Under The Influence 2

Some more of our favourite artists and their major musical influences.

Sly Stone.

A truly talented music maker whose writing and rhythms were taken away from us by drug addiction. Among his musical influences were Bobby Womack (who remained a good friend), Otis Redding, Jackie Wilson, and Johnnie Taylor.

Worked as an R&B DJ in San Francisco, which led to his production skills being utilised by local garage and psychedelic bands. In 1967 he formed the groundbreaking multi racial band Sly and the Family Stone.

He managed to mix rock, pop, and r&b into his own special blend and I have always felt that drug free he had so much more to offer. I have even seen Jefferson Airplane as a suggested influence.

Chaka Khan.

Chaka Khan

Coincidently a product of another multi racial band Rufus. Two of her major influences the great Billie Holiday and clean living Casino lover Gladys Knight.

Bobby Womack.

The Churches gospel roots were a major influence but so too were Jackie Wilson, Smokey Robinson and Ray Charles. Sam Cooke gave him the confidence to leave secular music and move into the more soulful r&b style.

Ray Charles

Thank you Sam say all of us.