Berry Gordy

Smokey Robinson

Aretha Franklin

Diana Ross

Isaac Hayes

Sam Phillips

Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff

Phil Spector

Curtis Mayfield

Dionne Warwick

Darlene Love

babyface

The O'Jays

James Brown

Sly Stone

Earth Wind and Fire

Gladys Knight

Don Cornelius

I guess the biggest influence was Prince then maybe

Björk

Marilyn Monroe

Toni Morrison

I don't know, I can't really think of others...

no one can come close to taking prince's place. he was and always will be unique. because i mostly grew up in minneapolis there is also that link between my life and his. so, no other artist will ever affect me quite the same way.

i'm a huge fan of artists who sing, dance, write and direct so my next big favorite guy in this category is obviously shah rukh khan, a bollywood master. he stars in one of my all-time favorite romance movies: Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

he's intelligent, artistic, a gifted athlete, and all around rennaissance man. watching him dance and sing in his movies sometimes reminds me of prince's performances at paisley park.

SRK is a fan of prince, btw:

Shah Rukh Khan pays tribute to Prince

Rachel Baker | TNN | Apr 22, 2016, 12.59 PM IST

Shah Rukh Khan pays tribute to Prince

01:13

. . .

Expressing his grief, Bollywood superstar, Shah Rukh Khan took to his Twitter account to pay tribute to the legendary pop icon. He tweeted, "Y do v scream at each other...this is wot it sounds like when doves cry. Memories entwined in his songs. RIP Purple 1 formerly known as Prince".

[Edited 6/24/16 14:47pm]

Life changing is a tall order. If I think of icons who were truly that affecting to my life, the list that immediately comes to mind is quite small...

Jesus of Nazareth

Prince

El Hajj Malik El Shabazz

James Baldwin

No one to his extent. Here is a list of those that at least made me rethink things.

Susan Boyle

Marilyn Manson

Joan Rivers

Lou Reed

Misty Copeland

And these are just people in recent history. People that challenge themselves, challenge what people think is possible and those that can handle being disliked and still perservere are my greatest influences.

Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Jackson family

Stevie Wonder

Marvin Gaye

Dr. King

Malcom X

Ali

James Brown

Dorothy Dandridge

Soren Kierkegaard
Malcolm X
Abraham Lincoln
Winston Churchill

And I mean that: these men caused a "turn" of sorts in my thinking which influenced my actions
and behaviors as I trek through this world/spacetime. Prince made me feel more comfortable with
the lavender streak* within which means he had a significant impact on my self-esteem.

*Some people assume that I'm gay due to a slight trace of femininity in my appearance, mannerisms,
and overall presentation.

Prince

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Malcolm X

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Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

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Sylvester Stallone (not necessarily his movies but how he believed in himself and never gave up).

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Robert Anton Wilson (helped me change the way I look at life, and to take things with humor).

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And an honorary mention to all those whose works have inspired me in one way or the other , cheered me up during tough times or shaped my personality when I was a kid :

DC Comics

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Marvel Comics

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Anais Nin, Henry Miller

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And old school Hip Hop....Whodini, KRS One, Full Force, Rakim, Melle Mel, Ice-T in his early days,

Bob Marley, Black Uhuru, Steel Pulse, Run DMC, Masta Ace

duccichucka said:

Soren Kierkegaard
Malcolm X
Abraham Lincoln
Winston Churchill

And I mean that: these men caused a "turn" of sorts in my thinking which influenced my actions
and behaviors as I trek through this world/spacetime. Prince made me feel more comfortable with
the lavender streak* within which means he had a significant impact on my self-esteem.

*Some people assume that I'm gay due to a slight trace of femininity in my appearance, mannerisms,
and overall presentation.

That´s an interesting list. Why Winston Churchill?

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vainandy said:

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I only recognize Rick James. Who are the others?

KoolEaze said:

vainandy said:

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..

I only recognize Rick James. Who are the others?

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.Nell Carter, Vicki Lawrence (in her Thelma Harper costume from "Mama's Family"), and LaWanda Page. Three bold shit talkin' ladies.

vainandy said:

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I wasn't going to post anything, but I saw your name and you have been on my mind for some reason, love.....

babynoz said:

vainandy said:

I wasn't going to post anything, but I saw your name and you have been on my mind for some reason, love.....

.

Well, I hope they were dirty thoughts.

vainandy said:

babynoz said:

I wasn't going to post anything, but I saw your name and you have been on my mind for some reason, love.....

.

Well, I hope they were dirty thoughts.

LMAO! I ain't gonna lie my love....if you was into us ladies I woulda been all up in your koolaid wit'cha tall, fine azz.

How U doin??

KoolEaze said:

duccichucka said:

Soren Kierkegaard
Malcolm X
Abraham Lincoln
Winston Churchill

And I mean that: these men caused a "turn" of sorts in my thinking which influenced my actions
and behaviors as I trek through this world/spacetime. Prince made me feel more comfortable with
the lavender streak* within which means he had a significant impact on my self-esteem.

*Some people assume that I'm gay due to a slight trace of femininity in my appearance, mannerisms,
and overall presentation.

That´s an interesting list. Why Winston Churchill?

Thank you.

He was a fellow depressive and being a wordsmith, I appreciate how he used words in order
to inspire England during WWII. He lived a colorful life (he was a prisoner of war and escaped;
he made two large political blunders as a statesman and rebounded; he was a painter) and
living a colorful life was/is all that I wanted to do as a teenager.