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 79) 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

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

Graham is famous for inventing a new way to play the bass called "slapping." He calls it "thumpin' and pluckin'." This technique changed how people played the bass guitar. In 1980, his song "One in a Million You" became a top-ten hit in the United States.

In 1993, Graham was welcomed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with his band Sly and the Family Stone. He is also the uncle of the famous rapper Drake.

Early Life and Career

Graham was born in Beaumont, Texas, to parents who were also talented musicians. This musical background helped him start his own career.

Sly and the Family Stone

From 1967 to 1972, Graham played bass for the funk band Sly and the Family Stone. This band was special because it was one of the first major American rock groups to have members of different races and genders working together.

The band had many hit songs in the 1960s, like "Dance to the Music" (1968) and "Everyday People" (1968). Their album Stand! (1969) was very popular and mixed catchy pop music with important messages about society.

After a few years, Graham and the band's leader, Sly Stone, had disagreements. In 1972, Graham decided to leave the band to start a new chapter in his career.

Graham Central Station and Solo Success

After leaving Sly and the Family Stone, Graham started his own band called Graham Central Station. The name was a fun play on words of Grand Central Station, the famous train station in New York City. The band had several hits in the 1970s.

In the mid-1970s, Graham also worked with the singer Betty Davis. In 1975, he became one of Jehovah's Witnesses. He is known for introducing the musician Prince to the same faith.

In the 1980s, Graham released five solo albums. His biggest hit was "One in a Million You," which reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1980.

Working with Prince and Touring

In the 1990s, Graham brought Graham Central Station back together. They toured and released two live albums.

In 1998, he worked closely with Prince on an album called GCS 2000. Graham wrote most of the songs, and he and Prince produced and played most of the instruments on the album. From 1997 to 2000, Graham also toured the world as the bassist in Prince's band.

Graham and his band have continued to perform for audiences around the world. In 2020, Rolling Stone magazine named him one of the greatest bass players of all time.

Graham performing in 2013

How He Invented Slap Bass

Graham is famous for creating the slapping technique on the electric bass. He came up with this style when he was playing in his mother's band, which didn't have a drummer. Graham wanted to create a beat with his bass to make up for the missing drums.

His technique, which he calls "thumpin' and pluckin'," involves two main actions:

• Thumping: He uses his thumb to hit the lower strings, making a sound like a bass drum.
• Plucking: He uses his other fingers to snap or "pop" the higher strings, which sounds like a snare drum.

This new style added a whole new range of sounds to the bass guitar and became a key part of modern funk music. Many famous bass players were inspired by Graham's technique, including Bootsy Collins, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Marcus Miller.

Discography

Solo albums

Singles

With Sly and the Family Stone

• A Whole New Thing (1967)
• Dance to the Music (1968)
• Life (1968)
• Stand! (1969)
• There's a Riot Goin' On (1971)

With Graham Central Station

Albums

Studio

• Graham Central Station (Warner Bros., 1974)
• Release Yourself (Warner Bros., 1974)
• Ain't No 'Bout-A-Doubt It (Warner Bros., 1975)
• Mirror (Warner Bros., 1976)
• Now Do U Wanta Dance (Warner Bros., 1977)
• My Radio Sure Sounds Good to Me (Warner Bros., 1978)
• Star Walk (Warner Bros., 1979)
• Back by Popular Demand (1997)
• GCS 2000 (1998)
• Raise Up (2012)

Live

• Live in Japan (1992)
• Live in London (1996)

Compilation

• The Best of Larry Graham and Graham Central Station, Vol. 1 (Warner Bros., 1996)

Singles

With Prince

• Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic (1999)
• Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic (2001)
• The Rainbow Children (2001)

With Gov't Mule

• The Deep End, Volume 1

See also

In Spanish: Larry Graham para niños