American musician, co-founder of Slave and Aurra
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Key moments and achievements from Steve Washington's life.
Steve was born
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As a teenager from Newark, New Jersey, Steve Washington toured with the Exciting Williams Brothers band and opened for The Ohio Players. Ralph Pee Wee Middlebrooks of the Ohio Players took Washington under his wing, giving him firsthand experience with professional musicianship and touring at funks commercial peak.
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As a teenager from Newark, New Jersey, Steve Washington toured with the Exciting Williams Brothers band and opened for The Ohio Players. Ralph Pee Wee Middlebrooks of the Ohio Players took Washington under his wing, giving him firsthand experience with professional musicianship and touring at funks commercial peak.
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In the mid-1970s, Washington co-founded Slave, emerging from a tight-knit collective of young musicians in Dayton, Ohio. Serving as trumpeter, keyboardist, and conceptual force, he helped guide the bands musical direction, blending raw funk energy with sophisticated arrangements and emerging electronic textures.
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In the mid-1970s, Washington co-founded Slave, emerging from a tight-knit collective of young musicians in Dayton, Ohio. Serving as trumpeter, keyboardist, and conceptual force, he helped guide the bands musical direction, blending raw funk energy with sophisticated arrangements and emerging electronic textures.
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Slaves debut single Slide hit number 1 on Billboards R&B Singles chart in 1977, establishing the band as a major force in funk music. The song became a classic of the genre and cemented Washingtons reputation as a visionary bandleader.
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Slaves debut single Slide hit number 1 on Billboards R&B Singles chart in 1977, establishing the band as a major force in funk music. The song became a classic of the genre and cemented Washingtons reputation as a visionary bandleader.
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Following Slide, Slave scored a run of R&B classics including Just a Touch of Love, Watching You, and Snap Shot. The bands consistent hit-making during the late 1970s and early 1980s made them one of the most successful funk groups of the era.
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Following Slide, Slave scored a run of R&B classics including Just a Touch of Love, Watching You, and Snap Shot. The bands consistent hit-making during the late 1970s and early 1980s made them one of the most successful funk groups of the era.
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In 1981, Washington left Slave with three other members to form Aurra, a group that pursued a sleeker, groove-driven approach to funk and R&B. The new project demonstrated his ability to evolve musically while maintaining the infectious energy that defined his work.
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In 1981, Washington left Slave with three other members to form Aurra, a group that pursued a sleeker, groove-driven approach to funk and R&B. The new project demonstrated his ability to evolve musically while maintaining the infectious energy that defined his work.
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Beyond his work with Slave and Aurra, Washington contributed his expertise to the P-Funk world, playing and producing on several projects for George Clinton. His involvement with P-Funk connected him to the broader universe of Ohio and funk music at its creative zenith.
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Beyond his work with Slave and Aurra, Washington contributed his expertise to the P-Funk world, playing and producing on several projects for George Clinton. His involvement with P-Funk connected him to the broader universe of Ohio and funk music at its creative zenith.
Steve Washington passed away
