Prince (1958– )

US pop musician. He composes, arranges, and produces his own records and often plays all the instruments. His albums, including 1999 (1982) and Purple Rain (1984), contain elements of rock, funk, and jazz.

He is known for his energetic and extravagant stage shows and often explicit lyrics. His band the Revolution broke up after four years in 1986. His hits include ‘Little Red Corvette’ from 1999, ‘Kiss’ from Parade (1986), and ‘Sign O' The Times’ from the album of the same name (1987). In 1991 Prince formed a new band, the New Power Generation (NPG), and released Diamonds and Pearls. In 1996 he set up his own label, on which he released Crystal Ball in 1998. He enjoyed a re-emergence in popularity in the early 2000s, releasing the successful album Musicology in 2004. He has also starred in several films, including Purple Rain (1984) and Graffiti Bridge (1990). His home town of Minneapolis, Minnesota, has become a centre for recording as a result of his success.

He changed his name to a symbol, a combination of the symbols for male and female, in 1993, but changed it back to Prince in 2000. During that time he was called ‘The Artist Formerly Known as Prince’. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

prince

Royal or noble title. In ancient Rome and medieval Italy it was used as the title of certain officials, for example, princeps senatus (Latin ‘leader of the Senate’). Hence it came to be used for one of the highest rank or holding the highest place and authority, and may mean the sovereign or ruler of the state. It was later adopted by the Roman emperors from Augustus onwards. The title was granted to the king's sons in 15th-century France, and in England from Henry VII's time. Germany distinguished between the sovereign Fürst and the Prinz, who was merely one of a princely family.