american singer/songwriter, prince rogers nelson who was also known as that weird little half-man half-guitar looking symbol for a few years in the late 1990s turns 51-years old today!
prince has been highly influential in many genres of music including HIP-HOP and others with what has been commonly referred to as the MINNEAPOLIS SOUND, named after his city of origin. specifically it describes the funkadelic industrial sounding drum machine arrangements and the use of synthesizer riffs. the minneapolis sound has replaced the role traditionally occupied by the horn in a lot of MODERN + EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC.
while prince is best known for his musical talents i am personally a huge fan of his ACTING CAREER. if you havent seen PURPLE RAIN you most definitely should check it out because it is debatably the best movie to come out of the 1980s. and if youre already a fan of his music then you will see many of your favorite songs come to life.
some interesting facts about his personal life-- he was baptized as one of JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES in 2001 and has been romantically linked with celebrities such as carmen electra sheena easton kim basinger denise matthews aka VANITY and even madonna, although that one proved to be false.
HAPPY BiRTHDAY BiG GUY . . . AND MANY MORE !!
