Prince Rogers Nelson was a once-in-a-generation musical genius who shattered boundaries between rock, funk, pop, R&B, and soul. A multi-instrumentalist who played virtually every instrument on his early albums, Prince combined the raw sexuality of funk with the guitar heroics of rock and the melodic sophistication of pop. His 1984 album and film Purple Rain made him a global superstar and produced some of the most iconic songs of the 20th century.
Prince's live performances were legendary — marathon shows where he might play for three or four hours, seamlessly weaving through his vast catalog while shredding guitar solos that rivaled anyone in rock. The Lovesexy tour of 1988 was among his most ambitious, featuring an elaborate in-the-round stage and a theatrical setlist that reimagined his hits in a continuous suite. With over 150 million records sold, 7 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Prince's artistic legacy is immeasurable. His sudden death in April 2016 at age 57 robbed the world of one of its most dazzling creative forces.
At least 27 — including guitar, bass, drums, piano, synthesizer, saxophone, and more. He played virtually all of them himself on his early studio recordings, handling practically every part on his debut and sophomore albums.
In 1993 he changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol (a combination of the male ♂ and female ♀ signs) as a protest against Warner Bros., who he felt owned and controlled his music. He was known as "The Artist Formerly Known As Prince" until his contract expired in 2000.
The Academy Award for Best Original Song Score for the Purple Rain soundtrack in 1985 — making him one of a very small number of rock and pop artists to win an Oscar. He reportedly didn't attend the ceremony.
A climate-controlled vault at Prince's Paisley Park estate in Minnesota containing thousands of unreleased recordings — entire albums, film scores, concert recordings — accumulated over decades. After his death in 2016, its contents became the subject of legal battles over his estate.