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4475

Prince

Prince

Born in Minneapolis, MN

Prince's Genre:

Soul, Urban, R&B, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Funk, Dance-Pop, Contemporary R&B, Dance-Rock, Adult Contemporary R&B, Neo-Psychedelia, Club/Dance, Alternative/Indie Rock

Biography

Few artists have created a body of work as rich and varied as Prince. During the '80s, he emerged as one of the most singular talents of the rock & roll era, capable of seamlessly tying together pop, funk, folk, and rock. Not only did he release a series of groundbreaking albums; he toured frequently, produced albums and wrote songs for many other artists, and recorded hundreds of songs that still lie unreleased in his vaults. With each album he released, Prince has shown remarkable stylistic growth and musical diversity, constantly experimenting with different sounds, textures, and genres. Occasionally, his music can be maddeningly inconsistent because of this eclecticism, but his experiments frequently succeed; no other contemporary artist can blend so many diverse styles into a cohesive whole.

Prince's first two albums were solid, if unremarkable, late-'70s funk-pop. With 1980's Dirty Mind, he recorded his first masterpiece, a one-man tour de force of sex and music; it was hard funk, catchy Beatlesque melodies, sweet soul ballads, and rocking guitar pop, all at once. The follow-up, Controversy, was more of the same, but 1999 was brilliant. The album was a monster hit, selling over three million copies, but it was nothing compared to 1984's Purple Rain.

Purple Rain made Prince a superstar; it eventually sold over ten million copies in the U.S. and spent 24 weeks at number one. Partially recorded with his touring band, the Revolution, the record featured the most pop-oriented music he has ever made. Instead of continuing in this accessible direction, he veered off into the bizarre psycho-psychedelia of Around the World in a Day, which nevertheless sold over two million copies. In 1986, he released the even stranger Parade, which was in its own way as ambitious and intricate as any art rock of the '60s; however, no art rock was ever grounded with a hit as brilliant as the spare funk of "Kiss."

By 1987, Prince's ambitions were growing by leaps and bounds, resulting in the sprawling masterpiece Sign 'O' the Times. Prince was set to release the hard funk of The Black Album by the end of the year, yet he withdrew it just before its release, deciding it was too dark and immoral. Instead, he released the confused Lovesexy in 1988, which was a commercial disaster. With the soundtrack to 1989's Batman he returned to the top of the charts, even if the album was essentially a recap of everything he had done before. The following year he released Graffiti Bridge (the sequel to Purple Rain), which turned out to be a considerable commercial disappointment.

In 1991, Prince formed the New Power Generation, the best and most versatile and talented band he has ever assembled. With their first album, Diamonds and Pearls, Prince reasserted his mastery of contemporary R&B; it was his biggest hit since 1985. The following year, he released his 12th album, which was titled with a cryptic symbol; in 1993, Prince legally changed his name to the symbol. In 1994, after becoming embroiled in contract disagreements with Warner Bros., he independently released the single "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World," likely to illustrate what he would be capable of on his own; the song became his biggest hit in years. Later that summer, Warner released the somewhat halfhearted Come under the name of Prince; the record was a moderate success, going gold.

In November 1994, as part of a contractual obligation, Prince agreed to the official release of The Black Album. In early 1995, he immersed himself in another legal battle with Warner, proclaiming himself a slave and refusing to deliver his new record, The Gold Experience, for release. By the end of the summer, a fed-up Warner had negotiated a compromise that guaranteed the album's release, plus one final record for the label. The Gold Experience was issued in the fall; although it received good reviews and was following a smash single, it failed to catch fire commercially. In the summer of 1996, Prince released Chaos & Disorder, which freed him to become an independent artist. Setting up his own label, NPG (which was distributed by EMI), he resurfaced later that same year with the three-disc Emancipation, which was designed as a magnum opus that would spin off singles for several years and be supported with several tours.

However, even his devoted cult following needed considerable time to digest such an enormous compilation of songs. Once it was clear that Emancipation wasn't the commercial blockbuster he hoped it would be, Prince assembled a long-awaited collection of outtakes and unreleased material called Crystal Ball in 1998. With Crystal Ball, Prince discovered that it's much more difficult to get records to an audience than it seems; some fans who pre-ordered their copies through Prince's website (from which a bonus fifth disc was included) didn't receive them until months after the set began appearing in stores. Prince then released a new one-man album, New Power Soul, just three months after Crystal Ball; even though it was his most straightforward album since Diamonds and Pearls, it didn't do well on the charts, partly because many listeners didn't realize it had been released.

A year later, with "1999" predictably an end-of-the-millennium anthem, Prince issued the remix collection 1999 (The New Master). A collection of Warner Bros.-era leftovers, Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale, followed that summer, and in the fall Prince returned on Arista with the all-star Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic. In the fall of 2001 he released the controversial Rainbow Children, a jazz-infused circus of sound trumpeting his conversion to the Jehovah's Witnesses that left many longtime fans out in the cold. He further isolated himself with 2003's N.E.W.S., a four-song set of instrumental jams that sounded a lot more fun to play than to listen to. Prince rebounded in 2003 with the chart-topping Musicology, a return to form that found the artist back in the Top Ten, even garnering a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 2005.

In early 2006 he was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, performing two songs with a new protégée, R&B singer Tamar. A four-song appearance at the Brit Awards with Wendy, Lisa, and Sheila E. followed. Both appearances previewed tracks from 3121, which hit number one on the album charts soon after its release in March 2006. Planet Earth followed in 2007, featuring contributions from Wendy and Lisa. In the U.K., copies were cover-mounted on the July 15 edition of The Mail on Sunday, provoking Columbia -- the worldwide distributor for the release -- to refuse distribution throughout the U.K. In the U.S., the album was issued on July 24. LotusFlow3r, a three-disc set, came in 2009, featuring a trio of distinct albums: LotusFlow3r itself (a guitar showcase), MPLSound (a throwback to his '80s funk output), and Elixer (a smooth contemporary R&B album featuring the breathy vocals of Bria Valente). Despite only being available online and through one big-box retailer, the set debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart. A year later, another throwback-flavored effort, 20Ten, became his second U.K. newspaper giveaway. No official online edition of the album was made available. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

AOL Radio Stations Prince is Featured on (45)

Prince

Daniel Powter Showcase

This is the Daniel Powter Artist Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by Daniel including music that he hand-picked as well as commentary about the songs that influenced his music and his life.

Prince

Funk Classics

Celebrate Father's Day with the fine men who birthed a musical revolution--the fearless fellas that reign as the ultimate fathers of funk! From James Brown to Funkadelic to Rick James, there's a whole lot of rhythm going down.

Prince

Stormy Weather

When the hurricane rolls in and the power goes down, Slacker Radio is still there to provide the soundtrack to stormy weather. Whether you're working from home, hunkered down with someone special, or just bored out of your mind, this station will keep you company with our favorite storm-related songs. Stay inside, be safe, and enjoy Stormy Weather on Slacker Radio.

Prince

55 Nuttiest Artists

The music world is littered with colorful characters and since April is the month of "fools", Slacker decided to continue our monthly Signature Series with a look at the 55 Nuttiest Pop Stars Ever. This is not to say that this illustrious group of artists is foolish, of course, as many of them have ridden their eccentricities to unfathomable heights of superstardom. In this countdown hosted by pop-culture savants Rob Tannenbaum and Craig Marks (authors of I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution) you will meet legends and lunatics, all of whom are beloved by millions. Enjoy.

Prince

End of the World

There are some that believe that the world will end on Dec 21st, 2012- based on an interpretation of Mayan numerology. Whether the Earth is consumed by a black hole, a solar flare, or just breaks into pieces, we figure you should go out with a good soundtrack. Doomsday or not, these are the best end-of-the-world songs, all on one station.

Prince

Michael Jackson Tribute

Since the passing of Michael Jackson on June 25, 2009, the World has mourned the loss of this Pop icon. Join Slacker Radio in celebrating the incredible music legacy of one of the biggest and most influential Pop music stars of our time. Hear songs from Michael Jackson's most popular albums as well as his early years with the Jackson 5. You'll also hear covers of MJ’s music and hits from artists that are influenced by the King of Pop including Justin Timberlake, Usher, Ne-Yo, Alicia Keys and more.

Prince

Funk

The Aqua Boogie can give you More Bounce to the Ounce with the Magic Voice Box and make you Weak at The Knees! Slacker’s Funk Radio delivers top funk artists Like Parliament, Zapp and Roger, The Bar-Kays and more. Get ready for the Return of the Muthaship baby bubba!

Prince

Chicano Old School

Chicano Old School on Slacker means classic Latin Soul, Oldies & R&B. All the rolas you loved over the years, and a soundtrack to chill with while hanging out with the homies. OG Jams from Santana, El Chicano, War, Tierra, Malo, Brenton Wood, Billy Stewart, Earth Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, Rose Royce, The Stylistics, Zapp & Roger, and more. Cruise to this- Old School Chicano on Slacker.

Prince

Old School R&B

Old School R&B on Slacker Radio is the station that will put a glide in your stride and a dip in your hip! You'll hear all the classics from Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Motown, to Earth, Wind and Fire, The Gap Band and Kool and the Gang, to Michael Jackson, Prince and Rick James, to Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson and Boyz II Men. Old School R&B on Slacker Radio will not only keep you singing along with a smile on your face but will make you get up and shake it.

Prince

Twin Shadow Showcase

This is the Twin Shadow Artist Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by the band including music that is hand-picked by George Lewis Jr. as well as commentary by him about the songs that influenced his music and his life.

Prince

Drama

Introducing Drama Radio, brought to you by Cars.com. They've taken the drama out of car shopping and placed it here- on this station. These songs were hand-selected for their drama- dramatic lyrics and dramatic songwriting. Brought to you by Cars.com. ALL DRIVE. No Drama.

Prince

Graffiti6 Showcase

This is the Graffiti6 Artist Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by the members of Graffiti6 including music hand-picked by Jamie and TommyD as well as commentary by each about the songs that influenced their music and their lives.

Prince

Shawn Hook Showcase

This is the Shawn Hook Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by Shawn Hook including music hand-picked by Shawn as well as commentary about the songs that influenced his music and his life.

Prince

'80s Hits

80's Hits takes the biggest hits from the decade of big hair and music videos and puts it together on one station. From the new wave of Duran Duran, to the arena rock of Def Leppard, from the end of disco to the beginning of hip hop (remember Tone Loc?), it's all on 80's Hits.

Prince

Silversun Pickups Showcase

Brian Aubert and Nikki Monninger of Silversun Pickups recently played a private showcase for Slacker Radio listeners. Afterwards, they sat down with us to create and host their own Slacker Radio station. Every song you hear on this station was picked by Silversun Pickups, collectively. Brian and Nikki are your hosts- join them as they give you a look at the musical DNA of the band.

Prince

Dive Bar Jukebox

You walk through the doors and you know. This is it. The perfect dive bar. A cool crowd, great beers on tap and, above all, the perfect jukebox for a true music geek. Classic Rock, Classic Country, a lil' bit of Soul and the most important Indie Rock of all-time make this jukebox your all-time favorite. Welcome to Dive Bar Jukebox on Slacker Radio.

Prince

Patrick Stump Showcase

This is the Patrick Stump Artist Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune-in to hear music hand-picked by Patrick as well as commentary about the songs that influenced his music and his life.

Prince

RJD2 Showcase

This is the RJD2 Artist Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune-in to hear music hand-picked by RJD2 as well as commentary about the songs that influenced his music and his life.

Prince

Broken Heart

Broken Heart on Slacker Radio is a melancholy mix of lost love and yearning with a touch of soulful redemption. These songs of heartbreak and hope will show you that sadness can be beautiful and love is fleeting but always on the horizon.

Prince

Sondre Lerche Showcase

This is the Sondre Lerche Artist Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear music hand-picked by Sondre as well as commentary about the songs that influenced his music and his life.

Prince

Delta Spirit Showcase

This is the Delta Spirit Artist Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by the band including music that is hand-picked by Jon, Brandon, Matthew, Kelly and WIlliam as well as commentary by each about the songs that influenced their music and their lives.

Prince

The Kooks Showcase

This is The Kooks Artist Showcase on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by The Kooks including music hand-picked by each member of the band as well as commentary about the songs that influenced their music and their lives.

Prince

Royal Teeth Showcase

This is the Royal Teeth Artist Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by the band including music that is hand-picked by Joshua, Gary, Nora, Josh, Stevie, and Andrew as well as commentary about the songs that influenced their music and lives.

Prince

Animal Kingdom Showcase

This is the Animal Kingdom Artist Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by the members of Animal Kingdom including music hand-picked by Richard, Hamish, and Geoff as well as commentary by each about the songs that influenced their music and their lives.

Prince

SVP & Russillo Music Show

SVP & Russillo play the music they love and it’s all right here. You’ll hear music from the show while Scott Van Pelt and Ryen Russillo take you inside the studio and share how the show decides what makes the cut. Plus… Dan “The Duke” Davis raps, visits from “The Pulse of the Nation” and other moments from the show.

Prince

Hedley Showcase

This is the Hedley Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by Hedley including music hand-picked by Jake and Dave as well as commentary about the songs that influenced their music and their lives.

Prince

Metric Showcase

This is the Metric Artist Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by the members of Metric including music hand-picked by Emily, James, Josh and Joules as well as commentary about the songs that influenced their music and their lives.

Prince

The Parlotones Showcase

This is The Parlotones Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by the members of The Parlotones including music hand-picked by the Kahn, Neil, Glenn and Paul as well as commentary by each about the songs that influenced their music and their lives.

Prince

Disco

Wildly popular in clubs and on radio from the early '70s through the early '80s, Disco on Slacker Radio revisits the divas, supergroups, one-hit wonders, producers and DJ's that made you want to dance.

Prince

Classic Hits

Classic Hits on Slacker plays the greatest pop and rock hits of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s.

Prince

Slow Jamz

Dim the lights and enjoy the most romantic artists of all time, from Marvin Gaye and Barry White to Maxwell and Alicia Keys. Your very own "quiet storm" is right here, on Slacker Slow Jamz...so chill the champagne and groove!

Prince

Matt Nathanson Showcase

This is the Matt Nathanson Artist Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by Matt including music that he hand-picked as well as commentary about the songs that influenced his music and his life.

Prince

A Very Soulful Christmas

Hear the soulful side of the holiday season with classic soul legends, R&B favorites and a little Gospel for good measure. Get your holiday grooving with Ray Charles, James Brown, The Supremes, Luther Vandross, Mary J. Blige and many more.

Prince

Classic Soul

Classic Soul on Slacker Radio celebrates some of the greatest music ever made, spanning almost 40 years of smooth, soulful tunes that'll make you feel the true power and passion of music.

Prince

R&B

Slacker R&B is built upon a vast library of sexy music for sexy people, centering on the past 15 years of hits. You'll hear the biggest songs of today, as well as the tunes you've been grooving to since the mid-nineties--with a bit of old school flavor and a lot of surprises.

Prince

Soft Hits

Soft Hits on Slacker Radio is the best blend of softer current and classic hits. You’ll hear Kelly Clarkson, Rob Thomas and Gwen Stefani along with Sheryl Crow, Goo Goo Dolls, Mariah Carey, Prince and more.

Prince

The Wanted Showcase

This is The Wanted Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by the members of The Wanted including music hand-picked by Tom, Max, Siva, Jay and Nathan as well as commentary by each about the songs that influenced their music and their lives.

Prince

AFI Showcase

This is Radio AFI. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by the band members of AFI including music hand-picked by Davey, Adam, Jade and Hunter as well as commentary by each about the songs that influenced their music and their lives.

Prince

The Current

The Current brings you the best authentic new music alongside the music that inspired it, from unique to universal, indie to influential, new to nostalgic. Broadcasting from the musical hotbed that is Minnesota, listen to The Current and you’ll see why we say, “Great Music Lives Here.” Find playlist, interviews and more at thecurrent.org.

Prince

Adult Chill

We know you. You've got a million things on your mind, from kids to bills and back. When it's time to chill, we also know that you're looking for a laid-back, eclectic mix that matches your CD collection. Adult Chill is for you, offering a soothing blend of singer-songwriters, melodic electronic, and all flavors and eras of rock. Norah Jones meets Moby meets acoustic Led Zep. Chill like a grown-up. You deserve it.

Prince

Love Songs

Love Songs on Slacker Radio has just the right blend of sentimental favorites. Set the mood with artists like Rod Stewart, Celine Dion, Elton John, Mariah Carey, The Beatles, and Stevie Wonder plus classic romantic favorites. Listen and fall in love with Slacker Love Songs.

Prince

Party Hip Hop/R&B

Party Hip-Hop/R&B Radio plays the hottest new and upbeat classic Hip Hop and R&B hits to keep the party going all night long.

Prince

'80s Alternative

If you remember skinny ties, shrink-to-fit jeans and Molly Ringwald then '80s Alternative on Slacker Radio is for you. The '80s saw the birth of "Modern-Rock" and bands like Duran Duran, The Cure and R.E.M. were producing their best work. You’ll hear your favorite hits, deep cuts and one-hit wonders only on ‘80s Alternative.

Prince

'70s Hits

The Seventies was both the first and last time 3 Dog Night, Marvin Gaye, KISS and John Denver could all co-exist on one radio station. '70s Hits on Slacker Radio makes every day a nice day with enough music to put guys in platform heels again and women in hot pants with Farrah hair.

Prince

This station plays the best music from and music from related artists like Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye, Kool & the Gang, Janet Jackson, The Isley Brothers, Rick James, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, The O'Jays and more.

All Stations

Prince's Selected Discography (50)

Planet Earth Album Cover

Planet Earth

(P) 2007 NPG Records200710 Songs

For You Album Cover

For You

Masayo&Robert200516 Songs

Come Album Cover

Come

1994 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records199410 Songs

Diamonds and Pearls Album Cover

Diamonds and Pearls

1991 Warner Bros. Records Inc.199113 Songs

Sign 'O' the Times Album Cover

Sign 'O' the Times

1987 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records198716 Songs

1999 Album Cover

1999

1984 Warner Bros. Records198411 Songs

Prince Album Cover

Prince

1979 Warner Brothers Records19879 Songs

Dirty Mind Album Cover

Dirty Mind

1980 Warner Bros.19848 Songs

Controversy Album Cover

Controversy

1981 Warner Bros. Records19848 Songs

Around the World in a Day Album Cover

Around the World in a Day

1984 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records19849 Songs

The Hits/The B-Sides Album Cover

The Hits/The B-Sides

1993 Warner Bros. Records Inc.BOXSET199356 Songs

Extraloveable Album Cover

Extraloveable

DIGITAL20111 Songs

Get Off [2007] Album Cover

Get Off [2007]

2007 Warner Music UK Ltd.SINGLE20076 Songs

Fury Album Cover

Fury

(C)(P) 2006 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.DIGITAL20061 Songs

Black Sweat Album Cover

Black Sweat

(C)(P) 2006 NPG RecordsDIGITAL20062 Songs

S.S.T./Brand New Orleans

(P) 2005 NPG RecordsSINGLE20052 Songs

Lovesexy Album Cover

Lovesexy

1988 Paisley Park Records, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. RecordsSINGLE19981 Songs

Ultimate Album Cover

Ultimate

2006 Warner Bros. Records Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group CompanyCOMPILATION200628 Songs

The Very Best of Prince Album Cover

The Very Best of Prince

2001 Warner Bros. Records Inc. Warner Music Group, an AOL Time Warner Company.COMPILATION200117 Songs

The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale Album Cover

The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale

1999 Warner Bros. RecordsCOMPILATION199910 Songs

The Hits 1 Album Cover

The Hits 1

1993 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. RecordsCOMPILATION199318 Songs

The Hits 2 Album Cover

The Hits 2

1993 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. RecordsCOMPILATION199318 Songs

Purple Rain Album Cover

Purple Rain

1984 Warner Bros. RecordsSOUNDTRACK19909 Songs

Graffiti Bridge Album Cover

Graffiti Bridge

1990 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. RecordsSOUNDTRACK199017 Songs

Batman Album Cover

Batman

1989 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. RecordsSOUNDTRACK19899 Songs

Parade Album Cover

Parade

1986 Warner Bros. Records Inc.SOUNDTRACK198612 Songs

Musicology Album Cover

Musicology

ECD200412 Songs

Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic Album Cover

Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic

ECD199916 Songs

Chaos and Disorder Album Cover

Chaos and Disorder

199611 Songs

LotusFlow3r Album Cover

LotusFlow3r

200931 Songs

For You Album Cover

For You

1978 Prince's Music Co.19879 Songs

Guitar Album Cover

Guitar

(P) 2007 NPG RecordsSINGLE20072 Songs

I Wanna Be Your Lover Album Cover

I Wanna Be Your Lover

2007 Warner Music UK Ltd.SINGLE20072 Songs

I Would Die for U Album Cover

I Would Die for U

2007 Warner Music UK Ltd.SINGLE20073 Songs

Kiss [2007] Album Cover

Kiss [2007]

2007 Warner Music UK Ltd.SINGLE20072 Songs

Let's Go Crazy [2007] Album Cover

Let's Go Crazy [2007]

2007 Warner Music UK Ltd.SINGLE20072 Songs

Raspberry Beret [2007] Album Cover

Raspberry Beret [2007]

2007 Warner Music UK Ltd.SINGLE20072 Songs

Sign 'O' the Times [2007] Album Cover

Sign 'O' the Times [2007]

2007 Warner Music UK Ltd.SINGLE20072 Songs

Te Amo Corazón Album Cover

Te Amo Corazón

(C)(P) 2005 NPG Records Manufactured and Marketed by Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.SINGLE20051 Songs

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World Album Cover

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

EP19942 Songs

Sexy MF [Import CD Single] Album Cover

Sexy MF [Import CD Single]

2007 Warner Music UK Ltd.SINGLE19923 Songs

Cream [Single] Album Cover

Cream [Single]

SINGLE19912 Songs

Kiss Album Cover

Kiss

SINGLE19863 Songs

Girl 6 [Original Soundtrack] Album Cover

Girl 6 [Original Soundtrack]

SOUNDTRACK199613 Songs

20Ten Album Cover

20Ten

201010 Songs

3121 Album Cover

3121

200612 Songs

Gett Off Remix [EP] Album Cover

Gett Off Remix [EP]

200412 Songs

The Rainbow Children Album Cover

The Rainbow Children

200313 Songs

Crystal Ball Album Cover

Crystal Ball

200330 Songs

The Rainbow Children Album Cover

The Rainbow Children

200121 Songs

All Albums

Artists Related to Prince (50)

	Michael Jackson	Michael Jackson was unquestionably the biggest pop star of the '80s, and certainly one of the most popular recording artists of all time.
	Earth, Wind & Fire	Earth, Wind & Fire were one of the most musically accomplished, critically acclaimed, and commercially popular funk bands of the '70s.
	Marvin Gaye	One of the most gifted, visionary, and enduring talents ever launched into orbit by the Motown hit machine, Marvin Gaye blazed the trail for the continued evolution of popular black music.
	Kool & the Gang	Formed as a jazz ensemble in the mid-'60s, Kool & the Gang became one of the most inspired and influential funk units during the '70s, and one of the most popular R&B groups of the '80s after their breakout hit "Celebration" in 1979.
	Janet Jackson	Few celebrity siblings can emerge from the shadows of their already famous relations to become superstars in their own right and with their own distinct personalities.
	The Isley Brothers	First formed in the early '50s, the Isley Brothers enjoyed one of the longest, most influential, and most diverse careers in the pantheon of popular music -- over the course of nearly a half century of performing, the group's distinguished history spanned not only two generations of Isley siblings but also massive cultural shifts which heralded their music's transformation from gritty R&B to Motown soul to blistering funk.
	Rick James	In the late '70s, when the fortunes of Motown Records seemed to be flagging, Rick James came along and rescued the company, providing funky hits that updated the label's style and saw it through into the mid-'80s.
	Al Green	Al Green was the first great soul singer of the '70s and arguably the last great Southern soul singer.
	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder is a much-beloved American icon and an indisputable genius not only of R&B but popular music in general.
	The O'Jays	The O'Jays were one of Philadelphia soul's most popular and long-lived outfits, rivaled only by the Spinners as soul's greatest vocal group of the '70s.
	Commodores	Renowned for the R&B hits "Just to Be Close to You," "Easy," and "Brickhouse," to name but a few, Commodores were one of the top bands during their long tenure at Motown.
	The Gap Band	The Gap Band, centered around brothers Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson, toiled in obscurity for several years prior to becoming one of the most popular funk groups of the late '70s and 1980s.
	The Temptations	Thanks to their fine-tuned choreography -- and even finer harmonies -- the Temptations became the definitive male vocal group of the 1960s; one of Motown's most elastic acts, they tackled both lush pop and politically charged funk with equal flair, and weathered a steady stream of changes in personnel and consumer tastes with rare dignity and grace.
	Luther Vandross	Luther Vandross was one of the most successful R&B artists of the 1980s and '90s. Not only did he score a series of multi-million-selling albums containing chart-topping hit singles and perform sold-out tours of the U.
	The Jackson 5	The Jackson 5 were one of the biggest phenomenons in pop music during the early '70s, and the last great group to come out of the Motown hitmaking machine before Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder shifted the label's focus to more individual visions.
	Bobby Brown	One of the brightest R&B stars of the late '80s and early '90s, Bobby Brown was the performer who popularized new jack swing, a blend of classic soul, synth-funk, and hip-hop rhythms that often featured rap breaks in between the conventionally melodic verses and choruses.
	Keith Sweat	Keith Sweat, a Harlem-born R&B singer/songwriter known for his distinctive "whining" vocal style, co-produced 1984/1985 singles by GQ and Roberta Gilliam and issued independent singles of his own ("Lucky Seven" and "My Mind Is Made Up"), but he didn't release his debut full-length, Make It Last Forever, until November 1987.
	Barry White	Say the name Barry White and you'd be hard pressed to follow it with the name of any other recording artist with such a huge, cross-sectional following.
	Chaka Khan	Best known in the mainstream for her superb 1984 cover of Prince's "I Feel for You," R&B singer Chaka Khan enjoyed solo success as well as popularity as a member of the group Rufus.
	Zapp	One of the most underrated funk groups of the 1980s, Zapp revolutionized the computer pop of electro with their trademark vocoder talk boxes and bumping grooves, emulating the earthier side of Prince and Cameo, with a leader in Roger Troutman who was more than efficient at polished production.
	Teena Marie	No white artist sang R&B more convincingly than Teena Marie, whose big, robust vocals were so black-sounding that when she was starting out, some listeners wondered if she was a light-skinned African-American.
	Cameo	An outlandish, in-your-face stage presence, a strange sense of humor, and a hard-driving funk sound that criss-crossed a few musical boundaries earned Cameo countless comparisons to Parliament/Funkadelic in their early days.
	New Edition	New Edition's early, Jackson 5-inspired material made them the forerunners of two generations of teen pop (most of which was geared to white audiences).
	Whitney Houston	Whitney Houston was inarguably one of the biggest female pop stars of all time. Her accomplishments as a hitmaker were extraordinary; just to scratch the surface, she became the first artist ever to have seven consecutive singles hit number one, and her 1993 Dolly Parton cover "I Will Always Love You" became nothing less than the biggest hit single in rock history.
	Freddie Jackson	To urban contemporary listeners, Freddie Jackson was one of the biggest stars of the latter half of the '80s, dominating the R&B charts seemingly at will.
	Lionel Richie	After leaving the Commodores, Lionel Richie became one of the most successful male solo artists of the '80s, arguably eclipsed during his 1981-1987 heyday only by Michael Jackson and Prince.
	Atlantic Starr	Atlantic Starr was among the top urban contemporary acts of the '80s and fared well in the adult contemporary market as well, but their roots were '70s soul and funk.
	Boyz II Men	According to no less an authority than the RIAA, Boyz II Men are the most commercially successful R&B group of all time.
	Maze	Combining a Philadelphia soul sound with a strong appreciation of Marvin Gaye, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly was among the top R&B acts of the late '70s and '80s.
	Aretha Franklin	Aretha Franklin is one of the giants of soul music, and indeed of American pop as a whole. More than any other performer, she epitomized soul at its most gospel-charged.
	The Spinners	The Spinners were the greatest soul group of the early '70s, creating a body of work that defined the lush, seductive sound of Philly soul.
	Teddy Pendergrass	Teddy Pendergrass started singing gospel music in Philadelphia churches, becoming an ordained minister at ten years old.
	Anita Baker	With her classy, refined brand of romantic soul, Anita Baker was one of the definitive quiet storm singers of the '80s.
	Sade	When singer Sade and her band of the same name were establishing themselves, their record company, Epic, made a point of printing "Pronounced Shar-day" on the record labels of their releases.
	Midnight Star	The synth-funk unit Midnight Star scored several times on the charts during the mid-'80s, led by their double-platinum album No Parking on the Dance Floor in 1983.
	James Brown	"Soul Brother Number One," "the Godfather of Soul," "the Hardest Working Man in Show Business," "Mr.
	The Stylistics	After the Spinners and the O'Jays, the Stylistics were the leading Philly soul group produced by Thom Bell.
	Gerald LeVert	A contemporary soul singer whose smooth yet robust vocals brought energy and emotion to even his most serene recordings, Gerald LeVert grew up in the shadows of his father, Eddie LeVert, Sr.
	Heatwave	Completely cosmopolitan with international grooves to spare, Heatwave emerged as one of the disco era's funkiest dance groups.
	L.T.D.	Long-running funk outfit L.T.D. -- Love, Togetherness and Devotion -- was formed in Greensboro, NC in 1968 by keyboardist Jimmie "J.
	Johnny Gill	A singer behind eight solo and duet Top Ten R&B hits, as well as a member of New Edition since 1987, Johnny Gill was born in Washington, D.
	DeBarge	Groomed to be the heirs to the Jackson 5 throne in the early '80s, DeBarge mirrored the Jacksons early success with a string of hits, but were unable to sustain their winning streak.
	Shalamar	Shalamar was the creation of Dick Griffey, the booking agent for the television R&B program Soul Train, and British R&B producer Simon Soussan.
	The Ohio Players	With their slinky, horn-powered grooves, impeccable musicianship, and eye-popping album covers, the Ohio Players were among the top funk bands of the mid-'70s.
	The Time	From their origins as Prince's first pet project to their self-produced funk-rock oeuvre, the Time has been a fascinating and outrageous congregation.
	Patti LaBelle	Soul diva Patti LaBelle enjoyed one of the longest-lived careers in contemporary music, notching hits in a variety of sounds ranging from girl group pop to space-age funk to lush ballads.
	The Whispers	The Whispers are a veteran R&B quintet with an impressive 23-year legacy of R&B hits. Formed in Los Angeles by twins Walter and Wallace Scott, Nicholas Caldwell, Marcus Hutson, and Gordy Harmon (who left in 1973), the Whispers turned up on the Dore label in 1964 with "I Was Born When You Kissed Me.
	Gladys Knight & The Pips	One of the great soul singers, Gladys Knight was a performer from her childhood years, forming the Pips with her brother Merald and a couple cousins.
	Rose Royce	Rose Royce -- the Los Angeles-based group comprised of Henry Garner (drums); Terral "Terry" Santiel (congas); Lequeint "Duke" Jobe (bass); Michael Moore (saxophone); Gwen Dickey, performing with the group using the stage name Rose Norwalt (lead vocals); Kenny Copeland (trumpet, lead vocals); Kenji Brown (guitar, lead vocals); Freddie Dunn (trumpet); and Michael Nash (keyboards) -- were actually formed by Copeland and Garner.
	Smokey Robinson	Berry Gordy founded Motown Records, but one could argue that Smokey Robinson was the man who first pushed America's most iconic soul music label toward greatness.

All Related Artists

Top Songs by Prince (50)

When Doves Cry

5:51

from: Purple Rain

1984 Warner Bros. Records

1999

3:36

from: Ultimate

2006 Warner Bros. Records Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company

Purple Rain

8:39

from: Ultimate

2006 Warner Bros. Records Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company

Let's Go Crazy

4:39

from: Purple Rain

1984 Warner Bros. Records

Little Red Corvette

4:54

from: 1999

1984 Warner Bros. Records

I Wanna Be Your Lover

5:43

from: Prince

1979 Warner Brothers Records

I Would Die 4 U

2:55

from: Purple Rain

1984 Warner Bros. Records

Controversy

3:34

from: The Hits/The B-Sides

1993 Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Do Me, Baby

3:54

from: The Hits/The B-Sides

1993 Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Erotic City

3:53

from: The Hits/The B-Sides

1993 Warner Bros. Records Inc.

U Got the Look

3:46

from: Sign 'O' the Times

1987 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records

Delirious

2:37

from: Ultimate

2006 Warner Bros. Records Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company

Adore

6:31

from: Sign 'O' the Times

1987 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records

If I Was Your Girlfriend

4:59

from: Sign 'O' the Times

1987 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records

Take Me with U

3:49

from: Purple Rain

1984 Warner Bros. Records

Kiss

3:44

from: The Hits 2

1993 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records

Raspberry Beret

3:31

from: The Hits 2

1993 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records

The Beautiful Ones

5:13

from: Purple Rain

1984 Warner Bros. Records

I Feel for You

3:24

from: Prince

1979 Warner Brothers Records

Sign 'O' the Times

4:57

from: Sign 'O' the Times

1987 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records

Uptown

5:32

from: Dirty Mind

1980 Warner Bros.

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

3:58

from: The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

Let's Work

3:55

from: Controversy

1981 Warner Bros. Records

When You Were Mine

3:40

from: Dirty Mind

1980 Warner Bros.

I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man

3:37

from: Sign 'O' the Times

1987 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records

Darling Nikki

4:12

from: Purple Rain

1984 Warner Bros. Records

The Song of the Heart

4:35

from: Happy Feet [Original Soundtrack]

This compilation © 2006 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.

Dirty Mind

4:07

from: Dirty Mind

1980 Warner Bros.

Baby I'm a Star

4:20

from: Purple Rain

1984 Warner Bros. Records

Ballad of Dorothy Parker

3:54

from: Sign 'O' the Times

1987 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records

D.M.S.R.

8:16

from: 1999

1984 Warner Bros. Records

Musicology

4:24

from: Musicology

Partyman

3:11

from: Batman

1989 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records

Soft and Wet

3:01

from: The Hits/The B-Sides

1993 Warner Bros. Records Inc.

How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore

3:49

from: The Hits/The B-Sides

1993 Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Pink Cashmere

6:13

from: The Hits/The B-Sides

1993 Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Partyup

4:24

from: Dirty Mind

1980 Warner Bros.

Gett Off

4:29

from: The Hits 2

1993 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records

Round and Round

3:55

from: Graffiti Bridge

1990 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records

Call My Name

5:16

from: Musicology

My Name Is Prince

4:03

from: Ultimate

2006 Warner Bros. Records Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company

Trust

4:23

from: Batman

1989 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records

Strange Relationship

3:58

from: Sign 'O' the Times

1987 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records

Black Sweat

3:10

from: Black Sweat

(C)(P) 2006 NPG Records

Mountains

3:58

from: Parade

1986 Warner Bros. Records Inc.

The Cross

4:45

from: Sign 'O' the Times

1987 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records

Computer Blue

4:00

from: Purple Rain

1984 Warner Bros. Records

All the Critics Love U in New York

5:54

from: 1999

1984 Warner Bros. Records

She's Always in My Hair

3:24

from: Raspberry Beret / She's Always In My Hair [Digital 45]

1985 Warner Bros. Records.

Around the World in a Day

3:24

from: Around the World in a Day

1984 Paisley Park, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records

All Songs

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