…..Before the release of his best-known behemoth of an album/movie/Academy Award winner, Purple Rain, Prince amassed an enviable body of work that encompassed his own shining gems (“Controversy,” “Little Red Corvette,” “I Wanna Be Your Lover” and countless other well-beloved jams) and the mentoring musicianship that he applied to some of the most enduring talents in music history, including his own band, The Revolution, Morris Day and The Time, Sheila E., the late Vanity (Denise Matthews), and prolific producers and former Revolution band members-turned-megaproducers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who just recently praised their former boss for his visionary methods and insistence on melody and organic approaches to warm up computerized and synthesized track work.

For nearly 20 years since his debut, no artist was more prolific or as consistently popular as Prince. Known for many romantic liaisons yet notoriously private off-stage, Prince released dozens of albums, worked with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Mint Condition and Janelle Monae, to name a few, and toured constantly—–his last performance was in Atlanta last week before falling ill—-but always remained outspoken about the shadiness of the music industry (remember the ‘slave’ inscription he wore on his face after warring with his record label over ownership of his work and his yanking of videos off of youtube?) as well as the importance of independence and profit to musicians and respect for their individuality and art……

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