Just wondering because from all indications, it seems some people feel Larry is/was a bad influence on him. Or they are tired of the Prince/Larry Graham connection.

Larry is blamed 4 turning Prince holy! I actually like him,tho!

I love Larry Graham! I think he is extremely funky!
[Larry was around long before Prince could even hold a bass properly, so Prince did not give him a career, as some fans think....]

I think people just hate on him for the same reason they were hatin' on Tamar as few months ago- anytime Prince gives anyone else "shared time", Prince fans get "weird" and start rippin'. [IMO]

I agree with Sexxy- people also blame Larry for Prince's religious preference.

(Okay, I will now go prepare for the flames.....)

I like Larry Graham
Im honestly glad he's around
(and the brick throwing begins.....now)

Speaking only for myself - definitely none of the answers above.

Prince being holy? Good for him.(Being evangelical to his audience? Not so much in my opinion. I came for the music.)

Prince putting his cohorts forward? Hey, I'm a W&Lhead - I'm not going to start complaining about Prince's collaborators getting some credit.

No, for me it's very simple. Despite having a rich previous musical history, Larry Graham entered Prince's musical life when Prince was at his most self-indulgent and lame, and did almost nothing to temper that. If anyone had the chops and the cred to add something genuine to the mix, it was probably Larry. And, if that was what he tried to do he failed miserably. But I think he didn't even try.

Bricks? Send 'em this way please. I'm ready.

Because Larry Graham is one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

If he were of any other faith people wouldn't have an issue.

I really appreciate Larry Graham. Anyone who listens to his 70's 'GCS' albums and genuinely does not like them is not a fan of Funk.

NewMr7 said:

not true. i grew disturbed with him ONLY AFTER listening to him play 2 songs, "thank you for letting me be myself" and "everyday people" EVERY SINGLE TIME he took the stage over a period of two-three years.

that mindset is scary, for a musician, imo. which is NOT to say i dislike larry, he's a nice man. but i think he contributed to his own downfall among fans




.
[Edited 11/6/06 11:47am]

NewMr7 said:

Granted.

And - what kind of sign is it that you have to go back three full decades to appreciate an artist's work? Seriously. If he hasn't done anything in the past 26 years worth making someone a fan of Funk, - well, that just answers the question, doesn't it?

Larry graham is HOMOPHOBIC AND SEXIST!

My dislike of Larry Graham has nothing to do with music.
yeah yeah..... funk legend..... mm hmmm... masterful bass player... yup.. he can pluck the daylights out of some bass... yakkity yakkity yak



It is because he recruited Prince into what I personally believe is a dangerous cult. Dangerous meaning spiritually dangerous. I don't think you'll see any JWs carrying out suicide bombings or nothing like that but, well, Imma just say I have done a lot of research on the JWs over the years and what I've found is quite scary.
I'm not going into detail here with all that but that is my singular reason for disliking Larry Graham. I never met him. I don't know anything else about him. I just don't like people that recruit other people into cults.

i'd never slag him as a musician. he's a pioneer and master of the electric bass. he seems a right wanker though and i wish he'd just shout his damn mouth and play music!

Say No TO Brainwashing!

It's like asking; "why don't people like chopped liver?"

BlaqueKnight said:

Thank you BlaqueKnight...that is exactly what I was thinking.

BlaqueKnight said:

Wow, thank you!!!!!

BlaqueKnight said:[color]


Those are the words that touched me the most. I often say the same things...
Thanx!
[Edited 11/7/06 11:08am]

BlaqueKnight said:

Excellent points but, please, Larry, drop the fucking sailor suit!

Strangely enough I was into the Sly thing back in the day but never really got into GCS. There was so much good funk around to choose from in those days that he just never stood out to me. I think he's good but for me he ain't exactly earth shaking. I realize that he invented a distinctive bass style, but he wasnt at the top of my list then or now and him working with Prince hasn't changed that.

When GCS opened for The Time in May they were really good, especially the drummer. Larry is kinda doofus so it was fun for awhile They stayed on a long time and I got a little bored at the end though.

As a person, I don't have any feelings toward him one way or the other because I know almost nothing about him and I don't feel comfortable speculating about his spiritual choices or his friendship with P.

First I have to say, that I grew up listening to Larry Graham and I respect his musical accomplishments.

I started to dislike seeing Larry stick to Prince like glue all the time. Prince could not do an interview without Larry being there. What was up with that? I actually started to think they might be booty buddies or something. I got the feeling that their relationship was very unhealthy.

I know that Larry had a lot to do with Prince becoming JW and that is very detrimental to Prince's spiritual well being, and Larry's too for that matter. Anyone who has done any objective research in the difference between JW and regular Christianity know what I mean and I don't want to get into a debate.

Your approval will not get him in to Heaven or keep him out of Hell...


I would like to know where he is at.. I haven't seen him around in a while.
All of a sudden There is no larry and no Tamar... Just Prince at Las Vegas..
I didn't see larry as an act there either.....

twistedeargasm said:

I never said my approval was required for either.

some folx need to take a music class and not hold someone that they dont personally know responsible for someone's else's thoughts

XxAxX said:

PurpleKnight said:

.....and LITTLE RICHARD SAID THAT FIRST!!!!! GO FIGURE!!!!!


LARRY GRAHAM IZ THA FONK!!!!!

BlaqueKnight said:

EXACTLY.
most "Larry-haters" talk like Larry (literally or figuratively) put a gun to Prince's head & said "do like I do, talk like I talk, etc." but
THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.
JUST LIKE BlaqueKnight said, Larry was bringing the funk - HARD - with Sly then on his own before ANY of us knew who Prince was. I could say that Larry had a "negative" influence on prince.. but even if that were true, IT'S BESIDE THE POINT.

because I knew & appreciated Larry's music during the 70s - for the PURE FUNK it normally was - I'm not mad at him for anything he's said or done with prince.

oh well. some people "need" someone else to "hate".

BlaqueKnight said:

Breh i respect your opinion but JW is a zone you don't go into without out enough knowledge...
Trust
i was one for 12 years before me and my family were condemned as outcasts,(i dont wanna say why)
the shit that goes on in those kingdom halls scares the shit out of me,
the catholic church aint got shit on the JW's,
the way they recruit members are with psychological mind games, the same which the scientologist use.

The only fan I can speak for here on Larry is myself.

It's not his music. Granted I know shit-all about the technical aspects of playing any kind of instrument, but I do know good when I hear it. I can appreciate the pretty sounds.

It's not whatever influence he may or may not have had on Prince's choice of religion. Prince is an adult, and reasonably sane (well, maybe not...) so whatever version of God he puts his money on is really up to him, isn't it? It's not one I would've picked, but I didn't lose a kid, both parents, a marriage, and have a career that'd been sliding, so what the hell do I know?

The reason I dislike Larry is that the guy's fucking creepy! I don't honestly know what it is that puts me off about him though. All I can say is that the period where Prince couldn't seem to do an interview or appearance without the guy always rubbed me the wrong way, and it still does now when I see a clip of something. That Little Brother/Big Brother thing was too weird, and I usually think weird is just ducky. When they did that Larry King interview, Prince was practically sitting on Larry's lap.

And I realize this is going to sound supremely stupid, but I could never shake the feeling there was something wrong -for lack of a better word -going on.
[Edited 11/12/06 22:57pm]