The band's origins[4][6][7] date from when Santana guitarist Neal Schon formed the band Azteca in 1972 along with Larry Graham (bass guitar) and Gregg Errico (drums), both from Sly and the Family Stone, and Pete Sears (keyboards), from Hot Tuna and Jefferson Starship.

That band, like Santana with heavy Latin influences, eventually morphed into Graham Central Station, while Schon formed Journey.

[citation needed] The invention of electric slap bass is attributed by many (including Victor Wooten and Bootsy Collins) to Graham, which influenced many musical genres, such as funk, R&B and disco.

[1] The same year they issued a cover version of the Detroit Emeralds 1972 hit "Feel the Need in Me".

Some of their recordings feature the Tower of Power horn section.