The following excerpts are from an old article/interview with Raphael Saddiq. He comments on the lessons he learned from touring with Prince and why Larry Graham is so important. Full article can be found at the link below.---DPWC
http://www.metroactive.co...-0223.html

Talk about meeting [Sly and the Family Stone/Graham Central Station bassist] Larry Graham

I met Larry Graham when I was in the sixth grade. It was in the grocery store. It was him and this other girl in his group. I looked through the cereal racks and ran out of the store. I freaked out and sat on the bench to wait for the bus. The lady saw me looking at him, and she walked Larry over to me. He had the full wig on, the platforms--the whole Graham Central Station gear. I was like, "You Larry Graham!" He's like, "Yeah man, I'm Larry. How you doing?"

Graham was definitely an influence on everyone from our neighborhood. He was the biggest thing for bass playing. If you were an emcee, he was like Rakim or Biggie. You gotta listen to him if you were going to play and have something about you.


The Tonies were one of the few '90s R&B acts that had a real show. How important was that aspect of not just playing music but entertaining?

The experience being with Sheila E. and Prince in Japan helped. I rehearsed so hard and watched everything on tape. It was like playing basketball and watching tape after the game--Prince and Sheila E. watched tape like that. When I put the Tonies together, I was the person that watched tape to see what we could do better. You have to dedicate yourself to it like a sport. To this day, I watch tape and see stuff we do. People want to see a show. If you're going to risk your life--fly all over the world, not see your parents and friends--you should really make it worth their time. Don't spend your lifetime flying around doing nothing when you get to town to perform.

Saadiq

http://www.pookieentertainment.com


shit yeah

kool