Prince is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actor. He has produced ten
platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career.
He has written several hundred songs and produces and records his own music for his own music label.
He has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time.
-Wikipedia
Birth Name: Prince Rogers Nelson
Also Known As: The artist formerly known as Prince, Jamie Starr ,Christopher , Alexander Nevermind ,The Purple One , Joey Coco
Born: June 7, 1958
in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Died: April 21st, 2016 (at the age of 57)
in Chanhassen, Minnesota,
(reportedly after overdosing on the addictive painkiller Percocet, first used after hip surgery in 2010)
From: Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Height: 5' 2" (157 cm)
Spouse(s): Manuela Testolini (December 31 2001 - 2007) (divorced)
Mayte Garcia (February 14, 1996 - February 14, 1999) (annulled)
Children: Boy Gregory Nelson
Genre(s):
Funk,
R&B,
pop,
new wave,
Minneapolis sound,
synthpop,
Rock,
Classic Rock
Instrument(s):
Vocals,
guitar,
bass guitar,
keyboards,
drums,
saxophone,
harmonica
Occupation(s):
Musician,
multi-instrumentalist,
arranger,
composer,
songwriter,
record producer,
dancer,
actor,
film director
Active From: 1976-2016
Associated Acts:
The Revolution,
Wendy & Lisa,
The New Power Generation,
The Time,
Morris Day,
Sheila E.,
Vanity 6,
Apollonia 6,
Mazarati,
The Family,
94 East,
Madhouse,
Andy Allo
Did You Know:
• He is of African American and Italian descent
• He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in March 2004
• His father is jazz pianist John L. Nelson.
Awards:
1985
3 American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Album (Purple Rain) and Favorite Soul/R&B Single ("When Doves Cry")
3 Grammy Awards for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or TV Special (Purple Rain) and Best R&B Song (songwriter) (Chaka Khan's "I Feel For You")
Quotes:
But again, it's the record company. If they don't want to promote a song, they don't make the effort to cross it over into other markets, and the fans don't get to know it. It's the same with my albums.
Charlie Chaplin started having kids at 60-just decided he wanted to have kids then. I still feel the same as I've always felt. Better now, because I'm happier.
Do you know how many of my songs I own? Not a single one. Out of 16 albums, not a single one. They won't belong to my children. I won't be able to pass them on to my grandchildren. They belong to someone else. Why? It's my music.
I always used to cuss onstage... Now I've learned that that's not necessary.
I went to see the Jackson Five when I was a kid, and they all wore flat shoes and it didn't work.
I'm much more comfortable with doing interviews now because I'm harder to misquote. Everything I'm about is freedom of choice and knowing what the truth can do.
In the early years when I toured, I was never a tourist. I was always so focused on the show. I just wanted to tear it up and get out of town.
Now there's no one to go and see. Where are the young ones coming along to whoop us up? Who is there to go and see? Fem 2 Fem?
On the next tour I'm gonna do, it's gonna be more of a revue-type thing with all good acts. The show might start at four o'clock in the afternoon. There'd be Mavis, Maceo, Lenny, Santana, and the Family Stone and us. I just want to be around people that are about positivity.
We don't celebrate birthdays like we don't celebrate Thanksgiving. Because you're told you're supposed to retire at a certain age.
What if I don't want to sing Purple Rain every time I go on stage? The fans don't want that, either. It's my music, they're my songs.
Why does there have to be a soundcheck? I don't have a songcheck. You don't have a clothescheck.