Prince: An Appreciation

Prince: An Appreciation
Artwork by Carl Dunn

Artwork by Carl Dunn

What a way to hit the scene and defy what people believed to be the standard for rock ‘n’ roll!

Prince Rodgers Nelson was born June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minn. He was a man of true respect and acceptance of how invested he was in his own perception of himself and his music he created. It goes without saying, his impact on women in the industry is one that cannot be compared to any other artist. Prince was the single most important factor in giving women a stage to be seen as creative and important to a male dominated industry in the early 80s late 90s. Prince started more careers and wrote songs that none of us would attribute his brilliance to, unless spoken or written about. To understand the scope of his impact on the industry, see the list below.

Prince’s next-level impact on minorities in the rock ‘n’ roll field is akin to Jimi Hendrix’s total impact on what a rock ‘n’ roll guitarist should look like in the 70s. Would you be upset or have a justifiable argument that refutes the assertion that two of the top 10 greatest guitarists in the history of this genre are both African American. What a perspective to witness and to loathe simultaneously. Minorities do not break barriers without an asserted effort or some kind of struggle to say the least. What Prince and Hendrix were able to accomplish may not be seen in the next 50 or 100 years.

I have to admit, I get emotional just thinking about all the songs both men have created like: Purple Rain, Sweet Red Corvette, When Doves Cry,Purple Haze, Voo Doo Child, All Along The Watch Tower, etc… Moreover, I feel we (African Americans) did not and sometimes do not attribute the genius to Hendrix and Prince for their impact on a genre we did not dominate or had a ton of exposure in; in the early days.

In closing, I would plead to the next generation of young would-be solo guitarists, if you have a burning desire in you to be what the main media think you should not; then that alone will give you the inspiration to reach the pinnacle. Your ascent may not be likened to Prince or Hendrix, but we need you. We need you to take us to places no one will have the power to do, unless Prince and Hendrix could come back one more time and do a concert for all of us — or maybe when we reach heaven, who knows.

I will miss Prince dearly, and I will weep in solitude when I hear Purple Rain, but I will weep uncontrollably if we do not have the up and coming generations give these two men the unuttered respect they deserve and preserve their immortal impact on us as fans and as individuals who need to hear hope at the flick of a string. Much love and respect to one of the best that ever did it.

Categories: Music