June Artist of the Month: Prince

Prince Rogers Nelson was born on June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Jazz pianist John L Nelson and Singer Matti Shaw. Named after the Prince Roger Trio, a jazz band in which his father was a pianist, Prince had a somewhat unsettled childhood that saw him moving in with a neighborhood family at 13. Prince would befriend their oldest son Andre Anderson (later known as Andre Cymone) and they would both join his cousin Charles Smith's band Grand Central. In 1977 Prince and Andre joined up with Pepe Willie's new band 94 East. Pepe, the husband of Prince's cousin, Shantel, had been influential in Prince's early career, mentoring and managing the young prodigy in his Grand Central days. Prince learned many of his production skills while working in the studio for Willie as a teenager. In 1977 94 East would record their first and only album. Prince wrote most of the songs as well as played guitar and keyboards. He was also the lead vocalist on the track "Just Another Sucker". The album was not commercially released at the time but would finally be made available for a short time in the mid 80s under the title Minneapolis Genius.

Shortly after the completion of the album, Prince was signed to Warner Brother Records and released For You in 1978. The first single "Soft and Wet" would become a minor success but would pale in comparison to what Prince would release over the next decade. His next 4 albums Prince (1979), Dirty Mind (1980), Controversy (1981), and 1999 (1982) would each raise the bar creatively as well as attract increasing controversy with their mix religious and overtly sexual themes. During this period, Prince directed his side projects The Time and Vanity 6 to mainstream success under the production alias Jamie Star. The 2 acts would join Prince on the Triple Threat Tour, a now legendary series of concerts running from the end of 1982 and into the summer of 1983.

In 1984 Prince would star in the semi-biographical motion picture Purple Rain. The movie and accompanying soundtrack would launch Prince to super stardom, rivaled only by fellow icon Michael Jackson. With Prince firmly established as a musical genius and mega star, Prince would begin to challenge his core audience with sounds and styles they were unaccustomed too. Around The World in a Day (1985) and Parade (1986) saw Prince depart from his Minneapolis Sound formula and mix and match multiple genres. Hits like "Raspberry Beret" and "Kiss" kept Prince front and center on the charts during this time. Some would say the pinnacle of his career would come with his next release Sign O The Times (1987). A masterful double album and concert film, SOTT is Prince bringing his 10 year career to a boiling point, showing off what he's learned and what he's going to be for the next two decades.

A label fight, name changes and copy write battles would define Prince in the 90s and into the 21st Century. But the foundation Prince built in the 80s sustains him to this day. The most dynamic performer of his generation, Prince regularly sells out wherever he performs. Most recently he sold out 21 straight nights at London's massive O2 arena.

In the month of Gemini, we here at Reunion Radio have fittingly picked the most famous Gemini of them all as our artist of the month. You'll hear the early stuff, 80s hits, 90s gems and newer cuts that proves Prince can still funk with the best of them. We'll also sprinkle in some the side projects like Vanity 6, The Time and Sheila E. June is Prince month y'all - - All hail his Royal Badness!