It is hard to believe it’s already been 6 years since we lost Prince, nonetheless his music and spirit lives on!
I remember the first time I heard about Prince, it was a write up in BAM (Bay Area Music) Magazine, when he opened for the Rolling Stones on their first of Lord-knows-how-many Farewell Tours. He was panned mercilessly for his performance. I recall them saying he was “booed off the stage” by the Stones fans…
It was maybe a year or so later that I actually heard his music for the first time, and I was immediately hooked. We suburban white kids didn’t get turned on to Prince until the “1999” album, which was released in 1982 (my Freshman year of high school).
Prince was one of those artists that transcended genre, trends, race, orientation… everything. The man changed music and the expectations of musicians. “One of a kind” is just the tip of the iceberg.
I’d been a big fan of Prince for a good decade or more when I learned that we shared a birthday – he was born exactly 10 years to the day before me – and that he threw big jam sessions at Paisley Park on his birthday (in spite of being a Jehovah’s Witness). It was my dream to one day reach a level of drumming notoriety that would get me invited to one of these all star jams…Alas, it was never meant to be. In fact, he’s one of the legendary musicians that profoundly influenced my own musical journey that I never got to see live. Nevertheless, without Prince I wouldn’t be the musician I am today.
So, Happy Birthay Prince! You were before your time, and beyond your place in the Universe and I am eternally grateful for what you bestowed upon us mere earthlings. You will be forever missed, you Sexy MF!
Thanks for stopping by!
The Boring Old Man 