Meta description: Prince biography covers his 1958 birth in Minneapolis, 39 albums, 7 Grammy Awards, Purple Rain, and his 2016 death at age 57, with sourced facts.
Prince Rogers Nelson was an American singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, record producer, and actor, born on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis. He released 39 albums over a career of nearly four decades. He won 7 Grammy Awards. He died on April 21, 2016, at age 57.
Who was Prince?
Prince was an American musician born Prince Rogers Nelson, known for pioneering the Minneapolis sound. He produced his own albums. His best-known work is the 1984 album Purple Rain, the soundtrack to a semi-autobiographical film of the same name. Other recognized works include Dirty Mind, Controversy, and 1999.
What are the key facts about Prince?
Table 1 lists the core facts about Prince. Each row is one attribute. The columns show the attribute name and the recorded value.
| Attribute | Recorded Value |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Prince Rogers Nelson |
| Date of birth | June 7, 1958 |
| Birthplace | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Date of death | April 21, 2016 |
| Place of death | Chanhassen, Minnesota |
| Age at death | 57 years |
| Years active | 1975 to 2016 |
| Albums released | 39 |
| Chart-topping singles | 5 |
| Grammy Award wins | 7 |
When and where was Prince born?
Prince was born on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was raised in Minneapolis.
Who were Prince’s parents?
Prince’s mother was the jazz singer Mattie Della Shaw, and his father was the pianist and songwriter John Lewis Nelson. His siblings include his sister Tyka Nelson and his half-sister Sharon Nelson.
Why was he named Prince?
Prince was named after his father’s stage name, Prince Rogers, which his father used in a jazz group called the Prince Rogers Trio.
Where did Prince attend school?
Prince attended Bryant Junior High and Central High School in Minneapolis. He also studied dance through the Minnesota Dance Theatre.
How did Prince start his music career?
Prince began writing songs at age 7 and started his professional music career in 1975. His first song was “Funk Machine.” The career timeline has 8 stages:
- 1958: Was born in Minneapolis.
- Age 7: Wrote the song “Funk Machine.”
- 1975: Began his music career.
- 1979: Released the platinum debut album Prince.
- 1984: Released Purple Rain.
- 1993: Changed his stage name to a symbol.
- 2004: Was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- 2016: Died at Paisley Park.
Sources: Prince Day biography, Wikipedia mirror, and a Rolling Stone-based profile.
Which albums made Prince famous?
Prince became famous through 5 albums released between 1979 and 1984. These albums blended funk, dance, and rock music.
Table 2 lists the 5 breakthrough albums. Each row is one album. The columns show the release year, the album title, and the recorded result.
| Year | Album | Recorded Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Prince | Went platinum |
| 1980 | Dirty Mind | Gained critical success |
| 1981 | Controversy | Gained critical success |
| 1982 | 1999 | Gained critical success |
| 1984 | Purple Rain | Earned his first Grammy Award and produced “When Doves Cry” |
What is the Minneapolis sound?
The Minneapolis sound is a funk rock subgenre that draws from synth-pop and new wave. Prince pioneered it in the late 1970s. The style combined elements of funk, rock, pop, R&B, and new wave.
What awards did Prince win?
Prince won 7 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. He received 38 Grammy nominations in total.
Table 3 lists selected honors. Each row is one honor. The columns show the year, the organization, and the recognition.
| Year | Organization | Recognition |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Grammy Awards | 2 wins for Purple Rain |
| 1986 | Recording Academy | President’s Merit Award |
| 2004 | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | Inducted |
| 2006 | UK Music Hall of Fame | Inducted |
| 2016 | Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame | Inducted |
| 2017 | Grammy Hall of Fame | Sign O’ the Times inducted |
| 2024 | Songwriters Hall of Fame | Inducted |
Rolling Stone ranked Prince at number 27 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists.
How many songs did Prince write?
Estimates of Prince’s total songs range from 500 to more than 1,000. Other artists made some of his songs popular, including “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinéad O’Connor and “Manic Monday” by the Bangles.
When did Prince change his name?
Prince changed his stage name to an unpronounceable symbol in 1993. The symbol replaced his given stage name. He was also known as The Artist.
When and how did Prince die?
Prince died on April 21, 2016, at age 57, from an accidental fentanyl overdose. He was found unresponsive at his Paisley Park home and recording complex in Chanhassen, Minnesota. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office released its report on June 2, 2016. Minneapolis held a multi-day celebration of Prince from June 3 to 7, 2026, 10 years after his death.
People Also Ask
Who was Prince?
Prince was an American singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, record producer, and actor.
When was Prince born?
Prince was born on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
What was Prince’s real name?
Prince’s real name was Prince Rogers Nelson.
How old was Prince when he died?
Prince was 57 years old when he died on April 21, 2016.
What is Prince’s best-known album?
Prince’s best-known album is Purple Rain, released in 1984.
How many Grammy Awards did Prince win?
Prince won 7 Grammy Awards.
What is the summary of the Prince biography?
The Prince biography records a Minneapolis-born musician, born Prince Rogers Nelson, who released 39 albums between 1975 and 2016. The biography has 6 core facts:
- Birth: June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis
- Parents: Mattie Della Shaw and John Lewis Nelson
- Breakthrough: Purple Rain in 1984
- Style: the Minneapolis sound
- Honors: 7 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award
- Death: April 21, 2016, in Chanhassen, Minnesota