CNN Editorial Research
(CNN) — Here is a look at the life of Prince, an entertainer famed for his eclectic sound, glittery wardrobe and provocative lyrics.
Personal
Birth date: June 7, 1958
Death date: April 21, 2016
Birth place: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Birth name: Prince Rogers Nelson
Father: John Nelson, jazz pianist
Mother: Mattie Shaw, social worker and singer
Marriages: Manuela Testolini Nelson (2001-2007, divorced); Mayte Garcia (1996-2000, divorced)
Children: with Mayte Garcia: Amiir, who died shortly after birth.
Other Facts
Nominated for 38 Grammy Awards, with seven wins. Received the Recording Academy’s honorary President’s Merit Award in 1986 and in 2017, his album “Sign O’ the Times” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
One Oscar win, for the original song score of “Purple Rain.”
Five of Prince’s singles topped the charts and 14 other songs hit the Top 10.
The singer’s predilection for lavishly kinky story-songs earned him the nickname, His Royal Badness. He was also known as the “Purple One” because of his colorful fashions. In the film, “Purple Rain,” his character was nicknamed “The Kid.”
“Darling Nikki,” a song that details a one-night stand, prompted the formation of the Parents Music Resource Center. Led by Al Gore’s wife, Tipper, the group encouraged record labels to place advisory labels on albums with explicit lyrics.
As the Minnesota Vikings prepped to take on the New Orleans Saints in the 2010 NFC championship game, Prince wrote a fight song entitled “Purple and Gold” to inspire his home team. The Vikings lost.
Prince declared, “Albums still matter; like books and black lives, albums still matter tonight and always,” before presenting the award for Best Album during the 57th annual Grammy Awards.
Timeline
1978 – Prince’s debut album, “For You,” is released by Warner Bros. He plays all the instruments on the LP and produces it himself, making him, at 19-years-old, the youngest record producer in the history of Warner Bros. at the time.
1980 – “I Wanna be Your Lover,” from Prince’s eponymous sophomore album, peaks at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
1982-1983 – Prince scores a hit with the album, “1999.” Three singles – the title track, “Little Red Corvette” and “Delirious” – reach the Top 40.
1984 – The film, “Purple Rain,” a rock drama starring Prince, is released. Its soundtrack, by Prince and the Revolution, contains hits like, “When Doves Cry,” “Let’s Go Crazy” and “Purple Rain.”
February 26, 1985 – Prince wins two Grammy awards for “Purple Rain” – Best Album Of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special and Best Rock Performance by a Duo Or Group with Vocal. He gets a third Grammy – Best Rhythm & Blues Song – for writing “I Feel For You,” a hit recorded by Chaka Khan.
March 25, 1985 – Wins the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score, for “Purple Rain.”
1985-1992 – Releases eight albums, one per year, including the soundtrack for Tim Burton’s “Batman.” Stars in two more movies, “Under the Cherry Moon” and “Graffiti Bridge.” A concert film, “Sign O’ the Times” hits theaters in 1987.
1987 – Unveils a $10 mill