I actually knew and loved Tony Toni Toné long before I knew Saadiq was in Sheila's band. Is he even in the Romance 1600 Live video? Guess so, never noticed at the time and I don't have it anymore (thanks to people not caring to share a digital copy online . Where's my VCR?).

But in the end, we usually say that Jam & Lewis are the only REALLY succesful ex-protégés, but here's one more. Saadiq is a star in his own right, and a millionaire as well.

This has been shared here before but here we go:

"His obsession and aptitude for music put him in the right place at the right time shortly after his 18th birthday in 1984. He was hanging out in an Oakland studio when a call came in announcing an audition was being held the following day in San Francisco, with places in the touring band for Prince protegee Sheila E up for grabs. While others were decked out in Prince-inspired clothes, working on their dance moves in the queue, Wiggins, in baseball cap and jeans, quietly went about his business. Unimpressed with Sheila's sister, who he felt had too much attitude, he gave a spur-of-the-moment false name; and rather than lose face when Sheila told him he'd got the job, he had to quickly learn to answer to the name Raphael.

"Next thing I was in Tokyo, in a stadium, singin' Erotic City," he marvels. "We were in huge venues with the biggest sound systems in the world; all these roadies throwin' me basses, and a bunch of models hangin' round Prince to party. For almost two years. That was my university."

With Prince's band, the Revolution, "on the outs,", the teenage newcomer often found himself playing bass with the headliner at after-gig club shows. "I think he liked my feel, otherwise he wouldn't have invited me to play," Saadiq reasons. "He introduced us to some nice girls, too. He was really cool about that: he'd always walk up to you and say, 'There enough girls here for you tonight?' Yes, sir!"

http://www.guardian.co.uk...-interview

[Edited 2/6/12 10:08am]

I heard Robert Johnson, Smokey Robinson and Jelly Roll Morton are also Prince associated artists.

Blaqueknight I know of your habit to smoke people in the "Associated" forum but I don't see your point here, sorry. Go home and sleep!

What I'm saying is that Saadiq is, by definition, an ex Prince associated artist, and that this is never acknowledged. If we were to make a list of ex-protégés/associates/musicians' albums, no one would think to add TTT or Saadiq's albums. Sure his main career was after, but the same can be said about Jam & Lewis and still we'd count them in the mix.

databank said:

Blaqueknight I know of your habit to smoke people in the "Associated" forum but I don't see your point here, sorry. Go home and sleep!

What I'm saying is that Saadiq is, by definition, an ex Prince associated artist, and that this is never acknowledged. If we were to make a list of ex-protégés/associates/musicians' albums, no one would think to add TTT or Saadiq's albums. Sure his main career was after, but the same can be said about Jam & Lewis and still we'd count them in the mix.

Not really. He would be a Sheila E. protege. Clearly he was not a front man on any group Prince put together. I met him on tourwith Sheila opening for Lionel Ritchie and just saw him with Levi in the band. So he was tehre for a minute, but he's more of a sphere of influence than associated.

Zannaloaf said:

databank said:

Blaqueknight I know of your habit to smoke people in the "Associated" forum but I don't see your point here, sorry. Go home and sleep!

What I'm saying is that Saadiq is, by definition, an ex Prince associated artist, and that this is never acknowledged. If we were to make a list of ex-protégés/associates/musicians' albums, no one would think to add TTT or Saadiq's albums. Sure his main career was after, but the same can be said about Jam & Lewis and still we'd count them in the mix.

Not really. He would be a Sheila E. protege. Clearly he was not a front man on any group Prince put together. I met him on tourwith Sheila opening for Lionel Ritchie and just saw him with Levi in the band. So he was there for a minute, but he's more of a sphere of influence than associated.

I see your point, as it's likely that Sheila chose him for her band without Prince having a word about it (though he reportedly supervised some rehearsals). But in the end he toured with them all, and played Prince's songs in a Prince influenced band. I'm not saying Prince "made" him, just that he was there, part of this whole process, and that it had to have some kind of an influence on the astonishing musician he became next.

I remember him clwowning Sheila in a way when he was on Video Soul and he was riding high with TT's first release. Because at that time, Sheila was not registering on the charts anymore. He sort of insinuated that he was second tier musician to Sheila's camp and was no ona 'how ya like me now" steelo.

rdhull said:

I remember him clwowning Sheila in a way when he was on Video Soul and he was riding high with TT's first release. Because at that time, Sheila was not registering on the charts anymore. He sort of insinuated that he was second tier musician to Sheila's camp and was no ona 'how ya like me now" steelo.

I would say that Saadiq is a part of the Prince "tree". Because he wasn't "put on" by Prince as say the Time, The Family and others were he doesn't usually get the protege' nod. No he is not on the "Romance 1600" video. He was in Sheila's band when she opened for the "Parade" tour. So any boots of Shelia during that period would have him playing. Given his age i would say he was fan prior to getting the Shelia E gig.

I agree outside of Jam& Lewis...Saadiq is probably the next most successful to come from the "tree" or the "camp". I remember for his "Ray Ray" tour Alan Leeds was his tour manager/manager. I've remember an interview in Bass Player mag where Saadiq had nothing but praise for the Purple Yoda and what he learned jamming with him. I'm sure without a doubt that Prince probably has a great level of respect for Saadiq..being successful w/TTT and on his own...especially his work w/ D'angelo (a devoted Prince fan).

No one really asks Prince about his talented musical ex-associates so we'll just have to speculate.

Well, he's at the very least associated

Now let's all untie those panties, they got bunched up real quick!

The reason Saddiq isn't "perceived" as an ex-PRINCE protegeé is because

a protegeé is (dictionary quote) "a person who receives support and protection from an influential patron who furthers the protege's career"

Prince DID NOT support TTT's career. Hence, he is NOT a protegee. He's about as much of an associated artist as Juan Escovedo is. Actually, even less so.

There is a connection but not to the extent that warrants much examination.

BlaqueKnight said:

The reason Saddiq isn't "perceived" as an ex-PRINCE protegeé is because

a protegeé is (dictionary quote) "a person who receives support and protection from an influential patron who furthers the protege's career"

Prince DID NOT support TTT's career. Hence, he is NOT a protegee. He's about as much of an associated artist as Juan Escovedo is. Actually, even less so.

There is a connection but not to the extent that warrants much examination.

According to the "Six Degrees of Seperation" theory, everybody is a Prince protegee (-:

jazzz said:

BlaqueKnight said:

The reason Saddiq isn't "perceived" as an ex-PRINCE protegeé is because

a protegeé is (dictionary quote) "a person who receives support and protection from an influential patron who furthers the protege's career"

Prince DID NOT support TTT's career. Hence, he is NOT a protegee. He's about as much of an associated artist as Juan Escovedo is. Actually, even less so.

There is a connection but not to the extent that warrants much examination.

According to the "Six Degrees of Seperation" theory, everybody is a Prince protegee (-:

jazzz said:

BlaqueKnight said:

The reason Saddiq isn't "perceived" as an ex-PRINCE protegeé is because

a protegeé is (dictionary quote) "a person who receives support and protection from an influential patron who furthers the protege's career"

Prince DID NOT support TTT's career. Hence, he is NOT a protegee. He's about as much of an associated artist as Juan Escovedo is. Actually, even less so.

There is a connection but not to the extent that warrants much examination.

According to the "Six Degrees of Seperation" theory, everybody is a Prince protegee (-:

Without Prince Edison would have spent his life selling vegetables

He isn't one really.

databank said:

"...Next thing I was in Tokyo, in a stadium, singin' Erotic City," he marvels. "We were in huge venues with the biggest sound systems in the world; all these roadies throwin' me basses, and a bunch of models hangin' round Prince to party. For almost two years. That was my university."

With Prince's band, the Revolution, "on the outs,", the teenage newcomer often found himself playing bass with the headliner at after-gig club shows. "I think he liked my feel, otherwise he wouldn't have invited me to play," Saadiq reasons. "He introduced us to some nice girls, too. He was really cool about that: he'd always walk up to you and say, 'There enough girls here for you tonight?' Yes, sir!"

http://www.guardian.co.uk...-interview

[Edited 2/6/12 10:08am]

Sounds like a nice association/ affiliation to me. Was Jimi a 'protege' of Little Richard because he played with him? Because he got paid directly or indirectly from Richard's fame? Did Prince teach Jesse everything he knows? lol

Whatever... He clearly learned a great deal from the experience, and who knows what that was exactly? If being acknowledged by and playing aftershows with Prince gave Saadiq a little extra swag to go forth and do his thing, it doesn't matter what you label it. Saadiq's words and reflections tell me all I need to know.

I know one thing he has the ego of being in that circle.

[Edited 2/8/12 11:17am]

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

I know one thing he has the ego of being in that circle. He is one big As-h-l-

Do tell. I met the guy several times. Once standing oputside next to his bus with Lucy Pearl - totally nice. I got to hang with my son backstage at his show when I recognized and chatted with Levi. Raphael was walking through - not only did he say hi, he rembered who I was from talking with hom years before (he brought it up not me) and shook my kids hand. So he is an asshole how?

Zannaloaf said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

I know one thing he has the ego of being in that circle. He is one big As-h-l-

Do tell. I met the guy several times. Once standing oputside next to his bus with Lucy Pearl - totally nice. I got to hang with my son backstage at his show when I recognized and chatted with Levi. Raphael was walking through - not only did he say hi, he rembered who I was from talking with hom years before (he brought it up not me) and shook my kids hand. So he is an asshole how?

maybe KC means that As-h-l- stands for Angels halo?

rdhull said:

Zannaloaf said:

Do tell. I met the guy several times. Once standing oputside next to his bus with Lucy Pearl - totally nice. I got to hang with my son backstage at his show when I recognized and chatted with Levi. Raphael was walking through - not only did he say hi, he rembered who I was from talking with hom years before (he brought it up not me) and shook my kids hand. So he is an asshole how?

maybe KC means that As-h-l- stands for Angels halo?

Also if the circle has big egos an are a-holes what does that make the center ?

Zannaloaf said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

I know one thing he has the ego of being in that circle. He is one big As-h-l-

Do tell. I met the guy several times. Once standing oputside next to his bus with Lucy Pearl - totally nice. I got to hang with my son backstage at his show when I recognized and chatted with Levi. Raphael was walking through - not only did he say hi, he rembered who I was from talking with hom years before (he brought it up not me) and shook my kids hand. So he is an asshole how?

He has two sides to him. I guess U met the one I don't know or ever seen........

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Zannaloaf said:

Do tell. I met the guy several times. Once standing oputside next to his bus with Lucy Pearl - totally nice. I got to hang with my son backstage at his show when I recognized and chatted with Levi. Raphael was walking through - not only did he say hi, he rembered who I was from talking with hom years before (he brought it up not me) and shook my kids hand. So he is an asshole how?

He has two sides to him. I guess U met the one I don't know or ever seen........

So what was your experience with him?

I made a decision not to talk about what happen anymore. Since he has reacted to what i said negatively about him in another blog. But I will say this . I will not attend another concert of his or buy any of his records even if he reunited with TTT which as he put it "Its not gon happen"...

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

I made a decision not to talk about what happen anymore. Since he has reacted to what i said negatively about him in another blog. But I will say this . I will not attend another concert of his or buy any of his records even if he reunited with TTT which as he put it "Its not gon happen"...

Why do you care what he thinks if he dogged you? He bothered to read what you said? Wow - you have got a lot of pull apparently.

Prince was gonna sign Tony!Tone!Toni! to Paisley Park Records,but according to them,"he kept frontin".On their 1988 single "Born Not To Know",they sing "things are gettin' crazy...I ain't wearin' Paisley",a clear reference to what went down with Prince.

Let's be honest.If they had signed with Paisley,they would have released one album and faded away,just like Good Question,Mazarati and the others.

SoulAlive said:

Prince was gonna sign Tony!Tone!Toni! to Paisley Park Records,but according to them,"he kept frontin".On their 1988 single "Born Not To Know",they sing "[i]things are gettin' crazy...I ain't wearin' Paisley"[/i],a clear reference to what went down with Prince.

Are there two versions to this song? In the lyric searches the line is "Things are getting crazy, I ain't getting lazy".

Prince doesnt recongnize the name saadiq coz back then he went by another name

This whole thread is grasping at straws.

SoulAlive said:

Prince was gonna sign Tony!Tone!Toni! to Paisley Park Records,but according to them,"he kept frontin".On their 1988 single "Born Not To Know",they sing "things are gettin' crazy...I ain't wearin' Paisley",a clear reference to what went down with Prince.

Let's be honest.If they had signed with Paisley,they would have released one album and faded away,just like Good Question,Mazarati and the others.

I did see TTT on stage with Prince during the lovesexy tour at the Hampton Coliseum in VA

BlaqueKnight said:

This whole thread is grasping at straws.

ya think?