At 1pm.est, yesterday afternoon, I heard the news that a body had been discovered at the estate of, writer, singer, guitarist, pianist, drummer… Prince. Nearly a half hour later, the newscaster confirmed that the body had been positively identified as that of music icon, Prince Rogers Nelson. The immediate pain I felt, reminded me of the loves I have loss, the damaged friendships I had prized and a future without his physical presence.
My introduction to Prince, was in 1982, with the apocryphal song, “1999.” I was idealistic, too young to understand life and full of hopeful frenzy. Fortunately, I was not too “Delirious” to immediately recognize genius. Prior to all the speculation that will come in the next few days, about the causes and shortcomings for his death and life, I want to honor him in this moment.
In nineteen eighty-two, I was twenty-six years old, married with two kids and free from ‘Controversy.’ Coming out of the era of afros, stack heeled shoes and brightly colored shirts and matching slacks, manhood was the new marching order, given, in the inner city of Washington DC, where I grew up. Mr. Nelson softened the hearts of the most hardened “brothers” I knew. Prince, in the beginning, was ostracized for his coiffed hair, ruffled shirts and the heels he sported that enhanced his five foot two-inch-tall frame. All the things, the new Generation X African American male fought to escape. The thing we could not evade was the power of his musical talent, his ability to make us all sit up and take notice and be unable to resist the rhythmic head bob, his beats commanded.
He upended the notions of machismo that we all held dear, and turned them into silly symbolic gestures. I realized what the power of a peaceful soul, a larger than life persona and real humanity was worth. It vastly overshadowed our prideful ignorance. Prince overcame long odds and used a gift that is only granted once or twice a century. When he became a Symbol started The Revolution and led us into a New Power Generation, we were all blessed with immortality, because his music will live forever. I sat in front of my laptop last night, screen glaring in my face, putting together a discography of hit songs I felt obliged to mention, but I was suddenly struck by the fact that it was not commercial success that drove Prince. He fought against the enslavement of his musicianship, and that meant the most to him. He broke new ground, promoting the talents of percussionist Shelia Escovedo and Morris E. Day. When Avant- garde had become a catch phrase, Prince sought out the unique, Vanity 6 and Apollonia Kotero and collaborated with Sheena Easton; watch the Batdance video, for God’s sake!
A little guy from Minnesota who played basketball, refused to allow epilepsy or a violent home life destroy his dream or his ego, went on to become a musical influence that will be felt for decades to come. I will remember Prince Rogers Nelson, because he told me it was okay to get in my, “Little Red Corvette” join him, and “Let’s Go Crazy.” He gave us his heart and talent and in the throes of pain and illness, gave his life. Afterall, he did say, “I Will Die 4 U!” Rest well, sweet Prince.