All the Prince memorial p...st obvious

If there was one trait that most Prince shows shared — aside from musical brilliance — it was unpredictability. After the initial shock of the Xcel Energy Center tribute show line-up wore off, then, it felt almost natural to see a few puzzling names. Some recoiled at John Mayer, and Christina Aguilera’s pick mystified most. The general audience’s biggest concern: “Who is Luke James?”

However, after a look into each of the memorial performers, the connections between each one and Prince (or at least his legacy) become more and more apparent. That’s not to say that each artist was one of Prince’s close associates or peers. But it’s certainly enough to predict that his memorial will be a heartwarming, high-quality show.

To help you get ready for October 13, here’s a ranking of all the show’s booked artists, from most obvious Prince memorial choice to least obvious. As the New Power Generation (led by Morris Hayes) and members of 3RDEYEGIRL will back all of the featured artists, they’re in a category of their own, but it’s worth noting that fans have widely welcomed them.

13. Morris Day and the Time

Morris Day and the Time re-posted the Local Current blog’s “First details emerge a...Stadium” the day after it went up (the band’s post has since been deleted), so their performance seemed like a given for some time. Prince’s Purple Rainco-stars played Paisley Park on January 29 this year, and their June 30 Minnesota Zoo set served as a nice tribute. Day and the Time will also be heading out on the road with Sheila E. this fall.

12. Mint Condition

Dr. Funkenberry had the scoop on this one a couple of weeks before the official announce. St. Paul R&B band Mint Condition toured with Prince on his Welcome 2 America tour in 2010, and according to Ebony, they were one of Prince’s favorite bands. Lawrence Waddell and Stokley Williams (Mint Condition’s keyboardist and vocalist/drummer, respectively) filmed a touching interview just after Prince’s death.

11. Judith Hill

Judith Hill could be considered the most visible of Prince’s protegées in recent years, at least around the Twin Cities. Along with Prince and Live Nation, she released her debut album Back In Time for free in March 2015, and after it went off the web, it saw an official release (andPaisley Park celebration show) the following October. Hill was incredibly close with Prince both personally and professionally, as she shared with the New York Times days after his death. Shortly, she’ll have to step back into the spotlight and perform at the Xcel.

10. Liv Warfield

Liv Warfield sent the New Power Generation an audition tape in the late 2000s, and Prince saw it, he asked her to sing on Lotusflow3r(2009). From there, Prince and Warfield worked together on several projects, including Warfield’s 2014 album The Unexpected. “Prince is my brother,” she told Willamette Week in June.

9. Stevie Wonder

He’s a legendary artist — one of Prince’s idols, in fact — and he was recently spotted at Minneapolis’s Jax Cafe. Subsequent rumors hinted he’d show up at the First Avenue Revolution shows, but instead, he’s on the Xcel bill.

8. Bilal

Singer/songwriter/producer Bilal first paid tribute to Prince at the BET Awards in June, and at First Avenue a few months later, he performed with the Revolution for two nights. Now that he’s on the Xcel memorial bill, it’s time to get your hopes up for his show-stealing cover of “The Beautiful Ones”: Prince’s legacy at its finest.

7. Chaka Khan

The majestic Chaka Khan, who’s also known for her work in the funk band Rufus, is perfect for Prince’s memorial. Khan re-recorded “I Feel For You,” a song from Prince’s 1979 debut album, in 1984, and the popularity spike helped earn Prince the Best R&B Song Grammy the following year. Through time, Khan and Prince toured with each other and co-wrote many songs — especially on Khan’s album Come 2 My House).

6. Anita Baker

Another entry, another legend. “He taught me so much and asked nothing in return,” Baker said about Prince. The funk veteran will be a fitting performer at the Xcel.

5. Tori Kelly

One more of Prince’s protegées: American Idol/YouTube star/BET tribute performer Tori Kelly may be known as a pop artist, but she feels rooted in soul. “Soul is what makes me me,” she told Billboard, and Prince must have been able... Read More

It's cool that the New Power Generation and Third Eye Girl will be the back up bands for all of the performers.

Latin said:

It's cool that the New Power Generation and Third Eye Girl will be the back up bands for all of the performers.

Both are POWERHOUSES. Has there been any mention of the event being televised, streamed, or offered as a pay-per-view?

This is an awesome line up of performers!

There was a similar article published in the Star Tribune today, but this one is much more informative.