Prince: All For You

The artist formerly know as Prince dropped his first album “For You” back in 1978, and his popularity has been soaring since that historic debut. It is hard to believe that Prince began his career so long ago, but his success and love for music has not wavered one bit.

According to several sources, Prince has a plethora of unreleased songs, and his newest albums remain unique and special in their own ways. He has put out more than twenty five hit records, and he has seen countless billboard action. This extremely successful pop artist is an American icon, and countless musicians have been inspired by his wonderful lyrics and melodies. There are a number of major motion pictures that celebrate some of his most famous pieces. For instance, in “Romeo and Juliet” (starring Leonardo Dicaprio), Prince’s hit “When Doves Cry” shines as a memorable anthem that no fan of music could forget.

To complement Prince’s twenty five plus hit records, the singer has conducted twenty outstanding tours, which have received some serious international attention. He possesses a wonderful ability to entertain, and he rightly deserves a place at the Rock ‘N Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. He was inducted in 2004. But who is the man behind the music? Where did this celebrity first find success? Who were his real inspirations? Prince has had a wonderful past, and some of his biographical information and beginning tales are spectacular. He uses inspiration from all walks of life, including Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Duke Ellington, and Stevie Wonder.

Prince Rogers Nelson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1958. His parents were both minor successful artists, with their own local followings, and it is safe to say that he spent the majority of his life under their influence. His parents stuck to work with Jazz roots. Therefore, in many of Prince’s most acclaimed pieces, we hear the remanence of jazz. Prince’s music has a pop feel, but do not let that fool you. This artist is as skilled as they come, when it comes to musical instruments. His is an accomplished guitarist. Prince unleashes this special talent at least once in his shows, and fans can find countless photos of him with his favorite instrument. Prince sometimes plays the bad boy role, and he has tried to reinvent himself in more ways than one. His game plan seems to work. In other words, Prince still plays to sold out crowds, and his tours are as big as ever. The prolific fan of the Minnesota Vikings, has had his fair share of Hollywood romances as well.

Another key characteristic of Prince’s fame is his commitment to name changes and wardrobe reinventions. He has been known as Christopher, Alexander Nevermind, and PaisleyPark. The truth is, there is no real reason for his name changes. I believe it to be the great play of a clever genius. What other major musicians have we seen operate in this manner? Prince also has a great balance between what is considered pop music, and what is considered rock ‘n roll. He takes his originality further by constantly switching labels, with enterprises such as Columbia and Universal (just to name a few). He clearly loves to play the role of a free agent. This artist has won countless awards too, and he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from BET in 2010. He has even performed at the half-time show in Super Bowl XLI. Prince is also known for his ability to put on a surprise concert. He once did a surprise show in his hometown of Minnesota. The more I read about his success (economic and popularity), the more I am in awe. No one should be this gifted, and no one should be this powerful at the same time. His life away from stardom is quite successful as well.

Peter Willis, of  The Mirror (an online British magazine), gave followers some insight into Prince’s great charisma in a recent interview. He writes about the star, “I’m trying to interview the rock legend but he’s more interested in an impromptu jam session on the stage of his private concert hall – with me on drums.”

Prince just has so many likeable qualities on and off the stage. In an interview with George Lopez, Prince received a very warm welcome. Lopez exclaimed, “I may not have been the most loved person in my life, but I know what love sounds like, and that is love.” People just fall head over heels for this guy, and he operates in such a classy manner, and he always showcases appreciation for his fans. “Purple Rain” was dropped back in 1994, and one of my younger cousins (who is 11) has the CD. He absolutely loves it. This artist connects with men, women, and children. Prince’s latest tour, “Welcome Two,” ended in 2011. It is reported by several sources that Prince made over twenty million dollars for his efforts. Time and time again he silences critics and puts on great shows for his fans. On a Good Morning America interview Prince was asked what it is like when you find the one (in other words, what is it like to fall in love?) He exclaimed, “so many different things happen to you when you finally connect with your soul mate. You eat better. You sleep more. You want to stay in the house a little more. I don’t record as much as I use to…instead of having ten women thinking that that was the equivalent to wealth, we just wanted to focus on the one idea, to see if that would be our personal heaven.” We see this amazing answer come to life in so many of his songs.

Four Grammies and one Oscar: We Love You Prince!

-Stan Walters