Prince

Artist Image: Prince
Attribution
Image Credit: Yves Lorson from Kapellen, Belgium (Prince), CC BY 2.0

Biography

Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016), known by his mononym Prince, was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and actor, serving as a major figure in popular music for over three decades. Prince was renowned as an innovator and was widely known for his eclectic work, flamboyant stage presence, and wide vocal range. He was widely regarded as the pioneer of Minneapolis sound. His music combined rock, R&B, soul, funk, hip hop, disco, psychedelia, jazz, and pop. Prince was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and developed an interest in music at an early age, writing his first song at age seven. After recording songs with his cousin's band 94 East, 19-year-old Prince recorded several unsuccessful demo tapes before releasing his debut album For You in 1978, under the guidance of manager Owen Husney. His 1979 album Prince went platinum due to the success of the singles "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?" and "I Wanna Be Your Lover". His next three records—Dirty Mind (1980), Controversy (1981), and 1999 (1982)—continued his success, showcasing Prince's trademark of prominently sexual lyrics and incorporation of elements of funk, dance, and rock music. In 1984, he began referring to his backup band as The Revolution and released Purple Rain, which served as the soundtrack to his film debut of the same name. A prolific songwriter, Prince in the 1980s wrote songs for and produced work by many other acts, often under pseudonyms. After releasing the albums Around the World in a Day (1985) and Parade (1986), The Revolution disbanded and Prince released the critically acclaimed double album Sign "O" the Times (1987) as a solo artist. He released three more solo albums before debuting The New Power Generation band in 1991. He changed his stage name in 1993 to an unpronounceable symbol, also known as the "Love Symbol". He then began releasing new albums at a faster pace to remove himself from contractual obligations to Warner Bros.; he released five records between 1994 and 1996 before signing with Arista Records in 1998. In 2000, he began referring to himself as "Prince" again. He released 15 albums since then, including his latest, HITnRUN Phase One, which was first released exclusively on the Tidal streaming service on September 7, 2015 before being released on CD on September 15, 2015 by NPG Records. Prince sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. He won seven Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the first year of his eligibility. Rolling Stone has ranked Prince at number 27 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. He died at his Paisley Park recording studio and home in Chanhassen, Minnesota, near Minneapolis, on April 21, 2016, after suffering flu-like symptoms for several weeks.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1976
Number of Albums 66
Record Label Warner Bros. Records
Website
Wikipedia Prince on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

Prince was a mainstay in popular music for how long?

more than three decades

... and stage presence, Prince was a mainstay in popular music for more than three decades . A musical influence and innovator, Prince died on April 21, 2...
Prince died on April 21, 2016 at what age?

57

...cal influence and innovator, Prince died on April 21, 2016, at the age of 57 . His mother was a jazz singer, and his father was a pianist and a songwri...
What was Prince's mother's profession?

jazz singer

...or, Prince died on April 21, 2016, at the age of 57. His mother was a jazz singer , and his father was a pianist and a songwriter who performed in the ...
What jazz group did Prince perform under?

Prince Rogers Trio

...nd his father was a pianist and a songwriter who performed in the Prince Rogers Trio , a jazz group, under the stage name Prince Rogers. Prince is name...
Prince dabbled in what genre of music throughout his childhood?

funk

...sses Prince dabbled in music throughout his childhood, forming a popular funk band in his late teens. After shopping around a series of unsuccessful d...
When was Prince's debut album For You released?

1978

...eries of unsuccessful demo tapes, he released his debut album For You in 1978 , but his second effort, Prince, was much more commercially successful. I...
What year did Prince release Purple Rain?

1984

...y and 1999 generated more acclaim for the artist, but he hit it big with 1984 's Purple Rain. The album, which accompanies his film of the same, catapu...
What was the name of Prince's 1984 album?

Purple Rain

... generated more acclaim for the artist, but he hit it big with 1984's Purple Rain . The album, which accompanies his film of the same, catapulted Princ...
Who was a graduate of Minneapolis Central High School?

Prince Rogers Nelson

... Prince Rogers Nelson was from Minneapolis, MN, a graduate of Minneapolis Central High School, who taught himself to play a number of musical instrumen...
What group did Prince Rogers Nelson form during high school?

Grand Central

...y a number of musical instruments. He also formed the soulrock group Grand Central during high school. He then created his own recording label, Paisle...
Prince's own recording label was called what?

Paisley Park

...Central during high school. He then created his own recording label, Paisley Park . Prince's musical styles have been compared to James Brown, Jackie W...
What is the name of Prince's record label?

Warner Brothers

...years, Prince was allowed great independence from his record label, Warner Brothers , to create his own kind of music. He subsequently released Prince ...
How many number one singles did Prince have?

11

...ng funk, rock, and soul with a special pop feel. Prince scored a total of 11 number one songs and 22 top 10 hits on the pop charts. Prince released a ...
How many top 10 hits did Prince have on the pop charts?

22

...with a special pop feel. Prince scored a total of 11 number one songs and 22 top 10 hits on the pop charts. Prince released a number of LPs throughout...
In what year did Prince release his first album?

1979

...thers, to create his own kind of music. He subsequently released Prince ( 1979 ), Dirty Mind (1980), Controversy (1981), and 1999 (1982). From 1982 to 1...
What was the name of the band that Prince toured with from 1982 to 1986?

the Revolution

...bsequently released Prince (1979), Dirty Mind (1980), Controversy (1981), and 1999 (1982). From 1982 to 1986, he toured with his band, the Revolution ....
When did Dirty Mind come out?

1980

...s own kind of music. He subsequently released Prince (1979), Dirty Mind ( 1980 ), Controversy (1981), and 1999 (1982). From 1982 to 1986, he toured with...
What two albums did Prince release in his early career?

Prince, Dirty Mind and Controversy

...Prince's early music career saw the release of Prince, Dirty Mind and Controversy , which drew attention for their fusion of religious and sexual theme...
How many Grammys did Prince win?

sevent

...erstar status with No. 1 hits like When Doves Cry and Let's Go Crazy. A sevent ime Grammy winner, Prince had a prodigious output that included later al...
When was Prince Rogers Nelson born?

Minneapolis, Minnesota

...ovator Prince was born Prince Rogers Nelson on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minnesota . His parents were John Nelson, a musician whose stage name was ...
Who was Prince Nelson's mother?

Mattie Shaw

... were John Nelson, a musician whose stage name was Prince Rogers, and Mattie Shaw , a jazz singer who performed with the Prince Rogers Band. Prince bec...
How did he and his sister split their time between their parents homes?

His parents broke up when he was about 10

...aught himself how to play the piano, guitar and drums. His parents broke up when he was about 10 , and he and his sister split their time between their...
At what age did Prince leave his home?

12

...Princes home life, however, was turbulent, and he left home at the age of 12 and was adopted into another family. From a young age Prince began to tea...
Prince left school at what age?

16

...s Smith (who was later replaced by Morris Day). Prince left school at age 16 , by which point he had already begun helping to create what would become ...
The Minneapolis Sound is characterized by what kind of sound?

industrialsounding

...hat would become known as the Minneapolis Sound, characterized by industrialsounding drum machines and synthesizer riffs. By 1976 Prince was working a...
How old was Prince when he signed with Warner Records?

19

... a session guitarist for Minneapolis Sound 80 Studios and by 1977, at age 19 , he had signed a contract with Warner Records. During this, the early par...
What label did Prince work with in the early part of his career?

Warner Records

...nd 80 Studios and by 1977, at age 19, he had signed a contract with Warner Records . During this, the early part of his career, Prince and his Minneapo...
What was the name of Prince's debut album?

For You

...is Sound made the biggest impact on the R&B charts with his debut album For You , with the single Soft and Wet being particularly popular. These shows ...
When Prince released For You, what song was particularly popular?

Soft and Wet

...pact on the R&B charts with his debut album For You, with the single Soft and Wet being particularly popular. These shows soon became lavish and eroti...
What was Prince's signature album?

1999

...der band. In 1982, Prince released what would become his signature album 1999 , which immediately secured him a position as a mainstream chart topper a...
How long did Prince's career last?

more than 35 tears

...In a career that lasted more than 35 tears , Prince was a peerlessly prolific songwriter who sold over 100 million albums. Signed to Warner Brothers wh...
How long was he the youngest producer in Warner Brothers history?

five years

...rs when he was only 19 years old, he put out his first five albums in five years . Playing every instrument and producing them himself, made him the yo...
When did he resign with the label for 100 million?

1992

... producer in Warner Brothers history. When he resigned with the label in 1992 for 100 million, his sixalbum deal was the biggest in music history. He ...
How many albums was the biggest deal in music history for a Warner Brothers producer?

six

...ers history. When he resigned with the label in 1992 for 100 million, his six album deal was the biggest in music history. He also became corporate vic...
What was the corporate vice president for artists and repertoire called?

A&R

...tory. He also became corporate vice president for artists and repertoire ( A&R as they say in the business). Rewind to 1974 when Prince was a sophomore...
When was Prince a sophomore at Minneapolis Central High School?

1974

... for artists and repertoire (A&R as they say in the business). Rewind to 1974 when Prince was a sophomore at Minneapolis Central High School, taking a...
When did Prince sign a three album contract with Warner Bros.?

June 25, 1977

...nt of someone who could write, perform and produce his own music. On June 25, 1977 , Prince signed a three album contract with Warner Bros. who agreed ...
What was the name of the company that Prince signed with in 1977?

Warner Bros

...oduce his own music. On June 25, 1977, Prince signed a three album contract with Warner Bros . who agreed to give him creative control over the albums....
When did Prince sign a record deal with Warner Bros. Records?

nineteen

...innesota, Prince signed a record deal with Warner Bros. Records at age nineteen , releasing the albums For You (1978) and Prince (1979). He went on to ...
What was the name of Prince's 1987 album?

Sign o' the Times

...months atop the Billboard 200. After disbanding the Revolution, Prince released Sign o' the Times (1987), widely hailed by critics as his magnum opus....
Princes recording career began with what genre of music?

funk and soul

...him in all the performing roles. Princes recording career began with funk and soul marketed to a Black audience; his early music also reflected the co...
What demographic was funk and soul marketed to?

Black audience

...es. Princes recording career began with funk and soul marketed to a Black audience ; his early music also reflected the contemporary musical impact of ...
What genre of music did his early music reflect?

disco

...ience; his early music also reflected the contemporary musical impact of disco . Later records incorporated a vast array of influences, including jazz,...
At what age did Prince begin playing the piano?

7

.... Taking an early interest in music, Prince began playing the piano at age 7 and had mastered the guitar and drums by the time he joined his first ban...
What instrument did Prince master by the time he joined his first band?

guitar and drums

...usic, Prince began playing the piano at age 7 and had mastered the guitar and drums by the time he joined his first band at age 14. With very few Afri...
When did Prince join his first band?

14

...mastered the guitar and drums by the time he joined his first band at age 14 . With very few African American residents, his hometown, Minneapolis, Min...
Princes lyrics often address sexuality and desire with what?

frankness and imagination

... music, Princes lyrics often address sexuality and desire with frankness and imagination . Much of his work, in its lyrics and imagery, struggles with ...
What was Princes first big crossover hit?

Little Red Corvette

...ed erotic experience that has roots in African American churches. Little Red Corvette (1983) was Princes first big crossover hit, gaining airplay on M...
What year was Little Red Corvette released?

1983

...rience that has roots in African American churches. Little Red Corvette ( 1983 ) was Princes first big crossover hit, gaining airplay on MTV at a time w...
Princes music has a strong religious impulse that has roots in what?

African American churches

...used into a kind of sacred erotic experience that has roots in African American churches . Little Red Corvette (1983) was Princes first big crossover h...
As a child, Prince suffered from what condition?

epilepsy

...iautobiographical film 'Purple Rain.' As a child, Prince suffered from epilepsy , although he apparently ceased to experience seizures as an adult. As ...
What city was Prince Rogers Nelson born in?

Minneapolis

...Prince Rogers Nelson was born in Minneapolis , Minnesota, to Mattie Shaw, a jazz singer and social worker, and John L. Nelson, a lyricist and pianist. ...
What was Grand Central's new name?

Champagne

... joined a band called Grand Central. The band later renamed themselves Champagne and were a fairly successful live band, however soon diminished. Prin...
When did Prince start working on demo tracks with Chris Moon?

eighteen

...ly successful live band, however soon diminished. Prince at the age of eighteen started working on highquality demo tracks with Chris Moon. With these...
Who did Prince sign a recording contract with?

Warner Brothers Records

...ks Prince eventually ended up signing a recording contract with Warner Brothers Records and was the youngest producer associated with the label. Princ...
How did the album rank on the U.S. charts?

163

... record label with his 1978 album, For You. It wasn't a strong successful album, however it was fair for a beginning artist and ranked 163 on the U.S....