A Part of My Youth Has Died - Prince Rogers Nelson (1958-2016)

I was at my grandparents' house just outside Dallas watching an old Abbott and Costello movie when the news cut in that the king of rock n' roll has passed. At the time, I had no idea of the impact Elvis had on American culture and didn't really understand the sense of loss many felt. My father once told me that Elvis dying felt like a part of his youth had died.

This week, a part of my own youth died as Prince Rogers Nelson left his Earthly bonds at the age of 57. I was sitting at my desk at work when the news popped up on my phone and I felt shock. I didn't want to believe he was gone. There will always only be one Elvis, but for my generation Prince was pretty damn close.

I first heard his music in high school and remember seeing the cover of "Dirty Mind" and cringing. "Who is this weirdo in the Speedo?" I thought. Then I heard the music and it changed my entire opinion of him. I became a fan. He wasn't a big star yet though. That happened once MTV hit and his videos for "1999" and "Little Red Corvette" went into a regular rotation.

His music brings back so many memories for me.

Walking through the carnival grounds on Pawtucket Boulevard in Lowell, MA with a girlfriend and hearing "Little Red Corvette" blaring from one of the rides (and only learning what the song was really about years later).  

Partying to the "Purple Rain" soundtrack turned up to ten and playing air guitar with dozens of other people to "Let's Go Crazy."

Seeing that film at a midnight show with two hundred other college age drunks and a couple of guys exposing themselves to the entire crowd as the film started (...and no I wasn't one of them) and watching the cops chase them through the auditorium.

Alone with a girlfriend parked at the top of Fort Hill listening to "Sign O' The Times." The song "Adore" was particularly romantic.

DJing on a Thursday night and playing "Erotic City" and a woman telling me I was disgusting. My response? "You're uptight."

So many more...

An amazing musician with few peers, Prince's songs transcended race, creed or color. He wasn't a "black" artist that only appealed to one race. His fans were black, white, Asian, Hispanic and he brought us all together in his music. That party where we cranked "Lets Go Crazy," and played air guitar, there were both black and white students sharing a moment of electricity and togetherness that kids today could learn something from. It's something a lot of today's "artists" could also learn from instead of the racial divisiveness many peddle.

My twenty-three year old son sent me a text and asked if I'd heard the news of Prince's passing. He recognized there will never be another artist like Prince and even went so far as to say the musicians of his generation were not even close to being as good.  Bruno Mars is a talented kid, but in all reality, he's a pale comparison to Prince. I can't even think of another mainstream act that even approaches his talent.

I only got to see him once on tour. I tried hard to get tickets for the "Purple Rain" tour, but they were probably the hardest ticket to get in 1984 and I was shut out. Luckily for me, I was able to see his next big tour when he came through. It was an amazing show and something I wish I could experience again. The energy and the music just made you feel alive. Watch at his amazing Super Bowl performance, arguably one of the top three of all time, and you'll get an idea of what he put into his shows. 

He apparently paid the price for it too as his body was wracked with pain, especially his hips and ankles from the high heels he wore on stage (he was only 5' 2"). 

Beyond the music, he was apparently a great humanitarian. I read today about all the great charity work he did that was never revealed to the public. His friend said because of his religion, he was not allowed to speak about the works he did and forbid his friends from doing so. The report was that he never refused to help someone and provided funds to inner city kids all over America and the world. What a contrast to jerks like Kanye West who can't get enough of themselves and contributes nothing substantial to society.

We've lost a lot of musical greats this year, but none so young and vibrant as his Royal Purpleness. I'm sure at the age of 57 he still had a lot of great music in him. It's sad to think we'll never get to hear what he had planned for the future but I'm thankful for the rich legacy he left behind.

Now if only we can get the current generation of "stars" to follow his positive example!