Larry Graham (Funk Bass Legend & Prince Collaborator)

The revolutionary bassist, singer, and founder of Graham Central Station who became one of Prince’s closest friends and most respected collaborators in the later part of his career.

Larry Graham (born August 14, 1945) is an American bassist, singer, and songwriter. He first rose to fame as the bassist for Sly & the Family Stone, where he pioneered the “slap bass” technique that transformed funk and pop music. He later formed his own group, Graham Central Station, in the 1970s.

PRINCE CONNECTION Prince was a huge admirer of Larry Graham’s bass playing and spiritual approach to music. Their friendship deepened in the mid-1990s. Prince invited Graham to Paisley Park, and they collaborated extensively from 1997 onward. Graham became a major influence on Prince’s later musical direction, especially his embrace of Jehovah’s Witnesses faith (which both men shared).

KEY RELEASES WITH PRINCE

• Come (1994) – Graham appears on several tracks

• The Truth... (1997) – Significant collaboration

• Emancipation (1996) – Graham contributed

• Newpower Soul (1998) – With the NPG

• Graham Central Station’s Raise Up (2015) – Prince contributed

Prince and Larry Graham performed together frequently in the late 1990s and 2000s, often with Graham Central Station opening for Prince or joining him onstage.

STAGE WORK & LATER CAREER Larry Graham continues to tour with Graham Central Station and as a solo artist. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Sly & the Family Stone (1993). His relationship with Prince remained strong until Prince’s passing — Graham was one of the few artists Prince consistently referred to as a mentor and brother.

WHY THEY MATTER TO THE PRINCE UNIVERSE Larry Graham represents one of Prince’s deepest late-career musical and spiritual connections. He brought authentic old-school funk credibility and influenced Prince’s bass playing, band arrangements, and personal life. Their collaboration helped Prince reconnect with his funk roots while exploring faith-based themes in his music.

SOURCES Prince Vault, Wikipedia, Discogs, interviews with Larry Graham, Rolling Stone.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE All images, photographs, and artwork referenced or displayed remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.