'THE ARTIST FORMERLY KNOWN AS PRINCE’ (7 Jun. 1958 – 21 Apr. 2016) * * * Prince Rogers Nelson was an American Singer, Multi-instrumentalist, Songwriter, Record Producer, and Actor. The recipient of numerous awards and nominations, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of his generation. He was known for his flamboyant, androgynous persona; his wide vocal range, which included a far-reaching falsetto and high-pitched screams; and his skill as a multi-instrumentalist, often preferring to play all or most of the instruments on his recordings. His music incorporated a wide variety of styles, including funk, R and B, new wave, soul, synth-pop, pop, jazz, blues and hip hop. Prince produced his albums himself, pioneering the Minneapolis sound. * * * PRINCE’S QUOTES: "WHEN I WANT TO HEAR NEW MUSIC, I MAKE IT. * * * People say I’m wearing heels because I’m short. I wear heels because the women like ’em. * * * A strong spirit transcends rules. *** If you see a man opening a car for a woman it’s one of two things: it’s either a new woman or a new car! * * * When I'm writing [songs], some days the pen just goes. I'm not in charge and I'm almost listening outside of it. That's when I realize that we all have to start looking at life as a gift. IT'S LIKE LISTENING TO A COLOR AND BELIEVING THAT THESE COLORS HAVE SOUL MATES, AND ONCE YOU GET THEM ALL TOGETHER THE PAINTING IS COMPLETE. * * * I've grown up, everyone's got to grow up. But there's something inside me, I'm always going to have that little sort of, how do you say, child streak. * * * Too much freedom can lead to the soul’s decay. *** To create something from nothing is one of the greatest feelings, and I would - I don’t know, I wish it upon everybody. It’s Heaven. * * * Compassion is an action word with no boundaries. *** You can judge the success of a man by his bodyguards! *** Sometimes ideas are coming so fast that I have to stop doing one song to get another. But I don’t forget the first one. If it works, it will always be there. It’s like the truth: it will find you and lift you up. And if it ain’t right, it will dissolve like sand on the beach. * * * Time is a mind construct. It's not real. * * * So much has been written about me, and people don’t know what’s right and what’s wrong. I’d rather let them stay confused. * * * The music, for me, doesn’t come on a schedule. I don’t know when it’s going to come, and when it does, I want it out. * * * As long as I do not take myself too seriously I should not be too badly off. * * * I don’t really care so much what people say about me, because it usually is a reflection of who they are. For example, if people wish I would sound like I used to sound, then it says more about them than it does me. *** I’m still very much a kid inside myself. * * * The only thing I could think of - because I really don't like categories - but the only thing I could think of is inspirational, and I think music that is from the heart falls right into that category.” * * * TO BE CONTD... SEE PART 2 * * * AZQUOTES.COM * * * AMERICANSONGWRITER.COM