Editing Larry Graham (section)

==Career==
=== Sly and the Family Stone ===
Graham played bass in the [[funk]] band [[Sly and the Family Stone]] from 1967 to 1972.<ref name="LarkinSM" /> The band was the first major American rock group to have a [[Racial integration|racially integrated]], mixed-gender lineup.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sly & the Family Stone Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sly-the-family-stone-mn0000033161 |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref> They had a series of influential tracks during the 1960s that entered the [[Billboard Hot 100]] such as "[[Dance to the Music (song)|Dance to the Music]]" (1968), "[[Everyday People]]" (1968), and "[[Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)]]" (1969), as well as critically acclaimed albums such as ''[[Stand!]]'' (1969), which combined pop sensibility with social commentary.<ref>{{Citation |title=Sly & the Family Stone - Stand! Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/stand!-mw0000195756 |access-date=2024-01-06 |language=en}}</ref> 

After many years of tension between Graham and frontman [[Sly Stone]], Larry Graham left Sly and the Family Stone in 1972, after a post-concert brawl broke out between Graham and Sly, and rumours also spread that Larry had hired a [[Contract killing|hit man]] to kill Sly.<ref>Selvin, Joel (1998), pp. 150–154</ref> Graham and his wife climbed out of a hotel window to escape, and Pat Rizzo gave them a ride to safety.<ref>Selvin, Joel (1998), pp. 150–154</ref> Unable to continue working with Sly, Graham immediately quit. In 1993, he was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] as a member of Sly and the Family Stone.<ref name=":1" /> 

=== 1970s ===
After Sly and the Family Stone, Graham formed his own band, [[Graham Central Station]].<ref name="LarkinSM"/> The name is a pun on [[Grand Central Terminal|Grand Central Station]], the train station located in [[Manhattan]], New York City. Graham Central Station had several hits in the 1970s, as well as the album track "Hair"{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}.

In the mid-1970s, Larry Graham worked with [[Betty Davis]], the second ex-wife of jazz musician [[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.

In 1975, Graham became one of [[Jehovah's Witnesses]].<ref>''[[Awake!]]'' magazine, [https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101989125 February 22, 1989, p. 15.]</ref> Eventually, he was credited with introducing [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] to the faith. In the early 1980s, Graham recorded five solo albums and had several solo hits on the R&B chart.<ref name="LarkinSM"/> His biggest hit was "[[One in a Million You]]", a crossover hit that reached No. 9 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart in 1980.<ref name="LarkinSM"/>

=== 1990s–present ===
He reformed Graham Central Station in the early 1990s and performed with the band for several years during which they released two live albums. One was recorded in Japan in 1992, and the other, recorded in London in 1996, had only 1000 copies printed and was exclusively sold at concerts.

In 1998, he recorded a solo album under the name Graham Central Station ''[[GCS 2000]]''. It was a collaboration between Larry Graham and [[Prince (musician)|Prince]]. While Graham wrote all the songs, except one co-written by Prince, the album was co-arranged and co-produced by Prince, and most of the instruments and vocals were recorded by both Graham and Prince. Graham also played bass on tours with Prince from 1997 to 2000. He appeared in Prince's 1998 VHS ''[[Beautiful Strange]]'' and 1999 DVD ''[[Rave Un2 the Year 2000]]''. He has since appeared with Prince at various international venues.
[[File:Larry Graham (10398937003).jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|Graham performing in 2013]]
Graham and Graham Central Station performed internationally with a world tour in 2010 and the "Funk Around the World" international tour in 2011. He appeared with Andre Beeka as a special guest at [[Jim James]]' "Rock N' Soul Dance Party Superjam" at the 2013 [[Bonnaroo Music Festival]].{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}

In 2020, he was ranked number 7 on Rolling Stone's list of [https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-greatest-bassists-of-all-time-13565/larry-graham-13610/ “50 Greatest Bassists of All Time.”]