Slave
is the hardest rocking of all the Ohio Funk
bands. Their hit "Slide" has been
covered by by
alternative rock bands as recently as 2001.
Slave's "rockin'" sound is attributable
to their founder,
the multi-talented Steve Washington (drummer,
vocalist and keyboardist) and to Slave's
ferocious lead guitarist, Mark Hicks (Drac).
Washington formed the group in New Jersey,
but
he has strong roots in Ohio, as he is the
nephew of original Ohio Player trumpeter Ralph
"Pee
Wee" Middlebrooks. Washington fleshed
out the group with Mark Adams on bass and
Danny
Webster on rhythm and lead guitar.
Another
"Steve" joined Slave later, He is
Steve Arrington, from Dayton, Ohio. A gifted
musician as
early as elementary school, Arrington played
Little League baseball with Lakeside founder,
Mark
Wood. They would wow the crowds with drumming
duels between games. Needless to say, Dayton
had the funkiest Little League "seventh
inning stretches" in the world. Arrington
exerted his influence
on the band's sound with such songs as "Just
A Touch of Love" and "Watching You."
Everyone
from Keith Sweat to Ginuwine to Usher owe
a debt to Arrington's distinctive nasal but
soulful
singing style.
Steve
Arrington has evolved into a Christian recording
artist.
Revised
7/05/2004
Concert
Rating: "Not Reviewed."
