​Prince (1958 - 2016)

Today is the birthday of Prince Rogers Nelson, whose Minneapolis sound incorporated funk, new wave, soul, R & B, synth-pop. Pop, hip hop and jazz. His songs like “Purple Rain” and “Let’s Get Crazy” have won seven Grammy Awards and 38 nominations, while his legendary recording techniques have been a benchmark for musicians everywhere. His philanthropy was far-reaching - from AIDS, homelessness and education to women, substance abuse and poverty. Although Prince embraced pansexuality and a gender fluidity that belied labels, he never revealed his personal sexuality. As one writer noted he “presented a living case study in the glorious freedom that a world without stringent labels might offer.”