Prince

Early years in Minneapolis: a musical prodigy

Prince Rogers Nelson was born on June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His father, John L. Nelson, was a jazz musician who performed under the pseudonym 'Prince Rogers'. His mother, Mattie Della Shaw, was a singer in the same band. So, the musical DNA was literally in his blood. Prince's parents divorced when he was ten years old, and he moved several times — between his father's house, his mother's, and neighbors'.

He began playing the piano at the age of seven, and by fourteen he had also mastered the guitar and drums. As a child, he suffered from epileptic seizures and was bullied at school, partly because of his small stature (he eventually grew to be only 1.57 meters tall). He later said that early in his career he tried to compensate by being 'as flashy and as loud as possible'.

His first band was Grand Central, together with childhood friend André Cymone. At eighteen, in 1977, he signed a three-part record contract with Warner Bros. Records — an exceptional deal for such a young artist, especially because he negotiated full artistic control and was allowed to produce his own records.

The first albums: For You until 1999

His debut album was released in 1978. ‘For You’, on which he reportedly played all 27 instruments himself. The single 'Soft and Wet' became a modest hit. With ‘'Prince' (1979) he broke through thanks to 'I Wanna Be Your Lover'. But it was the albums ‘'Dirty Mind' (1980) and ‘'Controversy' (1981) who put him on the map as a daring, sexually provocative, and groundbreaking artist.

The double album ’'1999' (1982) was his first real commercial breakthrough. The title song, 'Little Red Corvette', and 'Delirious' became major hits. With 'Little Red Corvette', he became one of the first Black artists to appear regularly on MTV — a breakthrough in the fight against racial segregation on the music channel.

🎵 Watch the official music video for 'Little Red Corvette' (1982): Prince – Little Red Corvette (Official Music Video)

Purple Rain (1984): the worldwide breakthrough

The year 1984 marked the absolute breakthrough for Prince. With his new backing band The Revolution he released the album ‘'Purple Rain'’ out — also the soundtrack of the eponymous semi-autobiographical film. The album stood 24 weeks at number 1 in the American Billboard 200 and sold more than worldwide 25 million copies.

Prince became the in 1984 first artist in American history which simultaneously had the number 1 film, the number 1 album, and the best-selling single of the year: 'When Doves Cry'. The album yielded several classics: 'Let's Go Crazy', 'I Would Die 4 U', 'Take Me with U', and the heartbreaking title song 'Purple Rain'. The film won a Academy Award for Best Original Song Score.

🎬 Watch the official music video for 'Purple Rain': Prince – Purple Rain (Official Video)

🎬 Watch the iconic music video for 'When Doves Cry': Prince and the Revolution – When Doves Cry (Official Music Video)

Purple Rain is considered by critics as one of the greatest albums of all time. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and added to the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry in 2012 due to its cultural and historical significance.

Around the World in a Day, Parade and Sign O' the Times

Instead of milking the Purple Rain formula, Prince opted for surprising artistic twists. ‘'Around the World in a Day' (1985) was a psychedelic album with the hit 'Raspberry Beret'. ‘'Parade' (1986) served as the soundtrack for the film 'Under the Cherry Moon' and contained the worldwide hit ‘'Kiss'’ — one of his most minimalist and funky productions ever.

🎵 Watch the official music video for 'Kiss' (1986): Prince – Kiss (Official Music Video)

After the dissolution of The Revolution, Prince released the ambitious double album in 1987. ‘'Sign O' the Times'’ out — considered by many to be his artistic masterpiece. The album combines funk, rock, soul, gospel, and jazz, and features classics such as the title track, 'U Got the Look' (with Sheena Easton), and 'If I Was Your Girlfriend'.

Paisley Park: the magical music universe

In 1987, Prince opened his legendary recording studio and his own record label. Paisley Park in Chanhassen, Minnesota. The complex became his creative home: a sound studio, film studio, dance floor, and living space all in one. Here he recorded hundreds, perhaps even thousands of songs, many of which were never officially released. This treasure trove of unreleased material is known as ‘The Vault’.

In 1989, he provided the soundtrack for Tim Burton's Batman, with the worldwide hit 'Batdance'. The album reached the number 1 position on the American album charts. A year later followed 'Graffiti Bridge', the sequel to Purple Rain, and in 1991 he launched his new band The New Power Generation (NPG) with the successful album ‘Diamonds and Pearls’ — with hits like 'Cream' and 'Gett Off'.

The name change: the symbol and the battle with Warner

In 1993, Prince took a radical step: he changed his stage name into a unpronounceable symbol — a combination of male and female sex symbols. The press began him ‘'The Artist Formerly Known as Prince' (TAFKAP) to name. It was his way of asserting his independence in a conflict with Warner Bros.

Prince wrote the word ‘'SLAVE'’ on his cheek to protest against what he saw as an unjust relationship between artist and record label. He demanded ownership of his master recordings — a revolutionary demand that laid the foundation for the later struggles of artists like Taylor Swift.

In 1996, he celebrated the end of his Warner contract with the triple album. ‘Emancipation’. It was not until 2000 that he used his original name Prince again. With albums such as ‘'Musicology' (2004) and ‘'3121' (2006) he proved that he was still fully relevant in the twenty-first century.

Legendary live performances

Prince was perhaps the most impressive live act of his generation. His concerts were marathons of funk, sensuality, and virtuosity. His performance during the Super Bowl XLI halftime show on February 4, 2007, in Miami — considered by many to be the best Super Bowl show ever. During a tropical downpour, he played an unforgettable version of 'Purple Rain'. When the organizers asked him if he wanted to cancel the performance due to the severe weather, his answer was legendary: „Can you make it rain harder?”

🎬 Watch the full Super Bowl XLI halftime show (2007, live): Prince – Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show FULL SHOW HD

Equally legendary was his guitar solo on 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps'‘ during George Harrison's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, along with Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood, and Dhani Harrison. His solo at the end of the song is considered one of the best rock guitar solos ever captured on video — and has now been viewed nearly one hundred million times.

🎬 Or watch the Director's Cut with more focus on Prince: Director's Cut: While My Guitar Gently Weeps – Prince, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne & Dhani Harrison

Private life, spirituality and relationships

Prince was married twice. In 1996, he married Mayte Garcia, with whom he had a son, Amir Gregory, who sadly lived for only one week from the effects of Pfeiffer syndrome type 2 — a rare genetic disorder in which skull bones fuse prematurely. The loss left them deeply scarred, and the marriage ended in 2000. In 2001, he married Manuela Testolini; this marriage also ended, in 2006.

In 2001, Prince converted to the Jehovah's Witnesses, partly under the influence of bassist Larry Graham. From that moment on, his life changed dramatically: he stopped swearing in his lyrics, refused to play 'old' songs with sexually explicit lyrics, and even offered door-to-door Bible study.

The tragic death in 2016

On April 21, 2016 The news shocked the world: Prince was found dead in an elevator at his Paisley Park complex. He was 57 years old. The cause of death turned out to be a accidental overdose of fentanyl — a powerful painkiller he had presumably used for chronic hip pain after years of energetic performances in high heels.

Tributes poured in from everywhere. On the evening of his passing, thousands of people sang 'Purple Rain' in the streets of Minneapolis. World-famous buildings such as the Empire State Building and Niagara Falls were illuminated in purple. On the Billboard Top 200, in the week following his death, five of his albums in the top 10.

The legacy of this extravagant innovator.

Prince left behind an unparalleled musical legacy: more than 30 studio albums during his lifetime, millions of records sold, seven Grammy Awards, an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. He was inducted into the in 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and posthumously inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2016. Rolling Stone placed him on number 27 in the list of 100 greatest artists of all time.

In October 2016, Paisley Park officially opened as a museum, where fans from around the world can visit the place where the legend lived and worked. Since his death, unreleased footage from 'The Vault' has been released regularly, including expansions for Purple Rain and Sign O' the Times.

Conclusion: an immortal musical revolution

Prince was more than a pop star. He was a musical genius, a groundbreaking artist, a fighter for artistic freedom, and a symbol of androgynous sensuality. With his ‘Minneapolis sound’ he created an entirely new genre. He influenced generations of artists — from Lenny Kravitz, D'Angelo, Beyoncé, The Weeknd and Bruno Mars to Janelle Monáe — and his influence extends far beyond music alone.

For lovers of funk, rock, R&B, and pop, Prince remains an inexhaustible source of inspiration. His music lives on — purple, sensual, virtuosic, and timeless.