Mic Gillette

Mic Gillette (May 7, 1951 – January 17, 2016) was an American brass player, born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area's East Bay. He is best known for being a member of the bands; Tower of Power, Cold Blood, and The Sons of Champlin. He played in the horn section with Tower of Power for 19 years.

Early life His father Ray Gillette was a trombonist, playing with acts such as Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Stan Kenton, and other big bands. A child prodigy, Gillette picked up the trumpet and was reading music by age four.

Career At age 15, he joined the band that would later be known as Tower of Power, playing various brass instruments for the band including the trumpet, trombone, baritone horn and tuba. In addition, Gillette appeared on hundreds of recordings as a session player.

In 1984, Gillette quit touring to be a full-time father to his daughter Megan. replacing Mike Bogart; but he left the band again after just more than a year and a half on February 14, 2011.

Personal life In the last years of his life, Gillette continued to do session work as well as live appearances; fulfilling a long-time dream to assemble his own band, he brought together Megan Gillette McCarthy (his daughter), Greg Barker, Dave Hawkes, Clint Day, and Matt Martinez to create the Mic Gillette Band (the MGB). The final version of MGB included Megan Gillette, vocals, Andres Soto, Tenor Sax, Jason Stewart, Guitar, Mark Foglia, Drums, Ryan Habegger, Trumpet and Keys, and Clinton Day on Bass and vocals.

Gillette spent much of his time teaching doing clinics at middle schools & high schools.

Discography

Band Albums He was featured on "Hip Li'l Dreams", a disc of originals released by the Sons of Champlin in 2005 and appeared on the Doobie Brother's Live at Wolf Trap DVD. Gillette worked on various side projects. After a chance meeting with Tony Adamo, Gillette wrote the horn arrangements for Adamo's albums, Straight Up Deal and Dance of Love. His arrangements can be heard on Adamo tunes "No Strings", "Up in It" and "Groove Therapy".

He is included on the Cold Blood album, Sisyphus (1970) playing trombone, trumpet and flugelhorn.

Solo albums Mic Gillette, Newvo Kids (1995), Dancing Walrus Music Mic Gillette, Ear Candy (2005), BKA Records "Funky Good Time" [Intro] (1:05) "Tell Mama" (3:47) "I Like That" (3:51) "Before I Go" (4:55) "How Was I To Know" (3:57) "If Only for A Moment" (4:22) "Abaco" (4:12) "I Don't Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door, I'll Get It Myself)" (4:21) "If" (6:42) "It Had Better Be Tonight" (3:50) "Funky Good Time" [Complete] (4:13)

As sideman With John Lee Hooker Free Beer and Chicken (ABC, 1974)