Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 - April 21, 2016), known professionally as Prince, was an American singer, songwriter, musician, dancer, actor, and filmmaker. He was associated with the development of the Minneapolis sound, a style that combined elements of funk, rock, pop, R&B, and new wave. Throughout his career, he was noted for his musical versatility, prolific output, and influence on popular music.
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Prince was raised in a musical family. His father, John Lewis Nelson, was a pianist and songwriter, and his mother, Mattie Della Shaw, was a jazz singer. He began writing music at an early age and composed his first song, "Funk Machine", when he was seven years old. Following his parents' divorce, he lived with various family members and friends and developed a close friendship with André Cymone, who later became one of his collaborators.
Prince attended Bryant Junior High School and Central High School in Minneapolis, where he participated in sports and studied dance through the Minnesota Dance Theatre. During his teenage years, he recorded demos that attracted the attention of music industry professionals. In 1977, he signed a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records that granted him significant creative control and ownership of his publishing rights.
His debut album, "For You", was released in 1978. Prince wrote, arranged, produced, and performed most of the music on the album. His second album, "Prince" (1979), achieved greater commercial success and included the singles "I Wanna Be Your Lover" and "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?".
During the early 1980s, Prince released the albums "Dirty Mind" (1980), "Controversy" (1981), and "1999" (1982).
