Looking back at Prince's four-decade career, it's clear that when he signed his record deal with Warner Bros. at just 18 years old, he was destined to lead an influential trajectory. From a young age, Prince Rogers Nelson, better known mononymously as Prince, was certain of his talents. And once he hit the stage, so was the rest of the world.
Prince: The life story you may not know
His commitment, liberation, and vision came through in his Minneapolis Sound—a genre blending a sonically experimental mix of funk, synth-pop, and wailing electronic guitar riffs—which positioned him to become one of music's most respected and recognizable artists. Throughout his career, he challenged how he presented himself to the world, whether that be with his androgynous style or his artistry that knew no bounds.
He always strived for originality in his work, which was evident in his acting, writing, and production. His influence went beyond music. The prolific musician and producer's sharp-eyed outlook on life and creative independence made him one of the most iconic visionary geniuses of his time. He even directed, scored, and starred in a concert film in 1987, "Sign O' the Times." The moviescreened in IMAX theatersworldwide for a limited run in August 2025.
The legendary artist was in the public eye for nearly four decades until his 2016 death at just 57 years old, leaving us with much to learn about his life. Here,Stackercompiled a list of 25 things about Prince you may not know, researched via memoir accounts, newspaper articles, archives, and official documents.
1958: Born in Minneapolis
Prince Rogers Nelson, better known mononymously as Prince, was born on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis. His father, John L. Nelson, was a jazz pianist in the Prince Rogers Trio, and his mother, Mattie Shaw, performed in the band as a singer. It was the band's name that inspired Prince's.
1977: Signs to Warner Bros. for debut album
In 1977, Princesignedto Warner Bros. Records at 18 years old. The next year, Prince released his debut album, "For You." He is credited with writing and performing everything himself. The album peaked at #163 on theBillboard 200. After a long public dispute and split in 1996, he would laterre-signwith the label in 2014 and obtain ownership of his classic catalog.
1983: Recording at First Avenue
In 1983, Prince and the Revolution recorded portions of the "Purple Rain" soundtrack live on stage atFirst Avenuenightclub in Minneapolis. The infamous recording occurred during a benefit concert for theMinnesota Dance Theatre.
1984: 'Purple Rain'
In 1984, the film "Purple Rain," directed by Albert Magnoli and based on the Prince and the Revolution album of the same name, became a box-office hit. Prince played a loosely based character of himself in the cult musical drama. He also worked with costume designers Louis Wells and Marie France to create hisiconic androgynous looksin the movie.
1984: 'The Glamorous Life'
Prince co-produced drummer and collaborator Sheila E.'s 1984 debut album, "The Glamorous Life." The entire album was recorded in a week at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles.
1985: Oscar win
Prince's hit song "Purple Rain" won an Oscar for Best Original Song Score at the 1985 ceremony, making him thefirst and lastBlack person to win the award. The category was retired the next year. In hisOscar speech, Prince told the audience: "This is very unbelievable. I could never imagine this in my wildest dreams."
1985: Paisley Park
In 1985, Prince commissioned architect Bret Thoeny to build Paisley Park—an artist compound located 22 miles outside of Minneapolis. In a2016 interview, Thoeny told Billboard that the 55,000-square-foot creative complex was the first of its kind. It had two state-of-the-art recording studios, a 12,400-square-foot soundstage, a rehearsal room, a performance area, common areas, and offices.
1986: Forays into directing with 'Under the Cherry Moon'
Prince made his directorial debut in 1986 with the musical dramedy "Under the Cherry Moon." The film, starring Prince himself, featured some of the artist's most celebrated songs, including "Sometimes It Snows in April" and "Kiss."
1989: 'Batman' soundtrack
By the late '80s, Prince was already one of the most influential and successful pop artists of all time. He was also alreadyin massive debt, according to Albert Magnoli, his manager at the time. When presented with the opportunity to produce the soundtrack to Tim Burton's "Batman," Magnoli convinced Prince it would make financial sense—and it did. The film grossed over $400 million at the box office.
1990: 'Purple Rain' gets a sequel
Prince wrote, directed, and starred in "Graffiti Bridge," the sequel to "Purple Rain." The musical drama featured appearances by funk musician George Clinton and R&B singer Tevin Campbell.
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1993: 'Billboards' ballet
Prince wrote the music for the Joffrey Ballet's "Billboards" in 1993. The show was a massive hit—and not just with the usual ballet crowd. According toThe Washington Post, the show opened "new veins of creativity … choreographically, precisely because Prince's music brings new orders of rhythm, sonority, sensuality, and psychology within reach of ballet's horizons." Because of Prince's musical contribution, the company, which was close to shutting down, got a second chance.
1993: Changing his name
In retaliation to his name and music being owned by Warner Bros., Prince changed his name to an unpronounceable glyph in 1993. He would perform with the word "slave" written on his face, another act of protest in his quest to free himself of his contract.
1996: Death of his infant son
Prince married backup singer and dancerMayte Garciain 1996. The couple had a son,Amiir Nelson, who died six days after birth due to a rare genetic disorder, Pfeiffer syndrome type 2. The couple tried to conceive again but suffered a miscarriage. In 1998, Prince announced a planned annulment of his marriage to Garcia via press conference.
1996: His music and arts philanthropy
Prince and former wife, Mayte Garcia, foundedLove 4 One Anotherin 1996 to encourage the presence of music in the lives of children. The organization still exists today, servicing, retaining, and reviving music and arts programs in schools.
1996: Unleashes 19th album, 'Emancipation'
In 1996, Prince released his 19th studio album, "Emancipation." The three-disc album is what Prince described as "what freedom sounds like," in an interview withUSA Today—symbolizing his freedom from Warner Bros. Records.
1997: Rare interview with Chris Rock
In 1997, comedian Chris Rock sat down for aninterviewwith Prince for MTV. Prince gave a rare intimate conversation on influences as well as personal and controversial topics, such as his androgynous style, his relationships with women, and even potential musical rivalries.
2001: Marries Manuela Testolini
Prince married Manuela Testolini in 2001. The couple lived inTorontountil theydivorcedin 2006. During his time in Toronto, Prince recorded his 2004 album "Musicology."
2001: Becoming Jehovah's Witness
Raised Seventh-day Adventist, Prince transitioned to the faith of Jehovah's Witness in 2001. In a 2008 interview with theNew Yorker, Prince said he didn't see his switch as a conversion but rather as a realization. Religious motifs would play out in his music.
2004: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
The musician wasinductedinto the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. Prince was introduced by Alicia Keys and Big Boi and André 3000 of OutKast. He performed fan favorites "Let's Go Crazy" and "Kiss."
2004: Performing with Beyonce
In 2004, Prince and Beyoncé opened up the 46th AnnualGrammy Awardsperforming a medley of hits. It was an unforgettable performance that sizzled with the duo's showmanship. Along the way, Prince showed Queen Bey a few chords on the piano, whichapparently inspireda renewed appreciation for piano. She soon showcased her skills in a rare video of her on the ivories performing "Die With You."
2007: Super Bowl XLI halftime show
Prince was the headliner for the 2007 Super Bowl XLIhalftime show. Despite a storm that rolled in that day, it's said that Prince put on one of the greatest halftime shows ever and garnered an estimated140 million viewers on television. He ended the performance with "Purple Rain."
2008: Publishes first book
Prince released hisfirst published book, "21 Nights," in 2008. A photo essay following Prince's sold-out 21 concerts in 21 nights at London's O2 Arena in 2007, it features photography by photographer Randee St. Nicholas alongside Prince's poetry and new lyrics.
2011: Library of Congress National Recording Registry induction
The multi-platinum soundtrack "Purple Rain" wasinductedinto the Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2011. The album delivered a sonically experimental mix of synth-pop, funk, and electronic guitar riffs—that would become a bedrock of Prince's iconic "Minneapolis Sound."
2016: Unexpected death
In 2016, Prince was foundunresponsivein the elevator of his Paisley Park home. The singer's death resulted from Prince ingesting what heprobably thought was Vicodin; it was actually a counterfeit painkiller laced with fentanyl. This led to his death at 57 years old. Prince's remains were cremated.
2022: 'Camille,' the unreleased album
An unreleased album, called "Camille," became the topic of conversation by Prince fans after his death. Camille, a feminine-presenting vocal style created by Prince with the help of some studio processing of his voice, turned out to be more than a rumor. In 2022, musician Jack White's record label, Third Man Records, confirmed they had the unreleased 1986 Prince album as well as permission to release it. As of this writing, no further release dates have been announced.
