Larry Graham

Larry Graham
Graham in 2011
Graham in 2011
Background information
Birth nameLarry Graham Jr.
Born (1946-08-14) August 14, 1946 (age 78)
Beaumont, Texas, U.S.
GenresFunk, soul, R&B
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, bass guitar
Years active1961–present
LabelsEpic, Warner Bros., NPG, Rhino, Sphinx
Websitelarrygraham.com

Larry Graham Jr. (born August 14, 1946) is an American bassist and baritone singer, with the psychedelic soul/funk band Sly and the Family Stone and as the founder and frontman of Graham Central Station.[1] In 1980, he released the single "One in a Million You", which reached the top ten on the US Billboard Hot 100. He is credited with the invention of the slapping technique on the electric bass guitar, which radically expanded the tonal palette of the bass, although he himself refers to the technique as "thumpin' and pluckin'".[2]

In 1993, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Sly and the Family Stone.[3] He is also the uncle of rapper Drake.

  1. ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 539. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  2. ^ "Larry Graham: Trunk of the Funk Tree". Bass Player. April 2007. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007.
  3. ^ "Sly and the family Stone | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". www.rockhall.com. Retrieved December 19, 2021.