Every now and then, running a little independent guitar shop leads to experiences you could never plan for. One of the most special moments for us at El Cajon Guitars & Music happened completely by chance — the day we met Jerry Cortez and Marc van Wageningen from Tower of Power, where Jerry has been holding down the guitar chair since 2010 and Marc has been a full-time member on bass since 2018.

Since 1968, Tower of Power has been delivering their own powerful brand of soul, funk and R&B to “souled out” crowds all over the world. Seeing them live is one of those “this is why I love music” experiences.

Marc van Wageningen with Frank at El Cajon Guitars & Music – bass, groove and good vibes all around.

How We Met Marc

Marc actually walked in first.

He came through the door quietly, just a nice, friendly guy looking around the shop. We started talking, and before long he asked if we knew where a local grocery store was. Their tour bus was parked nearby — beautiful, but not exactly ideal for quick errands — so I offered him a ride.

I drove him to Whole Foods. He picked up some groceries for the hotel, because he likes to eat healthy on the road (same as Jerry), and we talked music, life and touring. It was relaxed and natural — exactly the kind of interaction that reminds you musicians are people first.

Meanwhile… Maria Meets Jerry

When I got back to the shop and walked into the back room, Maria was in the middle of this wonderful conversation with — to my surprise — Jerry Cortez.

There he was, sitting on our little shop loveseat, casually playing a Tagima guitar from Brazil. Maria and Jerry weren’t talking gear. They were deep into a conversation about natural medicine, nutrition and healthy living.

Maria is a homeopath and really knows the subject; she runs Hart Homeopathy, and if you’re curious about that side of what she does, you can read more about her work here: Hart Homeopathy.

Jerry is very much into healthy living and great nutrition as well, so they instantly clicked. It was one of those genuine, unexpected conversations that you don’t forget.

Maria of Heart Homeopathy with Jerry Cortez at our shop – a friendship sparked by music and a shared passion for health.

Jerry Cortez – guitarist and vocalist for Tower of Power since 2010.

A Friendship Starts

After that first meeting, Jerry mentioned he might need a ride the next day too. I ended up driving him to a couple of shops so he could pick out shirts for the show. It was easy conversation, easy company — the kind of thing that builds real friendship without trying.

We’ve stayed in touch ever since: texting, emailing, catching up on the phone. And we’ve had the joy of seeing Tower of Power multiple times — at The Magnolia and at Humphreys by the Bay. Every show has the same effect: you walk out smiling, energized, and reminded how powerful great live music can be.

They’re not just an amazing band.
They’re amazing people.

Marc van Wageningen — An Extraordinary Bassist

Marc’s musical résumé is huge, and his playing absolutely speaks for itself. He grew up in Amsterdam in a very musical family. His father was a serious jazz lover who filled the house with records, hosted jam sessions, and even photographed many of the great jazz musicians who came through Holland. Music was everywhere.

His older brother was a drummer and the first one in the family to really “go for it” in a band setting. Marc says he was more into soccer at first — until he picked up a bass his brother had at home. Something clicked. By the time he was about 16, he was hooked on the instrument.

At home, his brother was bringing in stacks of records — Earth, Wind & Fire, Rufus, Tower of Power, Average White Band and more. In Amsterdam, late-night clubs were full of live funk bands. That combination of records, clubs and a musical family put deep groove in his DNA.

Marc eventually moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1980 and started carving out a career as a working musician. Back then, it was actually possible to cover rent on a collection of $35 gigs. Over time, as he’s talked about in interviews, the reality changed: local rents went way up, while gig pay didn’t exactly keep pace. Like many pros, he’s seen both sides — seasons of steady work and seasons where a regular gig ended overnight and he had to rebuild.

He worked with Pete Escovedo for many years, played with Sheila E. and a long list of jazz, Latin and funk artists. He’s also been in high-profile situations like the Wayne Brady television show band — that rare musician’s dream of a daily gig with great players — and then experienced the reality of that show ending.

Through it all, Marc stayed committed. He’s described needing to be “a little bit crazy and a total fanatic” to keep going as a musician — you really have to love it and be willing to ride the ups and downs. He also gives a lot of credit to his partner for helping keep things stable when the freelance world got bumpy.

Marc’s history with Tower of Power goes back many years; he first worked with them earlier in his career, and he’s been a full-time member since 2018, stepping into one of the funkiest bass chairs on earth. Since then, he’s been anchoring that legendary rhythm section on stages all over the world.

From our perspective at El Cajon Guitars & Music, Marc is the real deal in every sense. Musically, his playing is incredibly deep — always in the pocket, always listening, always serving the song. Personally, he’s kind, humble and easy to be around. We first met him when he walked quietly into our little shop looking for a grocery store, and that pretty much says it all.

If you catch Tower of Power live, take a moment to really focus on what the bass is doing — how it locks in with the drums, supports the horns and singers, and still finds space to move melodically. That’s Marc’s fingerprint: musical, supportive and absolutely rooted in feel.

Jerry Cortez — The Guitarist Chosen by Members of the Grateful Dead & Santana

Jerry’s career is just as impressive. Before joining Tower of Power, he was already touring and recording with major artists like Tom Johnston, Jesse Colin Young, Buddy Miles, Alex Ligertwood, Kingfish, Cold Blood and many others.

He joined Tower of Power in 2010, which means that by the time of this Magnolia show, he’ll have been the band’s guitarist for roughly 15 years — a serious run in a group with that much history and that high a bar.

Jerry in his element – live onstage, locking into that Tower of Power groove.

One of the most fascinating chapters in his story is Go Ahead.

When Jerry Garcia fell into a diabetic coma in 1986 and the Grateful Dead had to pause touring, members of the Dead and Santana formed a new band:

• Bill Kreutzmann
• Brent Mydland
• Alex Ligertwood
• David Margen
• And on guitar and vocals: Jerry Cortez

Later, Bob Weir joined the lineup.

It’s one thing to be a great guitarist. It’s another thing when members of both The Grateful Dead and Santana say, “You’re our guy.” That tells you everything you need to know about Jerry’s musicianship, feel and reputation.

Holiday & Hits — Built Around It’s Christmas

The upcoming show at The Magnolia is part of Tower of Power’s Holiday & Hits Tour, built around their Christmas record It’s Christmas — 11 tracks of soulful, horn-driven seasonal music, including:

• The Christmas Song
• It’s Christmas
• A Very Special Christmas
• Hark The Herald Angels Sing
• It’s Christmas (A Long Way From Home)
• Silver Bells
• O Holy Night
• Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
• Mary Did You Know
• Maoz Tzur
• Christmas Medley

Hearing those arrangements with the full band — horns blazing, Jerry on guitar, Marc on bass, that ridiculous pocket — is pure joy. You can explore the album and more music here: Tower of Power – It’s Christmas.

Learn Guitar with Jerry Cortez

One of the coolest things about Jerry, beyond all the touring and recording, is that he genuinely loves teaching.

He offers remote, one-on-one guitar lessons, even while he’s on the road. We’ve referred students to him who wanted to learn specific Tower of Power tunes or just build better groove, phrasing and feel. He’s approachable, encouraging, and very affordable for someone at his level.

His teaching style is song-based and very hands-on — lots of playing together, focusing on time, articulation and making parts feel right in the track. He truly enjoys watching students grow.

A true pro who loves to teach – Jerry shares decades of experience with students around the world.

If you’re interested in lessons with Jerry, we’re happy to help connect you:
Email: info@ecgmusic.com

Connect with Tower of Power & Jerry Cortez

Want to follow the band, explore more music, or keep up with tour dates? Here are Tower of Power’s official links:

• Website: towerofpower.com
• Facebook: OfficialTowerOfPowerBand
• Instagram: @towerofpowerofficialband
• Twitter/X: @officialTOPband
• YouTube: @towerofpower150
• Music (It’s Christmas + more): ffm.bio/towerofpower

Jerry Cortez – Guitarist for Tower of Power:
Instagram: @jerrycortez3

Connect with El Cajon Guitars & Music

We love supporting our local music community, sharing artist stories and helping players at every level find great gear and inspiration. Stay connected with us here:

• Website: ecgmusic.com
• YouTube: El Cajon Guitars and Music
• Facebook: ElCajonGuitarsandMusic
• Instagram: @elcajonguitarsandmusic
• Email: info@ecgmusic.com

Connect with Maria – Hart Homeopathy

Maria’s passion for natural health and homeopathy is one of the reasons she and Jerry connected so quickly that first day in the shop. If you’re curious about her work:

Hart Homeopathy: harthomeopathy.com/#about-us

Meeting Jerry and Marc was one of those rare “right place, right time” moments that turned into a real friendship. They’re world-class musicians, but more importantly, they’re kind, grounded, hardworking people who still love what they do.

We’re proud to support them, proud to call them friends, and proud to send people out to hear Tower of Power live whenever they come through town. If you make it to The Magnolia show, we think you’ll feel the same.