Remembering Prince, an icon for Minnesota and the world

Prince Rogers Nelson was not only our biggest hometown celebrity, but one of us.

April 30, 2016 at 11:45PM

REMEMBERING A MINNESOTA ICON

(Dave Braunger/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

'My name is Prince...'

Prince Rogers Nelson was one of us. He was born in Minneapolis, grew up on the South Side and the North Side, and moved to Chanhassen when he became rich and famous. We flocked to his arena concerts, movies and intimate gatherings at Paisley Park. We saw him around town, taking in a Wolves game, browsing at the Electric Fetus or watching a show at the Dakota. Since the '70s when he was a newcomer to the music scene, through his heyday in the '80s, and on past his feud with his record label and resurgence as a more approachable artist, the Star Tribune has followed our biggest homegrown celebrity. Prince's energy and genius seemed boundless; they will live on in our hearts.

Above: A contact sheet of a Prince performance at First Avenue dated March 3, 1986 by David Brewster - Star Tribune

Commemorative covers

See the four special covers the Star Tribune created to remember a Twin Cities music legend.

A community grieves its Prince

Video (02:04): The Twin Cities erupted in memories, grief and song after the passing of Minnesota's brightest star.

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Prince's albums: A complete critical guide to all 37 official releases

Here's a look at the legacy left by one of pop music's most prolific recording artists. The following list of 37 albums is as complete as we can make it, omitting remixes, fan-club releases and all but one best-of.

Prince performs during the halftime show at Super Bowl XLI football game at Dolphin Stadium in Miami on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian) ORG XMIT: SB258 ORG XMIT: MIN1604222116512360
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Musicians speak the loudest on Prince's genius

Think of all the other rock stars who wasted no time covering his songs. The president who took ample time talking him up to reporters. The late-night TV show that used all of its weekly time slot to honor him. The city that ignored time altogether and stayed up dancing until dawn three nights in a row.

Fashion Icon: Prince's style was undefinable, marrying influences from disco, hip-hop, jazz, history and high fashion to create a look all his own. He broke every fashion rule in the book, but was able to pull it off with incredible panache. "His clothes were meant to attract and the were typically out of the norm," said Gwen Leeds, Prince's longtime personal shopper. "He was his own man."
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Prince of pop, king of style

Prince was more than a musical virtuoso; he was a veritable style magnate. Onstage and off, his style transcended narrow gender constructs and pushed boundaries for what fashion means for both men and women. Prince fired a revolution in diversity in race and gender

Beneath the glyph, the flamboyant outfits and all that purple, a sociocultural revolution was brewing.

Prince in concert at Sam’s on March 9, 1981, the venue that became First Avenue.
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Prince and First Avenue: a history of the club's ties to its brightest star

First Avenue nightclub will forever be tied to Prince's legacy, as it has been since 1981. Here's a look at the history they shared.

Prince during the "Lovesexy" Tour (info on where tk). Photo by Tom Wallace / Star Tribune. for prince special section. DO NOT USE before 3/14/2004
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Dearly beloved: A variety of voices pay tribute to Prince

Tributes from our music critic and others Prince inspired

(Jamie Hutt/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Key events in Prince's life

A look at the legacy left by Prince.

(Jamie Hutt/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Princely tour of the Twin Cities

Guide to the homes, hangouts and landmarks that Prince frequented and/or made famous.

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