Music world in shock as Prince dies suddenly aged 57

[webfact]

Music world in shock as Prince dies suddenly aged 57
By Robert Hackwill



The music world has been stunned by the shock news of Prince’s sudden death aged 57 at his home recording studio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEHCNMuX-64&feature=youtu.be

By “1999” he was already starting to explore psychedelics and the double album showed he was keen to plug into a white audience via pop-rock influences, very clear on hit single “Little Red Corvette”

“Kiss” was just one of several planetary hits in the 80s and 90s which established him as an artist everyone wanted to hear, and play with. The self-announced musical genius could play anything, could compose, and drive a recording studio as well. He produced movies, generously supported other artists with songs, and was so prolific with such a workrate there are probably hundreds of hours of unreleased material waiting to be issued.

The year “Kiss” came out it was THE song everyone talked about. Instantly covered by everyone, including this little-known UK outfit. Prince has been very protective of his songs, and purged most from the web, legally enforcing the embargo, so this is why clips of him performing or the promotional videos of the time are so hard to find…

Some of his songs immediately became classics and were instantly covered by other artists such as Miles Davis, Cindy Lauper, Tom Jones or Sinead O’Connor. “When Doves Cry” is an international favourite at weddings and funerals, a power ballad that almost defines the 1980s on its own.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BxRYIoKMJU&feature=youtu.be

In this song Prince charmingly offers his girl masturbation on the first date, as you do when you’re a sex-crazed midget musical genius with Rasputin’s appetite for the pleasures of the flesh…

Above all, Prince knew how to funk, and funk bad, slotting into the tradition of James Brown, Sly Stone, George Clinton and Rick James, an irresistible force on the dance floor
and the popular culture of the time.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-04-22

[webfact]

With Sign of the Times Prince did it again, writing the song of the year, and again showing that sometimes less is more. This was stripped-back, hardly produced at all, with words that cut as deep as Desolation Rows nearly two decades previously

Cream showed he could also write an out-and-out pop hit, too

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-04-22

[webfact]

Prince, among most inventive musicians of modern era, dies
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, HILLEL ITALIE and JEFF BAENEN

CHANHASSEN, Minn. (AP) — Prince, one of the most inventive and influential musicians of modern times with hits including "Little Red Corvette," ''Let's Go Crazy" and "When Doves Cry," was found dead at his home on Thursday in suburban Minneapolis. He was 57.

His publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, told The Associated Press that the superstar "died at his home this morning at Paisley Park." The local sheriff said deputies found Prince unresponsive in an elevator late Thursday morning after being summoned to his home, but that first-responders couldn't revive him.

No details about what may have caused his death have been released. Prince postponed a concert in Atlanta on April 7, after coming down with the flu, and he apologized to fans during a makeup concert last week.

President Barack Obama released a statement Thursday saying he and his wife "joined millions of fans from around the world" in mourning Prince's sudden death.

"Few artists have influenced the sound and trajectory of popular music more distinctly, or touched quite so many people with their talent," said Obama, for whom Prince was a White House guest last year. "'A strong spirit transcends rules,' Prince once said — and nobody's spirit was stronger, bolder, or more creative."

The dazzlingly talented and charismatic singer, songwriter, arranger and instrumentalist drew upon musicians ranging from James Brown to Jimi Hendrix to the Beatles, creating a widely imitated blend of rock, funk and soul.

The Minneapolis native broke through in the late 1970s with the hits "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?" and "I Wanna Be Your Lover," and soared over the following decade with such albums as "1999" and "Purple Rain." The title song from "1999" includes one of the most quoted refrains of popular culture: "Tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999."

Born Prince Rogers Nelson, he stood just 5 feet, 2 inches — yet made a powerful visual impact at the dawn of MTV, from his wispy moustache and tall pompadour to his colorful and suggestive outfits.

He was equally powerful musically, summoning original and compelling sounds at will, whether playing guitar in a flamboyant style that drew on Jimi Hendrix, switching his vocals from a nasally scream to an erotic falsetto, or turning out album after album of stunningly original material. Among his other notable releases: "Sign O' the Times," ''Graffiti Bridge" and "The Black Album."

He was also fiercely protective of his independence, battling his record company over control of his material — and even his name, for a time insisting that he be called "TAFKAP," or The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, and identified with a key-like symbol. Prince once wrote "slave" on his face in protest of not owning his work and famously fought and then departed his label, Warner Bros., before returning a few years ago.

"What's happening now is the position that I've always wanted to be in," Prince told the AP in 2014. "I was just trying to get here."

In 2004, Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll of Fame, which hailed him as a musical and social trailblazer.

"He rewrote the rulebook, forging a synthesis of black funk and white rock that served as a blueprint for cutting-edge music in the Eighties," reads the Hall's dedication. "Prince made dance music that rocked and rock music that had a bristling, funky backbone. From the beginning, Prince and his music were androgynous, sly, sexy and provocative."

Music was in his blood. Prince's father played in a jazz band in Minneapolis, under the name "Prince Rogers," and his mother was the singer. The precocious young Prince taught himself to play the piano at age 7, the guitar at 13 and the drums at 14. In 1978, the year he turned 20, Prince debuted with the album "For You." It was a declaration, if nothing else, that he could do anything: He wrote and sang the material, and served as his own one-man band on guitar, bass, drums, synthesizers, chimes and assorted other instruments.

Rarely lacking in confidence, Prince effortlessly absorbed the music of others and made it sound like Prince, whether the James Brown guitar riff on "Kiss" or the Beatle-esque, psychedelic pop of "Raspberry Beret." He also proved a source of hits for others, from Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U" to Cyndi Lauper's "When You Were Mine" to "Manic Monday" for the Bangles.

Prince had been touring and recording right up until his death, releasing four albums in the last 18 months, including two on the Tidal streaming service last year. He performed in Atlanta last week as part of his "Piano and a Microphone" tour, a stripped-down show that has featured a mix of his hits like "Purple Rain" or "Little Red Corvette," and some B-sides from his extensive library.

Prince debuted the intimate format at his Paisley Park studios in January, treating fans to a performance that was personal and both playful and emotional at times.

The musician had seemed to be shedding his reclusive reputation. He hosted several late-night jam sessions where he serenaded Madonna, celebrated the Minnesota Lynx's WNBA championship and showcased his latest protege, singer Judith Hill.

Ever surprising, he announced on stage in New York City last month that he was writing his memoir. "The Beautiful Ones" was expected to be released in the fall of 2017 by publishing house Spiegel & Grau.

The publishing house has not yet commented on status of the book, but a press release about the memoir said: "Prince will take readers on an unconventional and poetic journey through his life and creative work." It says the book will include stories about Prince's music and "the family that shaped him and the people, places, and ideas that fired his creative imagination."

A small group of fans quickly gathered in the rain Thursday outside Paisley Park, his home and music studio, where Prince's gold records are on the walls and the purple motorcycle he rode in his 1984 breakout movie, "Purple Rain," is on display. The sprawling white, stone building is surrounded by a fence in Chanhassen, about 20 miles southwest of Minneapolis.

Steven Scott, 32, of Eden Prairie, said he was at Paisley Park last Saturday for Prince's dance party. He called Prince "a beautiful person" whose message was that people should love one another.

"He brought people together for the right reasons," Scott said.
___

Moody and Italie reported from New York. Associated Press writers David Bauder in New York, Paul Newberry in Atlanta, and Steve Karnowski in Chanhassen also contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-04-22

[webfact]

Sheriff: Prince found unresponsive in elevator, CPR failed

CHANHASSEN, Minn. (AP) — Pop superstar Prince was unresponsive in an elevator when he was found by sheriff's deputies who had been called to his suburban Minneapolis compound, a Minnesota sheriff said Thursday.

Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson said deputies responded to a medical call about 9:43 a.m. Medical personnel tried CPR, but couldn't revive the 57-year-old Prince, who was pronounced dead at 10:07 a.m.

The sheriff's brief statement said the death was under investigation and provided no other details.

News of Prince's death sparked an outpouring of grief and mourning from around the world.

It came just a few days after he was reported to have been hospitalized Friday in Illinois on his way back from a concert in Atlanta.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-04-22

[Somtamnication]

Never liked the guy, but he was a musical genius and respected him. RIP.

[Thechook]

57 not a bad innings.

[Scott]

RIP. He stayed relevant in the music world for a very long time.

[daoyai]

Youtube videos saying he was murdered by the Iluminati are being uploaded .... it seems to some that is the leading cause of death for pop stars. I liked purple rain.

[Boon Mee]

When the dove cries was OK too

[pedro01]

Sad to hear he's passed.

He truly was an amazing songwriter, musician and performer.

RIP Prince

[FourAces]

Youtube videos saying he was murdered by the Iluminati are being uploaded .... it seems to some that is the leading cause of death for pop stars. I liked purple rain.

Freemason conspiracy

[Boon Mee]

Heh...remember when Al & Tipper Gore teamed up to brand Prince a Public Menace?

It takes all kinds!

https://reason.com/blog/2016/04/21/that-time-al-and-tipper-gore-teamed-up-t

[Scott]

Please stay on topic.

[Dmaxdan]

A true music icon, and an amazing live performer and guitarist. R.I.P

[Ulysses G.]

I don't think he was genius. In fact, I thought he was mostly mediocre and way too pretentious. Remember when he changed his name to some weird, unpronounceable symbol?

IMO, he did one GREAT album (Purple Rain) and a bunch of other OK stuff. He died too young and does deserve to be celebrated for his one major contribution to modern music.

RIP

Edited April 22, 2016 by Ulysses G.

[NongKhaiKid]

It may be Lizzie's birthday but even the BBC are leading with news about a Prince.

Royal correspondent and sycophant Nicholas Witchell will not be amused.

[SgtRock]

A strange one who, in so many ways contributed greatly to the music scene.

RIP fella.

[thai3]

The usual over hyped accolades for a performer of very dubious achievements, the word genius is so over used these days.

[freebyrd]

57 not a bad innings.

In this day and age in a developed country? Surely you must be joking?

[puukao]

I liked him. He was fine. Been to his club in Minneapolis a long time ago. He was better than average. Sad day, especially his age.

BUT you get the crazies coming out today...."oh, he was the best ever, ever....he was a god...changed my life...saved my life....i met him....."

i stopped putting people on a pedestal....when i was 25. Prince, again, was gifted and RIP.

[soalbundy]

I'm so shocked i will have to listen to Beethoven, a real genius, to get over it.

[soihok]

Saw Prince play live several times

One of the most gifted musicians of our time.

RIP Prince.

Thank you so much for the experience.

[dotpoom]

57 not a bad innings.

Tell that to somebody who's 56.....May he RIP.

[lannarebirth]

I don't think he was genius. In fact, I thought he was mostly mediocre and way too pretentious. Remember when he changed his name to some weird, unpronounceable symbol?

IMO, he did one GREAT album (Purple Rain) and a bunch of other OK stuff. He died too young and does deserve to be celebrated for his one major contribution to modern music.

RIP

I wasn't a fan of any of his Pop stuff. but his Funk and R&B and experimental stuff was very good. Also he was one of the best guitarists alive. Hardly mediocre by any measure.

Edited April 22, 2016 by lannarebirth

[Rimmer]

Off topic and a quoted reply has been removed

[grumpyoldman]

Not a fan, but did see him in Los Angeles one time, not in concert but with an entourage on Sunset Blvd. Teeny little guy, I mean small, thin and pale, can understand how a longterm nasty case of pneumonia could have wiped the guy out.

[tiz435]

Dude wasn't just a Pop star. He could absolutely shred the guitar as well.

Amazing talent.

[thai3]

Very ordinary, pub class playing

[lannarebirth]

Very ordinary, pub class playing

You're a joke, man.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123/prince-20111122

[stevenl]

I don't think he was genius. In fact, I thought he was mostly mediocre and way too pretentious. Remember when he changed his name to some weird, unpronounceable symbol?

IMO, he did one GREAT album (Purple Rain) and a bunch of other OK stuff. He died too young and does deserve to be celebrated for his one major contribution to modern music.

RIP

At least prince can not be accused of standing still and not developing.