The Sounds of Black Music: There Are Many Kings, But Only One Prince
Prince on the covers of Right On! (August 1980), Ebony (June 1985) and Essence (June 2014) magazines.
Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
June is designated as Black Music Month (also called African American Music Appreciation Month) and we’re kicking off our celebration by spotlighting various resources in the collection that researchers may dive into to learn more about artists and music genres. We begin our exploration with Prince, a Minnesota-born artist whose birthday is June 7, 1958, and whose music provided the soundtrack to the lives of many.
Prince stood in the lineage of iconic Black rock and roll, funk, and soul music artists from an earlier generation including Little Richard, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, George Clinton, and Sly Stone, and he created a sound that was all his own. True to the title of his 1981 album, Controversy, Prince pushed the boundaries with provocative lyrical content on topics that ranged from sexuality, politics, and religion—sometimes all in the same song. He disrupted notions of masculinity and gender through his imagery and self-stylings.
Not only did Prince gain attention for his art, he also caused a stir when he battled with Warner Brothers, the record label that distributed his albums, for control of his master recordings. By doing so, Prince brought attention to inequitable practices in the music industry that tend to benefit the music labels over artists. He would also use his platform to advocate for social justice causes and victims of police brutality.
Prince’s passing at the age of 57 in 2016 stunned the world, but he left an incredible legacy and recorded troves of music beginning with his debut studio album, For You, in 1978 that still brings joy to listeners and fans. Since 2016, books about Prince, including The Beautiful Ones an autobiography that Prince was working on prior to his death, continue to be released. Mr. Nelson On the North Side, a documentary film about Prince’s formative years in Minneapolis’s Northside district, was released this year. These offerings, including symposiums dedicated to Prince, give fans and scholars a glimpse into Prince’s creative genius and explore his work in detail. This growing body of work about Prince reminds us of the influence that he has had on global culture and other artists who have been inspired by him.
Below, we are highlighting some of the recent titles on Prince and resources about notable artists in the Prince universe including Sheila E., Morris Day of the band The Time, and producer/composer James “Jimmy Jam” Harris III. Before Sheila E. teamed up with Prince, she was an established musician and performer from the Latin jazz world and Prince helped catapult her to pop stardom when he produced her album as a solo artist in 1984—the same year that Prince’s film Purple Rain and its soundtrack dominated pop culture. Morris Day, Prince, and Jimmy Jam were all peers from the Minneapolis music scene as young adults. Jimmy Jam gained notoriety for being one half of the award-winning producing team along with Terry Lewis that produced a string of hits for other music artists that dominated the radio airwaves in the 1980s and onward.
What are some of your favorite songs, music videos, magazine articles, or books about Prince? Share them as we remember Prince on the anniversary of his birthday.
Books
21 Nights
by Prince
21 nights was inspired by Prince and The NPG's groundbreaking reign of 21 consecutive performances at London's O2 Arena during the summer of 2007. It is a book that transcends the conventions of form as it includes stunning photography by Randee St. Nicholas, poetry and lyrics by Prince throughout, and Indigo Nights, a live sessions CD from O2 after-parties at the O2's Indigo Club which also includes new music by Prince.
My Name is Prince: 25 Inspired Years, 1991 to 2016
by Randee St. Nicholas
One of Hollywood’s most acclaimed photographers presents an up-close, intimate look at the enigmatic artist as he has seldom been seen before through hundreds of stunning black-and-white photos that are accompanied by behind-the-scenes stories.
The Beautiful Ones
by Prince, edited by Dan Piepenbring
In a book started before his tragic and untimely death, the popular and influential musician describes his life as a young boy who absorbed the world around him, crafted a persona, developed an artistic vision, and worked tirelessly to become a musical superstar.
Prince: a Private View
by Afshin Shahidi
The photographer who was a trusted friend to and long-time collaborator with Prince presents 250 photos of the late artist, taken between 2001 and 2010, that provide never-before-seen glimpses into his personal and professional life.
Prince: The Last Interview and Other Conversations
introduction by Hanif Abdurraqib
A collection of the very first, the very last, and the very best interviews conducted with Prince over his nearly 40-year career.
Picturing Prince: An Intimate Portrait
by Steven Parke
Picturing Prince sees the late icon's former art director, STEVE PARKE, revealing stunning intimate photographs of the singer from his time working at Paisley Park. At least half of the images in the book are exclusively published here for the first time; most other images in the book are rare to the public eye.
Films
Purple Rain
A young musician known as "The Kid" lives in a dysfunctional family environment and struggles to try and reach stardom and maintain a healthy relationship with his love interest.
Graffiti Bridge
The Kid and Morris Day fight over the ownership of the nightclub Glam Slam.
Under the Cherry Moon
When two brothers attempt to romance a woman for her money, one of them finds himself falling in love with her.
Resources on Artists Who "Held Court" with Prince
The Beat of My Own Drum: A Memoir
by Sheila E.
The singer, drummer, and percussionist traces her career through four decades of Latin and pop music, sharing details from her tours with fellow artists and her solo career while revealing how her faith has helped her heal from sexual abuse.
On Time: A Princely Life in Funk
by Morris Day with David Ritz
The composer, soul singer, drummer, and band leader of The Time examines his career, creative process, and turbulent but triumphant life and reflects on his lifelong friendship and musical collaborations with Prince.
Video oral history with James "Jimmy Jam" Harris, III.
In a 2013 HistoryMakers oral history video, music producer James "Jimmy Jam" Harris III, who was a classmate, peer, and collaborator of Prince's, reflects on his formative years as an artist which includes training with and later performing and touring with Prince.
The Sounds of Black Music is a blog series featuring resources on music genres and influential artists from across the African Diaspora. This series is written and curated by Tracy Crawford and A.J. Muhammad.
More from The Sounds of Black Music:
- The Sounds of Black Music: Caribbean Rhythms, Roots, and Resistance
- The Sounds of Black Music: Folk Voices
- The Sounds of Black Music: Black Artists in the Heart of Country Music
- The Sounds of Black Music: Hip-Hop Stories
Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.