Graham Central Station

Graham Central Station

Graham Central Station is a funk group from Oakland, California, led by Larry Graham, who previously plays with Sly and the Family Stone and gives the band its name. The group forms from the earlier Azteca line-up, which also includes Neal Schon on guitar, Gregg Errico on drums, Peter Sears on keyboards and Tom Rutley on bass before the project develops into Graham Central Station. The band is active from 1973 to 2012.

Style and sound

The group works across funk, funk rock and soul. Its sound centres on Graham’s slap bass style and brings in elements associated with marching band music and gospel. The band also plays with an image that contrasts a funk-rock front with a more sanctified gospel feel.

Notable recording and chart success

Graham Central Station’s biggest hit is “Your Love”, which reaches number 9 in 1975. Some recordings feature the horn section from Tower of Power, who are labelmates at Warner Bros.

Related activity

After Graham Central Station, Larry Graham pursues a solo career and later records again under the Graham Central Station name for Prince’s label in 1999. That project includes former Sly Stone-era bandmates Cynthia Robinson and Jerry Martini, and Graham also appears on Prince’s Rave Un2 2000 live DVD and on the Jam of the Year tour.