Prince (musician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Prince
Prince performing at the 2008 Coachella Festival
Born	Prince Rogers Nelson (1958-06-07)June 7, 1958 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Died	April 21, 2016(2016-04-21) (aged 57) Chanhassen, Minnesota, U.S
Body discovered	Chanhassen, Minnesota, U.S
Occupation	Musician
Years active	1976–2016
Height	5'3" (160 cm)
Spouse(s)	Matye Garcia (m. 1996–1999, divorced) Manuela Testolini (m. 2001–2006, divorced)
Musical career
Genres	R&B pop funk rock soul new wave
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, piano, keyboards, tambourine, synthesizer, clavinet, drums, timpani, violin, marimba, percussion, harp, saxophone, harmonica, Linn Drum
Labels	Warner Bros., Paisley Park, NPG, EMI, Columbia, Arista
Associated acts	The Revolution; Wendy & Lisa The New Power Generation The Time; Morris Day Sheila E. Vanity 6; Apollonia 6 Mazarati The Family 94 East Madhouse

Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7, 1958 – died April 21, 2016), known simply as Prince, was an amazing American musician. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Prince was famous for his unique music style. He mixed R&B, pop, funk, and rock sounds.

He sold over 100 million records worldwide. This makes him one of the best-selling artists of all time. Prince had ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 songs. He won seven Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award. Rolling Stone magazine called him one of the 100 Greatest Artists ever. He joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

Prince also helped other musicians become famous. He worked with artists like Sheila E., Carmen Electra, The Time, and Vanity 6. From 1993 to 2000, Prince changed his name to a special glyph (a symbol). Because the symbol was hard to say, people called him "The Artist Formerly Known As Prince."

Prince's Early Life

Prince Rogers Nelson was born in Minneapolis on June 7, 1958. His mother, Mattie Della, was a jazz singer. His father, John Lewis Nelson, was a pianist and songwriter. Prince was named after his father's stage name, Prince Rogers. His parents performed together in a jazz group.

Prince's younger sister, Tyka, was born in 1960. Both Prince and Tyka loved music. Their father encouraged them to play. Prince wrote his first song, "Funk Machine," when he was just seven years old. He wrote it on his father's piano.

Prince went to Bryant Junior High and Central High School in Minneapolis. He was good at sports like football, basketball, and baseball. He also trained in classical ballet. He later used his money to help the Joffrey Ballet dance company. In 1973, he met songwriter Jimmy Jam. Jimmy Jam was very impressed by Prince's musical skills.

Prince's Music Career

After high school in 1976, Prince made a demo tape. A businessman named Owen Husney helped him get a record deal. At 19, Prince signed with Warner Bros. Records.

Prince then moved to Sausalito, California. He recorded his first album there. It was called For You and came out in 1978. Prince wrote, produced, and played all 27 instruments on the album himself.

He became very successful with albums like Dirty Mind (1980), Controversy (1981), and 1999 (1982). His sixth album, Purple Rain (1984), was a huge hit. He recorded it with his band, the Revolution. Purple Rain was also the soundtrack for a movie of the same name starring Prince. The album stayed at number one on the Billboard charts for six months. It also won Prince an Academy Award.

Later, Prince released Sign o' the Times (1987). Many critics say this was his best work. In 1993, he had a disagreement with Warner Bros. He changed his stage name to an unpronounceable symbol . Fans called him The Artist Formerly Known as Prince.

In 1998, he signed with Arista Records. In 2000, he went back to using his original name, Prince. Over the next ten years, six of his albums reached the top 10 in the U.S. charts. Prince won many awards throughout his career. These included the Grammy President's Merit Award and the Billboard Icon Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

Prince's Death

Prince died on April 21, 2016. He was 57 years old. He passed away at his home and recording studio, Paisley Park, in Chanhassen, Minnesota.

Prince's Works

Studio Albums

The New Power Generation Albums

• Gold... (1993)
• Exodus (1995)
• Newpower Soul (1998)

Movies

Television

Awards Prince Won

Prince won many important awards for his music.

Academy Awards

Prince won an Academy Award in 1985. He won it for his song "Purple Rain."

Grammy Awards

Prince was nominated for 33 Grammy Awards. He won seven of them. Two of his albums, 1999 and Purple Rain, are in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

MTV Video Music Awards

The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) honor the best music videos. They started in 1984. Prince won four VMA awards from twelve nominations.

Images for kids

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  The Minneapolis house, seen here in August 2017, where Prince stayed with André Cymone's family

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  Ticket to Prince's first performance with his band in January 1979

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  Prince's Yellow Cloud Guitar at the Smithsonian Institution Building

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  Prince performing during the Act I and II tour in Zürich, Switzerland in 1993

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  Prince's stage set for the Earth Tour in 2007

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  Prince at Coachella Festival in 2008

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  Prince performing in Paris, 2011

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  Lowry Bridge in Minneapolis illuminated in purple, in remembrance of Prince

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  Prince street art in Hagen, Germany

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  A costume worn by Prince and associated memorabilia, displayed at a Hard Rock Cafe in Australia

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  Stars honoring Prince and his band The Revolution on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue

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  Paisley Park, Prince's home and recording studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota

See also

In Spanish: Prince para niños