Sarah Marks: Artistic inspiration from Prince

Ida Neilsen, who performed in both New Power Generation and 3RDEYEGIRL, talks with Andrea Swensson about how she first connected with Prince and her funky new solo album.

Tech blogger and entrepreneur Anil Dash talks to Andrea Swensson about Prince's secret life as a computer nerd.

PaviElle French is a performer, singer and songwriter who visited Paisley Park at age 16. "The biggest way Prince influenced me is that he lived his life by his own rules and that's the kind of artist that I am," PaviElle says. "That's the kind of person I am, and knowing that he did it, I know it can be done."

In a report from Dec. 26, 1984, MPR's Stephen Smith (now of American RadioWorks) provides a biographical look at Prince, '26 years old, born and raised in Minneapolis, he's this year's star of the rock and roll world. He's now touring the United States, selling out every place he performs.' Smith also talks to Minneapolis StarTribune reporter and Prince biographer, John Bream.

In a report from Sept. 10, 1987, MPR News' Mike Mulcahy describes a tour by foreign dignitaries of Prince's Chanhassen, Minn., studio, Paisley Park. 'Audible gasps were detected as the visiting dignitaries walked through banks of recording equipment in Paisley Park's gymnasium-sized recording studio,' Mulcahy reports.

Singer-songwriter Steve Noonan worked as an audio engineer for Prince in the early 1990s. "It was fun," Noonan says. "As has been said a lot, he was a genius. ... It was fun to watch the songs form." Hear Noonan's stories from his days working at Paisley Park.

Steve McClellan was a co-owner of First Avenue during Prince's early days. He remembered him as a perfectionist, a workaholic -- and a kid.

Neal Karlen is a Twin Cities writer who collaborated with Prince on a rock opera and covered him for years. He wrote for Rolling Stone, Newsweek and other publications in the '80s and '90s. He talked with MPR News reporter Euan Kerr about his experiences with Prince over the years.

Bret Thoeny, the man who built Paisley Park, is a principal with the firm BOTO Design Architects in California. He spoke with MPR News host Tom Weber about his experiences with Prince.