The group was formed in Ohio by New Jersey native horn player/songwriter/producer Steve Washington (funk obviously runs in the blood - Washington's uncle was Ralph 'Pee Wee' Middlebrook of the famed Ohio Players). Slave performed edgy funk grooves that rival (or even overwhelm) what is considered 'hard' street music today. By the time the Cotillion/Atlantic album "Stone Jam", originally release in September 1980, came out, Steve Washington had departed the group to form another band, Aurra. Not long afterward, Steve Arrington (drummer and vocalist) also departed to undertake a solo career that produced important funk classics such as "Way Out" and "Nobody Can Be You But You".

Aubrey Rivers, Buddy Hankerson, Carter Bradley, Charles Carter, Curt Jones, Danny Webster, Delbert Taylor, Eugene "Moochie" Jackson, Floyd Miller, Keith Nash, Kenny Anderson (2), Kevin Johnson (2), Mark Adams, Mark Hicks, Marvin Wheatley, Orion Wilhoite, Raye Turner, Roger Parker (2), Ronny Cochran, Sam Carter, Starleana Young, Stephen C. Washington, Steve Arrington, Tom Dozier, Tom Lockett, Wayne Foote