For those of you who have studied album liner notes, you are probably familiar with the name Hamp "Bubba" Banks. Bubba was Sly Stone's right-hand-man and best friend for many years. Sly's son, Sylvester BubAli Stewart, was named after Sly, Bubba and Muhammad Ali.

Bubba first encountered Sly when he was still Sylvester Stewart, a D.J. at KSOL radio in San Francisco, California. The host of a popular Soul radio show, Sly came to the barbershop where Bubba was a well-known hair stylist. Bubba was impressed with how well Sly handled himself one afternoon after being confronted by a pimp who made some derogatory remarks toward him. Equipped only with a rapier tongue and wit, Sly put the pimp in his place. Bubba introduced himself to Sly after the confrontation and told him he liked the way he handled himself. Shortly thereafter, the two became a team. It was inevitable. Sly was "Mr. Showbiz" and Bubba was then as he is now, the "Gangster Mack". Sly, having grown up in a religious family in the suburbs of Vallejo, California, gleaned the "gangster" side of his Sly Stone persona from Bubba.

Often given co-producing credits on several albums, Bubba became Rose Stone's manager (Sly's younger sister) producing Rose's only solo album, entitled Rose. In 1978, Bubba co-produced Back on the Right Track, co-writing the title track with Sly. Things were going well with the two, who soon became partners in a music publishing company called "HamStew Music" (a combination of their names -- Hamp and Stewart). At the onstart of the 80's, the working relationship between Sly and Bubba waned.

Bubba continues to work in the music industry. His company, Low Budget Records (headquartered in San Francisco), recently released a compilation album entitled Heat. It features such prominent rap artsists as E-40, B- Legit, and the late Tupac Shakur. In May 1998, a Mackavelli album will be released.

Not content with his success in the music industry, Bubba is also active in San Francisco Bay Area political circles. He ran for mayor of San Francisco in 1987 and recently edited the souvenir magazine celebrating the 2nd Anniversary of Mayor Willie L. Brown. Bubba has also co-written the soon-to- be-published book "On the Record: Sly and the Family Stone" with S.F. Chronicle Pop Music Critic Joel Selvin.

Send e-mail to Bubba!

(Thanks to Bubba Banks)

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