PRINCE REMEMBERED (ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH)

PRINCE REMEMBERED (ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH):

WAS HE MURDERED FOR HIS MASTER TAPES?


Sources: AJC, BILLBOARD, EMPIRE HERALD, NFL, YOUTUBE


**** Inside Paisley Park on the anniversary of Prince’s death


CHANHASSEN, Minn. – Of all the eerily beautiful moments while spending time in Paisley Park on the anniversary eve of Prince’s death, the most bittersweet was provided by the man himself.
On a massive screen inside the massive soundstage Prince frequently used for performances, a clip played from a 2014 concert with 3rdeyegirl.

As he steered “Purple Rain” through its moody intervals, Prince paused to tell the crowd, “If you come to my house, you have to take care of it…at Paisley Park we sing together, we dine together, we love together.”

It was a fitting comment at that moment, with close to 1,000 fans from across the world assembled in the Paisley Park audience, all staring in the dark at video footage of the performer who died on April 21, 2016 just a few hundred feet from that screen, and exactly a week after thrilling crowds at the Fox Theatre at what became his final concerts.

While the mourning process continues for many – Matt Fink of The Revolution said earlier in the week that he still grieves for his former boss – this weekend at Paisley Park is supposed to be about rejoicing in Prince’s musical contributions and preserving his legacy.

The four-day Celebration 2017 kicked off Thursday with waves of fans who spent between $500 and $1,000 to bask in the Prince-ly aura, wander through parts of the Paisley compound (the Atrium houses Prince’s ashes – out of reach – in a “symbol”-shaped urn, guitar displays and, on the second floor, his white doves in a white cage), attend panels with members of The New Power Generation and soak in a surprise performance from George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic.

A gambler would have lost some cash that Clinton, at 75, would outlive Prince, who died at 57.

For more than an hour, Clinton and P-Funk bulldozed through one seamless groove that included “Get Up for the Down Stroke,” “Flashlight” and “Give Up the Funk.” Clinton alternately led the adrenalized crowd through arm calisthenics and slumped in a purple chair in front of the drum riser, content to direct his ace musicians as they paid tribute to Prince with their funk-steeped rock ‘n’ roll.

The afternoon concert – which would be repeated for a second round of Celebration attendees that evening – was the first live music event at Paisley Park since Prince’s death.

But there Clinton was, a tamer, less-colorful, shorter-haired version, barking through “Atomic Dog” in a silver-sequined military hat and long silver jacket, a dozen or so musicians in varying degrees of costumes whirling around him.

Because cell phones are prohibited at Paisley Park – a Prince rule even before his death – and were placed in Yondr pouches upon entry into the building, fans could experience the music uninterrupted by camera screens and glaring Facebook pages.

Damaris Lewis, who joined New Power Generation in 2012 as a dancer, served as lithe hostess and told the assembled throng after P-Funk’s set, “Live music. Real musicians. Real music. Nothing like it.

Inside the soundstage, a giant lighted Prince symbol hung from a back corner, while a banner of Prince’s face, silhouetted against a moon, looked toward the stage, his guidance omnipresent.

That same stage was the setting for a panel featuring NPG members Levi Seacer, Morris Hayes, Tony Mosley and Damon Dickson, who offered hilarious accounts of their time with Prince, as well as stories about his notorious work ethic.

“We would pull three-day straight sessions,” Hayes said. “He was so dedicated to the creation process. If you start it, finish it.”

Throughout the weekend, Celebration 2017 will present performances and panels from The Revolution, Morris Day & The Time, 3rdeyegirl and Paisley Park mainstays.

If there was a message to receive on Thursday, Seacer provided it: “Prince was all about r

PRINCE, ANOTHER BLACK CELEBRITY WHO DIED UNDER OBAMA'S ADMINISTRATION

PRINCE, ANOTHER BLACK CELEBRITY WHO DIED UNDER OBAMA'S ADMINISTRATION

WHY ARE SO MANY BLACK CELEBRITIES DYING WHILE OBAMA IS IN OFFICE?

WHY ARE SO MANY BLACK CELEBRITIES GOING BROKE WHILE OBAMA IS IN OFFICE?

Sources: CBS News,  Celeb TV,  CNN,  Harpo, Mirror.co.uk, Youtube

Since Pres OBAMA'S election the rate at which BLACK Celebrities are dying raises a red flag and appears very suspicious.

First there was Michael Jackson, then Whitney Houston, Donna Summer, Maya Angelou, Natalie Cole, Bobbi Kristina and now PRINCE.

With the exception of Maya Angelou, none of these Black Celebrities were very old and all of them were Wealthy and could afford the best Medical care.

Human Beings are Mortal creatures in this life thus we won't live for ever while on planet Earth.

Of course there have been other Black Celebrities who died under White Presidents, however the alarming rate at which Black Celebrities have expired under Obama should create great cause for concern to say the least.

Could it be these Black Celebrities are worth more Dead then Alive to the Entertainment and Music Industry??

After PRINCE recently expired the Mainstream Media tried to immediately release negative false narratives about his suspicious untimely death.  

For example: He had AIDS.

He died of an Drug Overdose.

Maybe it was Suicide.

After much public outrage, an Autopsy was finally conducted on PRINCE'S remains before he was quickly cremated.

So am I implying Pres OBAMA played a role in the deaths of these Black Celebrities?

No but something nefarious is definitely going on and someone needs to question why so many Black Celebrities are dying while Obama is still in office.

Just as someone needs to question why so many Black Celebrities are going Broke while Obama is still in office.

To the families of Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Donna Summer, Natalie Cole, Bobbi Kristina and PRINCE I offer my condolences.

But I won't say "Rest In Peace".

Why?

How can Human Beings "Rest In Peace" when their untimely deaths are acts of MURDER?

**** With Prince's death, fans reflect on other legends lost too soon

As news of Prince's untimely death at 57 spread across the Internet on Thursday, with fans quoting the music icon's lyrics and sharing footage of legendary performances, the online conversation quickly broadened.

Michael Jackson, who died in 2009, and Whitney Houston, who died in 2012, joined Prince on the list of top U.S. trends on Twitter. Call it mourning in the digital age.

The initial shock of Prince's death prompted a larger reflection of iconic artists lost too soon.

Some struggled to grasp the loss of artists who touched so many lives.

Prince's cause of death has yet to be confirmed by officials. He had recently been ill with the flu.

PRINCE & BEYONCE'S 2004 GRAMMY PERFORMANCE (PURPLE EXCELLENCE)

PRINCE & BEYONCE'S 2004 GRAMMY PERFORMANCE:

AMAZING, BREATHLESS & PERFECTION

Sources: Grammys, Billboard, YouTube 

***** Prince and Beyonce at the 2004 Grammy Awards: The Story Behind How the Duet Came Together

Prince's death this morning (April 21) at the age of 57 brought one of the most remarkable careers in music history to a sudden, all-too-soon end. Throughout his nearly four decade career, the Purple One constantly reinvented himself and his music, leaving behind a legacy that is difficult -- if not completely impossible -- to describe in words. In that time period, his output was not only unrelentingly prolific, it was also consistently excellent, earning him 32 Grammy nominations and seven victories between 1984 and 2010.

But it wasn't just his recorded music that drew fans to Prince; his breathtaking performances and mystical aura elevated him to one of the true greats of his time, an artist for whom the phrases "legend" or "icon" almost seem like understatements. And on Feb. 8, 2004 the world was reminded of that fact once again as he opened the 46th Grammy Awards with a four-song medley alongside Beyonce -- who would go on to win five Grammys that night -- in a performance that is regarded as one of the greatest in Grammy history.

As news of Prince's death began to sink in, Billboard spoke with longtime Grammy Awards producer Ken Ehrlich about his first time meeting Prince, putting together that performance with Beyonce and the legacy he's left behind.

When did you first meet Prince?

I don't have the best memory for dates, but I know it was before Purple Rain. But it was a fruitless meeting; I think I wanted to have him do the Grammys, so we had a meeting, it was a very successful meeting, and I walked away thinking, "I don't think I'll ever see this guy in one of our shows." And then it was I think a year after that that he came and did "Baby I'm A Star" [in 1985]. And then after that I had him on a VH1 Honors show that we did and he was really amazing there. And then of course we had him on again when he was with Beyonce and then came and presented several times on the show. So I probably did more with him on television than most other producers because he just didn't do much TV. He knew it was important, but he was very careful about what he did.

He was very, very shy and very, very quiet. I've been to Paisley Park a couple times and I don't ever remember him talking much above a whisper. Maybe that's just the way he was with certain people, but he had this demeanor about him that was like a serenity, this kind of calm that he wanted to project. And what always amazed me was that he would project this calm backstage or wherever -- he was cordial, but he was never effusive -- and then when he got out on stage it was like, "That's not the same person I was standing on stage with." That's just what he was like. He would turn the switch on and off.

How did the performance with Beyonce at the Grammys come together?

When we did the performance with Beyonce, he wanted to do this and in the beginning she was reluctant, she was hesitant. It was a big year for her; it was Dangerously In Love, and I had booked her on the Grammys so she knew she was going to do that. But then I think I might have gotten a little sign of interest from Prince, so I went to her and initially she wasn't sure she wanted to do it. I tracked her down at a photoshoot, it was her and her mother, and we talked about it and she finally said, "Yeah, I'll do it, as long as I can do my other number on the show." [Ed. Note: Beyonce performed "Dangerously In Love 2" solo later in the telecast.] 

So I called him and told him that she agreed to do it, and this is what was amazing about him, because that was like on a Tuesday night and it was only three weeks from the show. The next night I got a call asking me if I'd go out to CenterStaging in L.A., which was where he was rehearsing. He had a band with him -- I think it was the New Power Generation -- and he didn't say why he called, he just said, "Can you come out here tonight at 8 p.m.?" So I went out and the studio was kind of dim, the band was already set up and as we walked in it was as though this whole thing was kind of set up for us. And he just walked over, took a guitar and played the whole medley. 

In one night he had laid out the whole thing, and not just his part, but her part as well. The whole thing was just... It was just amazing. And I'll never forget it, he finished playing it and he took the guitar and kind of slung it up so it was over his shoulder and he looked at me and it was like this, "See? See what I can do when I want to?" It was probably the lightest moment that we had when we worked together, but it was definitely one of the best. He knew I was gonna love it and he knew that she was going to love it. And then when she came to do it and rehearse with him, she was remarkable with him. He was in charge and she was learning from him.

Why was she initially hesitant?

It was nothing more than she thought this was going to be her big moment on the Grammys, she had worked so hard and was so proud of that album, I remember, and she just didn't want anything taking away from it. Not that she thought Prince would take away from it... She thought, "Man, this is going to be the moment of my life, why do I have to do more than that?" And afterwards of course, she was thrilled by it. She thought it was one of the best performances she'd done in her life. It's up there [among the best in Grammy history].

Do you have any other stories of working with him that stick out in your mind?

There was one VH1 show where the icon for the album -- I can't remember which album -- was a huge penis, and that's what he wanted to use on stage. It was, I mean... Look, it was a big penis on stage, that's what it was. If you looked at it a certain way it looked like a rocket, but it was a penis. And he was so proud of it; matter of fact, if I remember, that was his condition for doing the show was that he have that set. And we laughed about it afterward, but we weren't laughing about it before.

I enjoyed him. If you approached him like a mortal, it was better. It wasn't as though he demanded to be [treated] Godlike, you know?

What would you consider to be his musical legacy?

It's too broad of a question, to be honest. I can tell you this: we did his pay per view when he re-emerged probably around 2004 or 2005, whenever it was, and we did his pay per view from Staples Center around that time. And I was a Prince follower right from the beginning; I'm a fan, I do TV shows but I love the music. And what struck me then was how much he had grown as a guitar player. He was always a great guitar player right from the beginning, but he didn't showcase it as much early on, it was more about stage presence, more about James Brown moves; it was an attitude. But [at the pay per view] for me personally, that was when he became more of a consummate musician.

I still remember there was one day when we were rehearsing in Staples, no audience, and he just let loose with a seven or eight minute guitar solo; it wasn't even a song, we were just in rehearsal. And all of our technicians, all of our guys setting up cameras or laying cables, putting up lights, everybody just stopped to look at him because nobody had ever seen anything like that. I love guitar players; he was right there with the best of any of them. I think he was really proud of what he was able to do.

You brought him back in 2015 to present Album of the Year. Why did you want to invite him back?

Because he's Prince. He never wanted to say much when he would come on; we would write copy for him and he was said, "No, I'll just say this." He always had a reason... It was just right. He had the cape on, there was this hint of mystery, but at the same time he was just accessible... I enjoyed what limited relationship I had with him. He was just unique, he was special. There was nobody quite like him. And I also loved that as original and unique as he was, you could see James Brown in him, Jimi Hendrix, so many people who came before in him. And it was important to him to be the conduit between what he had grown up with and what he is passing on to another generation. It was obvious that he was passing on his riff.

PRINCE, MICHAEL JACKSON & JAMES BROWN PERFORM LIVE TOGETHER (CIRCA 1983)

Source: YouTube

PRINCE IS DEAD AT 57; THE DOVES ARE CRYING (ICONS)

PRINCE IS DEAD AT 57; THE DOVES ARE CRYING.

HE DIED MUCH TOO YOUNG.

Sources:  Daily Mail, TMZ, Billboard, NFL, YouTube

***** Singer, 57, dies at Minnesota estate just days after he was rushed to hospital from private plane with 'severe flu'

• Police confirmed a fatality at Prince's estate in Minnesota this morning 
• A forensics team and a medical examiner are at the scene 
• Prince, 57, was rushed to hospital six days ago with symptoms of flu

Prince has died aged 57 at his estate in Minnesota. 

Sources told TMZ that his body was found this morning at his Paisley Park studio.

Paramedics were called out at 9.43 this morning and Carver County Sheriff's Department confirmed that there had been a fatality.

A forensics team and a medical examiner are at the scene, Fox 9 reported. 

He was aboard his private flight when he fell ill, forcing it to make an unscheduled landing in Illinois on Friday morning.

TMZ reported that the seven-time Grammy award winning singer's plane diverted to Quad City International Airport in Moline, Illinois, to make the emergency landing. 

He had had been suffering from flu for a number of weeks and was believed to be recovering, but took a turn for the worse in the early hours of Friday.

He was treated for three hours before being released.

Initial reports on his condition painted a much graver pictures, with one source claiming at the time he was 'not doing well'.

The Purple Rain hitmaker had performed at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta on last Thursday night - the second of two back to back sold out shows - and had seemed fine during the concert. 

The superstar musician combined rock, R&B, soul and hip-hop to create a unique sound that led to him selling more than 100million records during his 40-year career.

Prince was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1958 and started making music at the age of seven. 

Prince - full name Prince Rogers Nelson - was hospitalized six days ago with flu symptom