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Musicheads Essential Artist: Prince

Prince performs at Super Bowl XLI in Miami Gardens, Florida, 2007.
Prince performs at Super Bowl XLI in Miami Gardens, Florida, 2007.Nick Laham/Getty Images
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by Andrea Swensson

April 21, 2020

Prince Rogers Nelson was born in Minneapolis in 1958 and would go on to become one of the biggest music stars of all time.

Early in his career he developed the Minneapolis Sound, a blend of funk and rock music. In 1984, along with the Revolution, he would shine a spotlight on his hometown and First Avenue with the movie and soundtrack Purple Rain.

Prince found himself at an artistic turning point in the 1990s. He had a new band — the New Power Generation — and in protest against his record company deal, changed his name to an unpronounceable glyph.

In 2007, during his Super Bowl halftime performance, he proved that he remained one of the best live performers on the planet. After living in L.A. for a while, Prince moved back to Minnesota in the 2010s and started a new all-female rock band, 3RDEYEGIRL.

He would often open the doors of Paisley Park to show off a new protegé or share new music, or to perform once-in-a-lifetime intimate concerts.

Prince died April 21, 2016 at Paisley Park. His legacy lives on through his music, and his impact will be felt by future generations.