David Garibaldi (musician)

In 2008, Garibaldi was presented the Guitar Center Legends Award. He was also inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 2012.

Jazz bassist Marcus Miller included a cover of the song “What Is Hip?” in his 2007 album Free.

In 1999, Tower of Power released a two-disc anthology called “What Is Hip?” which included 35 tracks of their 30-year career. David Lynch from the Austin Chronicle describes the name as “not only (a) reference of their signature tunes” but also as the question “is Tower of Power still hip?” The anthology received positive reviews as a documentation of the group’s evolving sound throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

In the mid-70’s Garibaldi left Tower of Power and commenced performing, recording and writing with artists including Gino Vannelli, Wishful Thinking, Patti Austin, Natalie Cole, Boz Scaggs, the Yellowjackets, Jermaine Jackson and Deniece Williams. Garibaldi rejoined Tower of Power in 1998. Later in the mid 2000's Garibaldi released a collection of drum loops titled "Tower of Funk" produced with Josquin Des Pres (20th century musician)

Garibaldi won the R&B/Funk category of the Modern Drummer Magazine Readers poll six times in a row from 1980 to 1985. He won the same award an additional three times in 2003, 2007 and 2009. In 1998, “David Garibaldi featuring Talking Drums” won the award for Best Percussion Video awarded by DRUM! Magazine.

In 1978, Garibaldi expanded his drum kit with combinations 8”, 10”, 12”, 14” and 16” toms. His configuration included a second hi-hat on his right side. He argued that the conventional way of playing the hi-hat with the right hand over the left was limiting. Additionally, having a 14” to the left and a 12” hi-hat to the right gave him two different pitches. In 1982, he settled for a five-piece drum kit with 10”, 12” and 14” toms.

Garibaldi received basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, where he also auditioned for the 724th Air Force Band. During his service at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Washington, Garibaldi performed with different ensembles, including a symphonic orchestra where he played timpani, concert snare drum and mallet percussion. He also played the drums and played with friends and acquaintances in Tacoma.

Upon returning to the Bay Area, Garibaldi began performing as a freelancer in various groups. These performances led him to join Tower of Power in July 1970.

After being honorably discharged in December 1969, Garibaldi enrolled again at Chabot Junior College to finish his studies.

During his time at Chabot Junior College, he attended a James Brown concert at the San Jose Civic Auditorium. During the rehearsals, Garibaldi was impressed by the musicians’ precision and rhythmic patterns. Soon after, Garibaldi formed his first band called The Disciples. He played with them until 1966, when he was drawn into service.

Garibaldi played a drum kit for the first time at age 15, after hearing an older student play rock n’ roll beats. He was able to reproduce the beat by ear and continued self-teaching himself how to play the drums by listening to records. He later joined the high school’s big band and practiced with the help of Eddie Tinga, a drummer and employee of the US Postal Service who also served in the Air Force reserve. After being drawn into service, Tinga gave Garibaldi his drum kit so he could practice at home. At age 17, Garibaldi’s parents bought him his first drum kit, which he would later use to record Tower of Power’s debut album “East Bay Grease”. He graduated high school in 1964.

John David Garibaldi (born November 4, 1946) is an American drummer best known for his work with the Oakland-based band Tower of Power. His playing style is considered a staple of funk music. Garibaldi’s drummer credits also include Natalie Cole, Jermaine Jackson, Boz Scaggs, Deniece Williams and Yellowjackets. Rolling Stone magazine ranked Garibaldi #46 on its list “100 Greatest Drummers of All Time”.