(Prince- opening night of the Purple Rain tour, Detroit 1984)
Prince Rogers Nelson turned 54 years young yesterday. While not everyone's cup of tea, during the 80s, he cut an almost unprecedented creative path through the music industry that still has folks reeling almost 30 years later.
(Prince- opening night of the Purple Rain tour, Detroit 1984)
While the accessibility of his music over the last twenty years tends towards the challenging, shall we say, his boldness, way around a melody and inspired madness has provided many a good time. He certainly did for me, starting with opening for Rick James when I was in college in 1980, through last year's 21 night stand at the Forum. Say what you will, the man never phones it in.
(Prince w/Andre' Cymone, opening for Rick James. Toledo, 1980)
To celebrate the little crazy man, I can't do much more than wish him happy birthday, since he snatches videos down almost as soon as they go up. But here is a once in a lifetime clip that so far has survived Prince's cut.
James Brown brings Michael Jackson up onstage who tells him that Prince is in the house. Classic Purple strangeness follows.
Take care of your whole self and have an outstanding weekend!
