Prince
USA, 1976–2016
Minneapolis musician (1958-2016) who wrote, produced and played most parts on his records, combining funk rhythm, rock guitar and detailed studio arrangement on Purple Rain and Sign o' the Times.
MusicRoots documents 6 artists who influenced Prince and 19 artists Prince influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Prince?
- James Brown — James Brown's funk was Prince's foundation — the rhythmic drive and showmanship at the core of his Minneapolis sound.
- Sly and the Family Stone — Sly and the Family Stone's psychedelic funk-rock fusion — integrated band, genre-blur — was a direct model for Prince.
- Stevie Wonder — Stevie Wonder's one-man multi-instrumental mastery was the template for Prince playing everything himself.
- Jimi Hendrix — Hendrix's psychedelic-soul guitar was an obvious touchstone — though Prince insisted his own playing owed more to Santana.
- Santana — Prince named Santana his truer guitar model — 'if they really listened, they'd hear more of a Santana influence than Jimi Hendrix'.
- Parliament-Funkadelic — George Clinton's P-Funk shaped Prince's grooves — and later his post-Revolution touring-band lineups.
Which artists did Prince influence?
- Maroon 5 — Prince's funk-pop and falsetto are a template for Maroon 5's groove-driven singles; the band name him among their influences.
- Justin Timberlake — Prince's funk-pop is a clear template for Timberlake's solo work; 'SexyBack' was described as a synthesized groove in the vein of Prince.
- Usher — Prince's showmanship and sexualised funk-soul are among the templates Usher has named for his own performing persona.
- Bruno Mars — Prince's funk and falsetto pop are a core influence on Mars's sound, from 'Treasure' to 24K Magic.
- The Weeknd — Prince's genre-blurring pop-funk and falsetto are another key influence on the Weeknd's sound.
- Beyoncé — Prince's genre-fusing showmanship and control of his own artistry were a model for Beyoncé's later auteur turn.
- Teddy Riley — Prince's fusion of funk, pop and machine rhythm is another of the models Riley names behind new jack swing.
- Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis — Both came out of the Time, Prince's own group, and credit him with shaping the production style they then took everywhere else.
- D'Angelo — Prince is the other line D'Angelo continued: one man playing every instrument, funk written as private music.
- Timbaland — Prince is among the artists Timbaland names from his childhood listening, and the model for a producer who treats every sound on a record as his own instrument.
- OutKast — Prince's genre-melting funk, sensuality and studio auteurism are a clear model for OutKast — especially André 3000's The Love Below.
- Basement Jaxx — Prince's genre-melting funk-pop is a clear influence on Basement Jaxx's colourful, eclectic productions.
- Phoenix — Prince's slick funk-pop and studio craft are a stated touchstone for Phoenix's sleek, danceable guitar pop.
- Hot Chip — Prince's funk-pop is a core influence on Hot Chip's blend of tender songwriting and electronic dance.
- The 1975 — Prince's genre-melting funk-pop and studio auteurism are part of the palette behind the 1975's eclectic pop.
- Candy Dulfer — Prince brought Dulfer to wide attention (her sax in the 'Partyman' video and on Graffiti Bridge) and mentored her; his funk-pop fusion deeply shaped her music.
- CeeLo Green — Prince's genre-crossing funk-soul eclecticism and flamboyance are a clear influence on CeeLo's adventurous, style-hopping approach.
- Mika — Named with Nilsson, Elton John and Michael Jackson as the songwriters Mika was always drawn back to.
- Finnebassen — Named by Finnebassen among the non-dance music he draws on — the funk in the basslines his deep house is built around.