), [Grant Green](/source/Grant_Green), [George Benson](/source/George_Benson) and [Jimmy Nolen](/source/Jimmy_Nolen) (primarily his work with [James Brown](/source/James_Brown)).[5] Conte's lead playing is mostly in an expanded blues style often using [blues](/source/Blues), [pentatonic](/source/Pentatonic) and [Dorian mode](/source/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](/source/Al_McKay) in his All-Stars and released four solo albums. One of these is *Bullet Proof* on [Severn Records](/source/Severn_Records) (2002). In 2006, Conte rejoined Tower of Power, touring with the band for 14 months, before moving to [Cebu](/source/Cebu) in the [Philippines](/source/Philippines). Back in Los Angeles in 2012, Conte, an insulin-dependent [diabetic](/source/Diabetic), announced that a routine blood test in July of that year had revealed that he had [leukemia](/source/Leukemia).[7] An appeal to raise funds for his medical treatment was established via the Jeremy Wilson Foundation.[8] ## Equipment Conte's guitar throughout nearly his entire period with Tower of Power was a 1957 [Gibson](/source/Gibson_Guitar_Corporation) [Les Paul](/source/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](/source/Fender_Musical_Instruments_Corporation) 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](/source/Rivera) amplifier. ## Death Conte died on August 8, 2021, after being diagnosed with [leukemia](/source/Leukemia).[9] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** California Birth Index, Fresno, California 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Hale, David (October 28, 1977). "Tower of Power". *[The Fresno Bee](/source/The_Fresno_Bee)*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Bruce Conte Biography"](https://web.archive.org/web/20010922022805/http://www.bruceconte.com/BRUCE.htm). *bruceconte.com*. Archived from the original on September 22, 2001. Retrieved September 30, 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Droney, Maureen (November 1, 2004). ["Classic Tracks: Tower of Power's 'What Is Hip'"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110315065120/http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_tower_powers_hip/index.html). *[Mix](/source/Mix_(magazine))*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0164-9957](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0164-9957). Archived from [the original](http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_tower_powers_hip/index.html) on March 15, 2011. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-legacy_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-legacy_5-1) Lawrence, Robb (2008). *The Early Years of the Les Paul Legacy 1915-1963*. [Hal Leonard Corporation](/source/Hal_Leonard_Corporation). p. 126. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-634-04861-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-634-04861-6). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Conte, Bruce (January 27, 2009). *Bruce Conte's Rhythm & Blues Techniques, An Instructional DVD* (DVD). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["A Benefit for Bruce Conte"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130403155342/http://www.towerofpower.com/bruceconte). *[Tower of Power](/source/Tower_of_Power)*. March 6, 2015. Archived from [the original](http://www.towerofpower.com/bruceconte) on April 3, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Bruce Conte Grant Fund"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130218080922/http://thejwf.org/bruce-conte/). *Jeremy Wilson Foundation*. Archived from [the original](http://thejwf.org/bruce-conte/) on February 18, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Local Guitar Legend Bruce Conte Passes Away"](https://www.kmjnow.com/2021/08/09/local-guitar-legend-bruce-conte-passes-away/). *KMJ-NOW*. KMJ-AF1. August 9, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021. ## External links - [Bruce Conte](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bruce-conte-mn0000634425) at [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic_(identifier)) - [Bruce Conte](https://www.discogs.com/artist/362001-Bruce-Conte) discography at [Discogs](/source/Discogs) Authority control databases: Artists MusicBrainz --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bruce Conte](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Conte) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Conte?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.