Artist:Larry Graham
Song:One in a Million You
Album:The Best of Larry Graham and Graham Central Station
As bassist for legendary funk group Sly and the Family Stone, Larry Graham invented the slapping bass technique used by many bassists today. After the band split up, he led the funk group Graham Central Station. And then he reinvented himself as a crooner with the 1980 top ten hit single One in a Million You. This was his biggest hit. He was born Aug. 14, 1946 in Beaumont, TX. His parents were musicians. He is the uncle of Aubrey "Drake" Graham. He played bass in his parents' band and the slap technique on the bass came about so the band wouldn't need a drummer. He brought this technique with him when he joined Sly and the Family Stone in 1967. Bassists from Bootsy Collins to Stanley Clarke adapted this technique. Of course we all know how successful Sly and the Family Stone was. When they disbanded in 1972, Graham joined the Santana spinoff band Azteca led by Coke and Pete Escovedo and Neil Schon. After one album, Schon left to form Journey and Graham started the funk band Graham Central Station. They signed with Warner Bros. and had success mostly on the R&B charts through the 70s. Graham ended the band and transitioned to a solo career. One in a Million You was Graham's debut single and it reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the R&B Singles chart. The album One in a Million You also did well. Graham had successfully reinvented himself as a crooner. Graham produced, wrote most of the songs and played all the instruments on the album. One in a Million You was written by veteran songwriter Sam Dees. Subsequent albums did OK on the R&B charts but not as well as the first album. Graham left Warner Bros. in 1985. This comp was released in 1996 and is available as a digital download. Graham first reformed Graham Central Station in the early 90s. They released the occasional album and continued to tour. He hasn't toured since 2018 so it looks like Graham may have retired. Here's Larry Graham performing One in a Million You on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert 1980.
Thank-you Frank. that is a great song and a forgotten gem in my opinion. Will be listening to that song later. But I remember him singing that song on either Mtv or VH1. Excellent song and he has a great voice. David.
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