Prince dead at 57 – another musical legend lost!

The hugely popular, acclaimed and influential musician Prince has died at his home in Minnesota at the age of 57.

Born in 1958, Prince was a prolific writer and performer from a young age – reportedly writing his first song when he was seven.

A singer, songwriter, arranger and multi-instrumentalist, Prince recorded more than 30 albums. His best known hits include Let’s Go Crazy and When Doves Cry. He sold more than 100 million records during his career.

A musical prodigy from a broken home, Prince famously wrote, arranged, produced and played almost all of his hit records.

But the Purple man’s purple patch really came with his first band The Revolution.With them by his side, he wrote more than two dozen rock classics in a five-year flurry.

Purple Rain, Little Red Corvette, 1999, Raspberry Beret, When Doves Cry, Kiss… At the same time, he dashed off Manic Monday for The Bangles and Nothing Compares 2U, made famous by Sinead O’Connor.

In the studio, he was unstoppable. But the magic really happened on stage. He would vamp, preen and tease an audience into a frenzy, then slay them with a quiet moment of crystalline beauty. He was a joy to watch.

He also wrote music for several artists – Sinead O’Connor’s version of Nothing Compares 2U became a worldwide smash in 1990.

In 1984, he won an Oscar for the score to Purple Rain, a film in which he also starred.

Throughout his career he had a reputation for secrecy and eccentricity, once changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol.

In 2004, Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which said he “rewrote the rulebook”.

He had a mercurial relationship with technology. In 2000, he released singles via the pioneering music-sharing service Napster, but he later declared the internet “completely over” and refused to allow his music on major streaming platforms.

Prince’s latest album, HITnRUN Phase Two, was released last year and he had been touring as recently as last week.

Watch Prince preform his Oscar winning song Purple Rain below.

Source: www.bbc.com

Share this Article:

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on google
Google+
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn

Looking for expert help and advice?

Our expert team can provide you with all your marching band instruments and accessories. 

Request a Callback