.

[Edited 2/13/12 10:30am]

databank said:

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]

yeah so funny it makes you wonder why Chris Rock hasn't written a skit about it...

V10LETBLUES said:

A little Photoshop can fix anything.

That is him behind closed doors....

databank said:

we usually say that Jam & Lewis are the only REALLY succesful ex-protégés

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

no WE don't.

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.

good memory. I do remember reading something like this back in the day.

Interesting feedback, thanks. I guess I should have used "associated artist" instead of "protégé", as it woulda been more accurate.

I had no idea about TTT and Paisley Park. Cool info

Zannaloaf said:

databank said:

we usually say that Jam & Lewis are the only REALLY succesful ex-protégés

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

no WE don't.

My point is that they're the only ones who achieved a commercial success that can be compared to Prince's. So did Saadiq.