Former Tower of Power lead singer Rick Stevens dies
Rick Stevens, the former lead singer for Oakland’s legendary R&B band Tower of Power who spent more than 30 years in prison, has died.
In a statement posted on the band’s Facebook page, bandleader Emilio Castillo remembered Stevens as “an extremely soulful singer and entertainer who had an engaging personality and a strong faith which he shared with all he came in contact with.”
According to KTVU Fox Channel 2, Stevens died Tuesday at age 77 after a three-month battle with cancer.
Singing on the band’s first two albums, Stevens belted its early hits, “Sparkling in the Sand,” and its monster follow-up, “You’re Still A Young Man,” Castillo said.
But the lows that followed Stevens included a lengthy prison sentence in connection with a fatal drug deal gone bad. Stevens spent 36 years behind bars after he was convicted on one count of manslaughter and two counts of murder.
In a 2013 interview with the Vacaville Reporter, Stevens said he not only deserved the conviction but the original death sentence.
“Absolutely,” he said. “It was fair. The jury found me guilty. I was ready for the gas chamber. I said to them, ‘I know this was not an easy decision for a lot of you who felt I deserved it. I have no ill will toward you. God bless you all. Thank you.’”
He underwent a religious conversion, spending a lot of his time reading the Bible, Torah, and Koran. In July 2012, Gov. Jerry Brown paroled Stevens, who became a bornagain Christian.
In recent years, Stevens fronted the Love Power Band, headlining shows in Oakland and Alameda, and performed alongside Tower of Power in a January 2017 benefit concert at Yoshi’s after former bandmembers were hit by a train in Oakland’s Jack London Square.
“I remember talking with him when he was released and I was skeptical about his ‘prison salvation’ experience. I told him that I really hoped he would take advantage of the tremendous opportunity that God had given him to help people to avoid the pitfalls he had fallen into. He went above and beyond the call of duty and carried his message of faith and redemption to many,” Castillo said Tuesday.
“The first time he sat in with us, after his release from prison, was a ‘once in a lifetime’ emotional experience for all of us. We loved him and we’ll miss him. I have faith that I’ll see him in heaven someday and together we’ll worship and glorify God together for eternity. Rick is there right now enjoying it!!!”