Slave, the American Ohio-based funk band formed in Dayton in 1975 by trombonist Floyd Miller and trumpeter Steve Washington, died on February 2, 2026.
The group was popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s and worked in funk, R&B, soul, boogie and disco. Its original lineup included Tom Lockett Jr., Carter Bradley, Mark Adams, Mark “Drac” Hicks, Danny Webster, Orion “Bimmy” Wilhoite and Tim “Tiny”.
Slave had top 10 R&B hits with “Just a Touch of Love” in 1979, “Watching You” in 1980 and “Snap Shot” in 1981. The band remained active until 1996.
Slave was an American Ohio-based funk band popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist Steve Washington, born in New Jersey, attended East Orange High School, and was one of the first users of the “electric trumpet”. He and Trombonist Floyd Miller formed the group in Dayton, Ohio, in 1975.