Larry Graham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Larry Graham
Graham in 2011
Background information
Birth name	Larry Graham Jr.
Born	(1946-08-14) August 14, 1946 (age 78) Beaumont, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Funk, soul, R&B
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter, producer
Instruments	Vocals, bass guitar
Years active	1961–present
Labels	Epic, Warner Bros., NPG, Rhino, Sphinx
Associated acts	Sly and the Family Stone, Prince, Graham Central Station, Drake

Larry Graham Jr. (born August 14, 1946) is an American musician. He is famous for playing the bass guitar and singing. He was a key member of the funk band Sly and the Family Stone. Later, he started his own band called Graham Central Station.

Larry Graham is known for inventing a special way of playing the electric bass. This technique is called "slapping." He calls it "thumpin' and pluckin'." This style changed how the bass guitar was played. In 1980, his song "One in a Million You" became a top ten hit in the U.S. He was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 with Sly and the Family Stone. Larry Graham is also the uncle of famous rapper Drake.

Early Life

Larry Graham was born on August 14, 1946. His birthplace was Beaumont, Texas, in the U.S. His parents were both talented musicians.

Music Career

With Sly and the Family Stone

Larry Graham played bass for the funk band Sly and the Family Stone. He was with them from 1967 to 1972. This band was special because it was one of the first major American rock groups. It had members from different races and genders.

They released many popular songs in the 1960s. These included "Dance to the Music" (1968) and "Everyday People" (1968). Their albums, like Stand! (1969), were also very popular. They mixed catchy pop music with important social messages.

Larry Graham left the band in 1972. This happened after some disagreements with the band's leader, Sly Stone. In 1993, he was honored for his work with the band. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Starting Graham Central Station

After leaving Sly and the Family Stone, Larry Graham started his own band. He named it Graham Central Station. The name is a fun play on words. It sounds like "Grand Central Station," a famous train station in New York City.

Graham Central Station had several hit songs in the 1970s. Larry Graham also worked with singer Betty Davis in the mid-1970s. Her band included musicians from other famous groups.

In 1975, Larry Graham became one of Jehovah's Witnesses. He later introduced the famous musician Prince to this faith. In the early 1980s, Graham released five solo albums. He had several hit songs on the R&B music charts. His biggest solo hit was "One in a Million You" in 1980. This song reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Later Years and Collaborations

Larry Graham brought back Graham Central Station in the early 1990s. They performed together for several years. They released two live albums during this time. One was recorded in Japan in 1992. The other was recorded in London in 1996. Only 1000 copies of the London album were made. They were sold only at concerts.

In 1998, he released a solo album called GCS 2000. This album was a special project with Prince. Larry Graham wrote most of the songs. Prince helped arrange and produce the album. Both Graham and Prince played instruments and sang on it. Larry Graham also played bass on Prince's tours from 1997 to 2000. He appeared in Prince's music videos and DVDs. He continued to perform with Prince at different events around the world.

Graham and Graham Central Station toured internationally in 2010. They also had a "Funk Around the World" tour in 2011.

Personal Life

Larry Graham is the half-brother of Dennis Graham. This makes him the uncle of the well-known Canadian rapper and actor Drake.

Slap Bass Technique

Larry Graham is known for creating the "slapping" technique on the electric bass. He calls it "thumpin' and pluckin'." He developed this style when his mother's band no longer had a drummer. He wanted to make the bass sound more like drums.

This technique uses two main actions:

• Thumpin': You hit the lower strings with your thumb. This makes a sound like a bass drum.
• Pluckin': You pull and release the higher strings with your finger. This creates a sharp sound, like a snare drum.

The slap-and-pop technique also uses "muted" or "dead" notes. These add to the rhythmic feel of the music. This style greatly expanded how the bass guitar could sound. It became a very important part of modern funk music. Many famous bass players later used this slapping style. These include Bootsy Collins, Les Claypool, and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Discography

Solo Albums

Solo Singles

Images for kids

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  Graham performing in 2013

See also

In Spanish: Larry Graham para niños