People leave this earth every day. Mostly, we never even consider this fact because it’s not something we hear about in our daily news cycle nor the deceased anyone we ever came close to knowing. Not until loss affects us at a personal level –as a loved one, a friend, an associate or through our loved one’s loss –is it really acknowledged.
Our society, like those before it, adores its ‘celebrities’. Sometimes for good reason. Some of these people who give themselves to us through their talent & character become extensions of family to us if only vicariously. Their work has affected us, moved us, revolted us, sustained us, spoken to us, uplifted us, marked key moments for us, educated us & even changed our perspectives.
On April 21, 2016, we lost one of the greatest, most prolific entertainers of any era. Prince Rogers Nelson was a talent comparable to few others. A plethora of biographies, op-eds & obits about The Purple One have overwhelmed us during the recent days since his demise. I write this to simply express my heartfelt gratitude to this extraordinary man who was one of the greatest inspirations in my own life.
Prince was one of only three posters that ever adorned my bedroom walls as a kid (Michael Jordan & Martin Luther King being the other two). Later I wondered ‘why these men’. After some reflection I realized their shared commonalities: They were all known for their excellence & perfectionism in their crafts, they were leaders & trailblazers & they were all prolific. Three traits I admire greatly & aspire to. Prince especially stood out to me.
First introduced to his music by an older brother, I would soon see his performances in videos for Little Red Corvette & 1999 at the dawn of the MTV era. Then Purple Rain happened. From that point on, it was official: Prince was a mega-star. Where he threw most off (me included) was with his follow-up to that soundtrack; Around the World in a Day was a radically different album. A sound the mainstream masses of newly-minted Prince fans mostly seemed unprepared for. It certainly was not another Purple Rain.
That shift of directions was where he completely captured my attention & sent me on a 10-year path of performance guitar as well. While many artists simply reinvent the same sound (or look) that brought them success, or worse become so mindful of that success that it stymies their will to create as freely again, Prince was the opposite. Always pushing boundaries & seemingly boring easily of previous material (The mysterious vault at his studio, Paisley Park, is a testament to that) He continued to put out material at an alarmingly-fast pace for himself & other bands he helped shape compounded with music written for or given to other artists (Stevie Nicks tells a terrific story about Prince & her 80’s hit Stand Back in her “Storytellers” performance for VH1. Check in at the 9:00 minute mark). There are so many stories about his generosity as there are about his oddities (Questlove tells one of the best). But one thing was always, always consistent: Prince was a performing artist.
He crafted a unique image that challenged social norms. His music crossed & merged genres. He didn’t pander to the press or even his fans though he respected both. He believed in the creative freedom of the artist first. A true showman, Prince was always ‘on’ when it was time. Always touring. Pop-up performing, always present in his unmistakable, ever-changing style, always exuding one-of-kind charisma, energy, life & love for all. And all the while, remaining an enigmatic being which, seemed impossible for an individual of his social stature. He was the consummate embodiment of an artist.
The following is an open letter to the memory of His Royal Badness:
I don’t have the words fully describe the sense of loss I feel within due to your far-too-early departure. Your music, individuality, showmanship & mind-blowing/legendary work ethic have been one of the great inspirations to me since my youth. You, in my view, have set the standard for what it means to be consummate, ultimate & passionate creator. Your brilliance defined & redefined artistry. And I feel blessed to have witnessed it live 7 times. Each performance different than the one before. None better than any of the others. Every one an incredible show. I’ve marvelled at your creative aura through 30+ of your released works. Few people I have considered iconic & larger-than-life. Many greats but few indescribables. You, were, are, will always be one of those few to me. Thank you for always giving yourself to all of us. And thank you for teaching me that that is what being a creative artist –& therefore, a complete human being –is really about.
Sometimes It Snows in April.
I Wish U Heaven.