Pop music icon Prince, known for hit songs like “Purple Rain,” “Kiss,” “Little Red Corvette,” lived a life of producing legendary music and rocking boundary-pushing fashion prior to his April 21, 2016, death. Take a look back at his prolific life and career.
Pop music icon Prince, born Prince Rogers Nelson on June 7, 1958, known for hit songs like 'Purple Rain,' 'Kiss' and 'Little Red Corvette,' lived a life producing legendary music and rocking boundary-pushing fashion. On April 21, 2016, Prince died from an accidental overdose in his Paisley Park estate. He was 57. Take a look back at his prolific life and career.
Pop music icon Prince, known for hit songs like “Purple Rain,” “Kiss,” “Little Red Corvette,” lived a life of producing legendary music and rocking boundary-pushing fashion prior to his April 21, 2016, death. Take a look back at his prolific life and career.
Prince (R), born Prince Rogers Nelson, was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota to musician parents. His father was part of a jazz group and his mother was a jazz singer. He’s pictured here on the basketball team from Bryant Junior High in Minneapolis in 1972. By the time he was in high school, Prince had already formed a band with his friends and performed in clubs around town.
Before graduating high school, Prince was already busy co-writing songs and recording guitar tracks for his cousin’s band “94 East.” He’s pictured here in his sophomore year photo from Central High School in Minneapolis in 1974.
In 1977, Prince signed his first major record deal with Warner Bros. and immediately went on to release his first album, “For You,” in 1978. In Oct. of 1979, Prince released his second self-titled album, “Prince,” that gained much recognition and went on to peak at number four on the Billboard Top R&B Albums. The album contained the hit songs “Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?” and “I Wanna Be Your Lover.”
In 1980, Prince released his third studio album, “Dirty Mind,” that featured hit songs like “Uptown” and “Head.” In Feb. 1981, Prince made his first appearance on “Saturday Night Live,” performing his song “Partyup” from “Dirty Mind.” The album was recorded in his very own studio and went on to become gold certified.
After the success of his hit album “Dirty Mind,” it wasn’t long before Prince released another album in October 1981 named “Controversy.” The album also introduced Prince’s use of abbreviated spelling, for example his track “Jack U Off.”
Prince is pictured performing songs off his 1981 album at the Auditorium Theater on Dec. 9, 1982, in Chicago, Illinois.
Prince and Vanity, his then-girlfriend, protege and lead singer of “Vanity 6,” appeared on the cover of a 1983 issue of Rolling Stone. Prince helped Vanity rise to prominence with the release of her hit song “Nasty Girl,” which was produced and written by Prince in the early ’80s. Vanity, whose real name is Denise Matthews, died of kidney failure on Feb. 15, 2016.
It wasn’t until 1984 when the singer released “Purple Rain,” his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, the soundtrack to a movie of the same name. The hit album and movie cemented Prince as one of the greatest pop stars of his generation. Here, Prince is pictured embracing his co-star Apollonia Kotero in a scene from the 1984 movie.
Just one year after the release of his hit 1984 album “Purple Rain,” Prince is pictured performing in concert at the Summit before a sold-out audience, his first of six Houston shows. A purple feather boa blows in the wind from a fan.
On March 25, 1985, Prince would attend his first Academy Awards and take home the Oscar for Best Original Song Score for his hit film “Purple Rain.” He’s joined onstage by his bandmates Wendy Melovin (L) and Lisa Coleman to accept the award.
Prince performs in concert on March 18, 1985, at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
The success of “Purple Rain” catapulted Prince into international stardom. After Prince won two Grammy Awards and an Oscar, he took home the award for Best International Artist at the BRIT Awards on Feb. 11, 1985.
With elaborate costumes and high-energy performances, Prince always knew how to captivate the audience. Here, he performs live at the Fabulous Forum on Feb. 19, 1985, in Inglewood, Calif.
Prince ditched his shirt while performing live at the Fabulous Forum on Feb. 19, 1985, in Inglewood, Calif.
The same year Prince released his “Parade” album, which included the hit single “Kiss,” the pop icon wowed the crowd at Madison Square Garden as he performed to a sold out audience on Aug. 2, 1986.
Prince starred in and directed the 1986 musical drama film, “Under the Cherry Moon.” His eighth studio album “Parade” was the soundtrack to the film, and while it did well on the charts, the film was not well received by critics.
Prince often collaborated with Sheila E., a singer and percussionist, who he also had a romantic relationship. In her 2014 memoir, Sheila confirmed that in 1987 she and Prince got engaged, but they never married. They’re pictured here on July 25, 1988, while on tour in England.
Prince, whose eccentric outfits defined the iconic pop star of the 1980s, always made a statement on the stage and the red carpet. He’s pictured in a crop top that displayed his toned midriff and high-waisted pants in a shoot in 1991.
In 1993, Prince officially changed his name to this symbol that fans later dubbed “the love symbol.” He would be referred to “the artist formerly known as Prince” before Warner Bros. was able to send floppy disks to print media so they could properly name him. His seventeenth studio album “The Gold Experience” featured nothing but the symbol on the cover. He would later change his name back to Prince.
In 1996, Prince married his backup singer and dancer, Mayte Garcia on Valentines Day. Their two-year marriage was annulled in 1998 after the tragic loss of two children. The couple is pictured here, before they were married, performing onstage during The Ultimate Live Experience tour on March 4, 1995, in London.
Rocking a sequin suit, Prince sat courtside with Spike Lee at the NBA All-Star game in New York City on Feb. 8, 1998. Lee was one of the first celebrities to take to social media to pay homage to Prince after his death, tweeting, “I Miss My Brother. Prince Was A Funny Cat. Great Sense Of Humor.”
Prince joined forces with Beyonce to open the 46th Annual Grammy Awards with a show-stopping performance. The duo sang a medley of “Purple Rain,” “Baby I’m a Star,” “Let’s Go Crazy” and “Crazy in Love,” on Feb. 8, 2004.
Prince donned a purple suit during his performance with Beyonce at the 46th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 8, 2004.
Prince was all smiles as he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. He performed with other stars like Tom Petty and Dhani Harrison before accepting the honor.
After divorcing his first wife, Prince married Manuela Testolini in 2001. While they ended up divorcing in 2006, the couple is pictured here in happier times attending the 77th Annual Academy Awards on Feb. 27, 2005, where Prince presented the award for Best Original Song.
Prince joined the ranks of many iconic musicians when he played the halftime show at the 2007 Super Bowl. Despite the rainy weather that evening, Prince rocked the stadium while playing a medley of his greatest hits on Feb. 4, 2007.
Always one for flamboyant fashion, Prince donned a bright yellow suit to the Apollo Theater’s 75th Anniversary Gala on June 8, 2009, in New York City. The singer joined Mariah Carey onstage to help induct a handful of legendary divas into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame.
Prince’s final tour was the 2015 Hit and Run tour, where he performed with his backing band 3RDEYEGIRL. Here, he jams out onstage in Montreal on May 23, 2015.
The iconic singer took to the stage at the 57th annual Grammy Awards to present the most highly-anticipated award of this night, Album of the Year, on Feb. 14, 2015. Prince himself snagged seven Grammys in his lifetime.
