Larry Graham

On several occasions I’ve had the honor to follow the legendary Larry Graham with my cameras – on stage, back stage and in the studio doing portraits.

Graham (born 1946) is an icon on the global music scene because of his time with the world famous and highly influential soul/funk band Sly and the Family Stone in it’s formative years from 1966 to 1972. And after that as the founder and frontman of Graham Central Station.

Furthermore he’s credited as the inventor of the slapping technique, which radically expanded the tonal palette of the bass. An art form, which has ranked him as number 3 on a global list of the “100 Greatest Rock Bass Guitarists of All Time.”

Larry Graham is furthermore credited with the invention of the slapping technique, which radically expanded the tonal palette of the bass, although he himself refers to the technique as »thumpin’ and pluckin’«

An art form, which has ranked him as number 3 on a global list of the “100 Greatest Rock Bass Guitarists of All Time.”

This “slap” bass style was later used by such artists as Bootsy Collins, Louis Johnson, Mark King, Marcus Miller and Stanley Clarke.

The name Graham Central Station is a pun on Grand Central Station, the train station located in Manhattan, New York City.

Graham Central Station had several hits in the 1970s, including “Hair”.

In the mid-1970s, Larry Graham worked with Betty Davis, the second ex-wife of jazz legend Miles Davis. Betty Davis’ band included members of the Tower of Power horns and the Pointer Sisters, and she recorded three albums to critical acclaim but limited commercial success.