One in a Million You - Larry Graham (1980) 11/7/23

From 1968 to 1972, Larry Graham was bassist for Sly and the Family Stone, and is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the rest of the group.

He was also quite an innovator!

He is credited with developing the "slap-pop" style of bass playing, giving each song a more percussive feel.

The thumb "slaps" the strings to sound like a bass drum, while the index finger "pops" the strings to sound like a snare drum.

This technique has been adopted by many bass players over the years, most notably by Bootsy Collins of of Parliament/Funkadelic, Bernard Edwards if Chic, and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Larry left the "Family" after 1972, and started a band called Graham Central Station, which has recorded and toured on and off ever since.

In 1980, however, he took a shot as a solo artist, and scored a Great Song right off the bat with "One In a Million You," a romantic ballad that topped the soul chart and reached #9 on the Hot 100.

Today, it's a "Oh Wow" song: When it comes on the radio, you say, "Oh Wow, I haven't heard this one forever," and it reminds you of the Great Song of 1980 that it truly is!

Trivia: Larry is Uncle to the rapper Drake. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmjAozP2UUs

Tomorrow: ABBA takes it all...