"Paint a Perfect Picture" - Prince on Pinterest

Well, the Prince is not on Pinterest. However, there are TONS of Prince boards on Pinterest. I'm surprised that Prince hasn't tried to shut them down. I noticed the boards because I recently joined the social media site. I'm promoting my blog through my "A Purple Day in December" board. Follow me!

Other than that, I've just been writing. I've completed chapter four! I've also finished the Marvin Gaye biography. I'm about to start the book on Stevie Wonder.

Now that chapter four is behind me, I hope to resume my weekly blogging schedule.

Are you on Pinterest? I'll follow you!

"I Was Dreamin' When I Wrote This" - The 1999 Album

It's been a stressful week. Sorry, I'm posting a day late. I am about to start writing chapter four. The album of the moment is 1999 (1982). I will be analyzing the spiritual concepts included on that album.

Amazon.com

Prince fans: what is your favorite track on 1999?

"You Didn't Record This, Right?" - Organizing My Interviews

It's time for me to actually delete some interviews from my digital recorder, and organize them on my computer. This is just a fraction of my digital files:

I haven't even named them. It's so bad. I've had my recorder since 2010. All of my Prince-related interviews are mixed together with my interviews for Billboard, Sister 2 Sister, etc. I am going to start getting this under control today!

"Take a Picture, Sweetie!" - Odds and Ends from the Past Week

It has been ages since I've blogged (well, just about a month). I have a good excuse; I started a new job! I have been focusing on that, but I'm back! Here are some pictures that capture what I've been up to:

I am almost finished with chapter three.

The album of the moment is no longer Dirty Mind; it's Controversy (1981). I am currently analyzing the spiritual themes included on the album. I just bought a new copy from Amazon.com.

After scoring interviews with Chris Moon, Jill Jones and Roy Bennett, I've had some declines. Prince's ex-protégé Denise Matthews (a.k.a. "Vanity") declined, but she sent me a really nice message. It actually made my day. I also had a prospect who agreed to do the interview if he (or she) could have a copy of my entire pre-published book. I had to pass on that.

Prince fans: what is your favorite track on Controversy?

"The Light of God" - Interview with Roy Bennett

"I used to have to do lighting scenes as if the lights were God talking back to him."

As I mentioned, I also interviewed Roy Bennett, a lighting and set designer who worked with Prince for 14 years. I'm so grateful that he took time out from his busy schedule to speak with me. Here are some of the subjects we touched on:

• How did the audience respond to Prince's "conversations with God" during the "Purple Rain" tour?


• How did the audience respond to the spiritual segment of the "Lovesexy" tour?


• At what point in his career did Prince seem to be communicating a spiritual message to his audience?


• What changes occurred for Prince during the 1990s?


• What prop was almost always present on Prince's tours?

Prince fans: do you already know some of the answers to the questions above?

"She's Always in My Hair" - Interview with Jill Jones

My interview with Jill Jones is extremely significant for the book. It is a real breakthrough. For those who don't know, Jill is Prince's ex-girlfriend and a singer who collaborated with him throughout the 1980s. She sang on the 1999 album and tour, and she appears in the music videos for "1999" and "Automatic." She also has small roles in the Purple Rain and Graffiti Bridge movies.

It was such a pleasure speaking with her. Here are some topics from the interview:

• Was Prince "spiritual" or "religious" prior to the Lovesexy era?


• Was there any exploration of the occult?


• How does Stevie Nicks factor into Prince's spiritual journey?


• What was the story behind the composition of the song "The Cross?"


• What is the origin of Prince's fascination with "the Dawn?"


• What was Prince's religious perception of the U.S. air strike on Libya in 1986? 


• Did Prince really write "She's Always in My Hair" for Jill?

...And much, much more!

Prince fans: do you already know some of the answers to the questions above?

"Soft and Wet" - Interview with Chris Moon

I'm back and still extremely tired. As promised, I have some information from my interview with Chris Moon, a lyricist and studio owner who knew Prince as a teenager. Moon taught Prince how to use studio equipment, and he was the first person to put together a marketing package for the artist. Additionally, Moon famously wrote the lyrics for Prince's first single, "Soft and Wet."

Moon provided a lot of information, including both facts and his personal opinions:

• Did Prince choose music as his first career goal?


• What stage name did Prince almost choose?


• Is Prince really a "musical genius?" 


• Was Prince "spiritual" or "religious" as a teenager?


• Were the "conversations with God" on the "Purple Rain" tour sincere?


• Is Moon surprised that Prince is a Jehovah's Witness today?


• Am I a biased biographer?

Yeah, we had an interesting chat about my intentions. I'm always open to advice, and he gave me some things to think about as I write.

My next blog entry will be about my interview with Jill Jones. Also, GREAT NEWS: I just interviewed Roy Bennett, the lighting and set designer who worked with Prince for 14 years.

Check out my other interviews here.

Stay tuned!

Prince fans: do you already know the answers to some of the questions above?