Francis Rocco Prestia Bass Scholarship

Established in loving memory of Tower of Power’s Bass Innovator Francis Rocco Prestia, the Francis Rocco Prestia Bass scholarship at the Berklee College of Music seeks to help student bass players reach their full potential and defray some of their educational expenses.

Rocco’s singular style, dubbed “Fingerstyle Funk,” redefined bass playing and the art of the groove in R&B, soul, and funk. The way he anchored and drove Tower of Power with an ingenious blend of motion and space has been lauded by world-renowned bass players in all styles, while influencing countless bassists and drawing legions of fans across the globe.

Over the years, I had the honor of inviting Rocco to Berklee College of Music to participate in several visiting artist clinics, masterclasses, and performances with the students in Berklee’s Tower of Power Ensemble, the Bass department, and the Reach Out Initiative.

In those settings, Rocco gave so much of himself as an educator and shared his personal challenges with the Berklee community unselfishly. He was an open book and always used his platform to encourage students to do their level best to avoid some of life’s pitfalls. During many of these visits, Rocco was dealing with several health issues. But he never allowed those issues to get in the way of giving his time and energy to Berklee.

For those of you who know and love Rocco, whether for his musicianship, or as an endorser, a fan, friend, or family member, I ask for your help to fully fund Rocco’s scholarship to reach the endowed status of $50,000.00. We are only $2,966.71 away from reaching this goal! THANK YOU!

Musically,

Barbara Thomas