Nobody mentioned Marvin Gaye, i see some resemblance there maybe...

Little Richard all the way

Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Joni Mitchell

thechronic said:

Loneliness, Sadness, Hunger, Thunder, Lightning, Sex, Women, Clouds, Bicycles, Rain and Snow...

slim whittman and lawerence welch dont 4get hank williams.

Without a doubt, Sly.

No one. He used to say that himself.

I saw a commentary on Jimi Hendrix. Prince so reminds me of him...Especially the guitar faces, and the early career attitude..

Basically the Guy has Been Influenced by quite a few folks.JB for Structure&Musical Conservative Vibe,P-Funk with certain Vibes,Little Richard,Elvis,Michael Jackson,Marvin Gaye,Stevie Wonder,Miles Davis,SLy&The Family Stone,Bootsy,Tower Of Power,Earth,Wind&Fire,Bee Gees,Smokey Robinson,Motown,Rap,Jimi Hendrix,Bob Dylan,Beatles,Rolling Stones,Quincy Jones,Curtis Mayfield,Billie Holiday,Aretha Franklin,Diana Ross,Philly International Sound,New Jack Swing,Jam&Lewis,Davis Bowies,Chaka Khan,Minnie Riperton,Kraftwork,Country,Steely Dan,Al Green,Jackie Wilson,Kid Creole,Santana,there are alot of things in the Paisley Stew.

mistermaxxx said:

wow that's a lot of people but i think it's probably just

Jimi Hendrix (The guitar solo in Batdance)
Sly and The Family Stone (Make U're Mama Happy)
Joni Mitchell (Sometimes It Snows In April)
Santana (solo in Question Of You)
James Brown (Pretty Man/The Work pt1)
Miels Davis (check the horns on Billy Jack Bitch)
then there are the casual influences: Bowie, Rufus, The Beatles, blah, blah...

Prince's biggest influence: His Dick.

admit it

milty said:

Hendrix He tried on"Bambi".Sly&The Family Stone"Baby I'm a Star',agree with you on the Joni Mitchell song pick,Santana"Take Me With U" for a Strange Reason.JB it has too do with His Conservative Overview when doing the Funk."Let's Work","Head"etc..also the way Prince's bands would stop on Point.very Conservative take on Grooves.that is a Strong JB Influence there.Miles:"the Horn Live on"Slow Love"Sexual Suicide"&"Power Fantastic".as far as the Horns on "Billy Jack Bitch" I Heard more of a Rick James Stone City Band Meets Tower Of Power Horn Vibe there IMHO.all those Influences are there on Prince but overall Sly,P-Funk,Motown,James Brown,Jimi,MJ,Bootsy are the Main Ones.Little Richard&Hendrix I sense Music but more Attitude from them More overall.Peace

The Mirror.

milty said:

If you really listen hard and know your shit then you will find major influences from:

[*]Graham Central Station
[*]Sly Stone
[*]James Brown
[*]The Ohio Players (Sugarfoot's guitarplaying and especially his falsetto singing are an indication that Prince has listened to them A LOT
[*]Marvin Gaye
[*]Joni Mitchell
[*]Miles Davis
and finally, not musically, but in appearance:
[*]Charlie Chaplin

soulpower said:

but you forgot Berry Gordy&The Motown Empire&The 60's British Acts.Tower Of Power as well.the Miles Stuff mainly after Eric Leeds Hipped Prince Too Him.not until Sign O The Times&LoveSexy do I Pick that Vibe up.Prince didn't allow Gaps&spacing in His work like Miles.P-Funk with the Bass Synths&whatnot is in His Sound.there are alot of People.

John L. Nelson?

jonisinging said:

LOL! Speaking of Stevie Wonder he's no king of rap, either. He even admits as much on "Do I Do."

I see the Sly & the Family Stone influence in the make-up of Prince's band's over the years: Blacks & whites, males & females.

I love SFS. Too me, their music is socially aware, it's about inclusion, it's funky, and it's fun. It just seems to embody the hippy, peace and love spirit of the 60's.

A lot of people, but mostly Hendrix.

So many musicians have influenced Prince's Sound. Biggest? I'd say Miles Davis,Santana,Sly And The Family Stone, Mick Jagger,Beatles.

soulpower said:

That's not "A Night In Tunisia". It's "Well, You Needn't" by Thelonius Monk.

-SWANG'sanitpicker

Before Prince there was nothing much apart from Elvis Costello! Prince one off original talent! No real influence!

In 80s we have Prince Kylie and Adam Ant who move music on!

Now we have Justin taking into a funky future!

When he's not being Joni he's being Sly when he's not being Santana he's Jimi when he's not being god he's a preacher.

http://www.terrydobbin.com

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