Final answer:
Sly and the Family Stone is the California band recognized as one of the early funk music pioneers and for the creation of the slap bass technique.
Step-by-step explanation:
The California band that is considered to be one of the early pioneers of funk music and the invention of the slap bass technique is Sly and the Family Stone. This band was influential in the development of funk, soul, rock, and psychedelia during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Sly and the Family Stone are renowned for their energetic performances and innovative sound which contributed significantly to the evolution of the genre.