I can say without a doubt, that I was inspired by this man. My true music heroes and personal music preferences were shaped by Prince, Michael, Madonna and Cyndi Lauper. They have all been geniuses in their own rights and changed the music business.
Prince called them out on it.
His introduction to the business in the mid 1970’s spun people on their head!
#1 You don’t have to fit a mold. Dance Sex Music Romance was edgy bass and guitar work that proved a black man could teach music a lesson about change and challenge.
#2 You can create and challenge with class. Morris Day & The Time was a look, an image and a moment in which we could be proud of success. We were proud to pop our collar
#3 He could creatively challenge the establishment with a sense of humor.
#4 Prince gave back to his community. He boosted Minneapolis’s profile. Think about it. People knew what Lake Minetonka was. He supported the following charities.
#5 He showed the world that you can share the wealth of talent. Prince launched the careers of Sheila E., The Family, Maserati, The Time Time, Jesse Johnson, Andre Cymone, Vanity 6, Apollonia 6 and Lisa & Wendy. Paisley Park Studios was an amazing moment in time. A prolific songwriter, Prince in the 1980s wrote songs for and produced work by many other acts, often under pseudonyms.The truth is that we will never again know talent like this.