Billy Sparks from Purple Rain and long time employee talks to Tom Joyner about Prince.

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If you listen to the interview he does say that Prince had surgery but it was not for his hips and he said he could not say what the surgery was for.

http://blackamericaweb.com/2016/06/07/long-time-friend-billy-sparks-remembers-prince-he-was-king/

laurarichardson said:

Billy Sparks from Purple Rain and long time employee talks to Tom Joyner about Prince.

---

If you listen to the interview he does say that Prince had surgery but it was not for his hips and he said he could not say what the surgery was for.

http://blackamericaweb.com/2016/06/07/long-time-friend-billy-sparks-remembers-prince-he-was-king/

laurarichardson said:

If you listen to the interview he does say that Prince had surgery but it was not for his hips and he said he could not say what the surgery was for.

?

Thank you for the link.

However, if you listen to the interview, he clearly says that Prince had hip surgery, but not a hip replacement.

At no point does he say that the surgery "was not for his hips", and at no point does he say that "he could not say what the surgery was for".

Tom has it wrong about UTCM. Graffiti Bridge was the worst movie ever made.

Billy has Prince's tone down very, very well.

Also, hahaha Prince, you goofball, research was not your strong suit. lol

CROWNS1 said:

Tom has it wrong about UTCM. Graffiti Bridge was the worst movie ever made.

Unfortunately, yes. I re-saw it last week and told my husband "after you make a movie like that, you need to change your name to a symbol".

langebleu said:

langebleu said:

laurarichardson said:

If you listen to the interview he does say that Prince had surgery but it was not for his hips and he said he could not say what the surgery was for.

?

Thank you for the link.

However, if you listen to the interview, he clearly says that Prince had hip surgery, but not a hip replacement.

At no point does he say that the surgery "was not for his hips", and at no point does he say that "he could not say what the surgery was for".

If I get to the end of this interview and I don't hear the line "This is a Bidness motherfucker" I'm going to be very annoyed.

Noodled24 said:

langebleu said:

?

Thank you for the link.

However, if you listen to the interview, he clearly says that Prince had hip surgery, but not a hip replacement.

At no point does he say that the surgery "was not for his hips", and at no point does he say that "he could not say what the surgery was for".

If I get to the end of this interview and I don't hear the line "This is a Bidness motherfucker" I'm going to be very annoyed.

You ain't too far gone to see that!

laurarichardson said:

endiadj said:

endiadj said:

hardly the worse movies ever. the musical performances are all good and while the acting wasn't great i did laugh out loud at fun moments in utcm.

I actually think UTCM is a good movie. Graffiti Bridge, that could be one of the worst movies ever.

Noodled24 said:

langebleu said:

?

Thank you for the link.

However, if you listen to the interview, he clearly says that Prince had hip surgery, but not a hip replacement.

At no point does he say that the surgery "was not for his hips", and at no point does he say that "he could not say what the surgery was for".

If I get to the end of this interview and I don't hear the line "This is a Bidness motherfucker" I'm going to be very annoyed.

"Lay off that....."

endiadj said:

hardly the worse movies ever. the musical performances are all good and while the acting wasn't great i did laugh out loud at fun moments in utcm.

I was actually disappointed in the muisical performances. They lacked his true live energy. Elephants and Flowers looked like a bad music video and Thieves actaully was just a music video.

Oh, so he definitely had a "hip surgery" but not "replacement." What does that mean? I've heard about hip replacements and know someone who's had it, but what does just a "surgery" do?

There are a couple of alternative or corrective hip procedures that can be done besides a total replacement. Maybe now people will quit accusing JWs.

Leave it to Tom to know who to talk to about Prince. I suspect that Billy told him a whole lot more than we heard on air though.

babynoz said:

I feel a lot better after hearing what Billy has to say at the end about getting someone in there who knows what's up.

khelm9 said:

laurarichardson said:

Billy Sparks from Purple Rain and long time employee talks to Tom Joyner about Prince.

---

If you listen to the interview he does say that Prince had surgery but it was not for his hips and he said he could not say what the surgery was for.

http://blackamericaweb.com/2016/06/07/long-time-friend-billy-sparks-remembers-prince-he-was-king/

Thanks for posting; it made me smile.

This is a good interview of friends sharing memories. Billy mentions Prince didn't have a hip replacement, but something else done to his hips. Tom had a hip replacement and said the pain was manageable for him (pain tolerance is different for people and that's what makes it tough to manage.)

But towards the end they talked about the unheard material and Billy said he couldn't say "who" but that an attorney was hired to manage it and it was a person they both respected (he and Tom). Billy said everything would be taken care of well. No worries.

The fun part was when they talked about Tom and Prince and the radio. Billy tried to explain to Prince how the radio had changed and Prince kept on his line until Billy asked him if he listened to radio at all?

It was a good interview.

deerpath said:

This is a good interview of friends sharing memories. Billy mentions Prince didn't have a hip replacement, but something else done to his hips. Tom had a hip replacement and said the pain was manageable for him (pain tolerance is different for people and that's what makes it tough to manage.)

But towards the end they talked about the unheard material and Billy said he couldn't say "who" but that an attorney was hired to manage it and it was a person they both respected (he and Tom). Billy said everything would be taken care of well. No worries.

The fun part was when they talked about Tom and Prince and the radio. Billy tried to explain to Prince how the radio had changed and Prince kept on his line until Billy asked him if he listened to radio at all?

It was a good interview.

Somebody posted in the estate thread that it's Londell, which was my guess after what Billy told Tom.

I like the part where they were laughing about UTCM and Prince not forgiving Tom.

he sure kept a low profile all these years.

Would really appreciate if someone could explain in which capacity Billy Sparks was involved with Prince in recent years. The interview is brief and the only anecdote is about lack of radio play, but that could refer to anytime after D&P.

teiemka said:

Would really appreciate if someone could explain in which capacity Billy Sparks was involved with Prince in recent years. The interview is brief and the only anecdote is about lack of radio play, but that could refer to anytime after D&P.

Sound like he was a record promotion guy. Someone who goes out to the radio stations to try and get the singles played being as Prince put out record independently who would have to hire his own promo guy.

billy sparks was a tour promoter that was also the club owner in PR. he worked w/P most closely in the 80's.

++

the comment about Gilbert; he left acrimoniously around 89/90. married one of Sheila's old friends they now have 4/5 kids according to Sheila's book. He is in some of the photos with sheila at the PP memorial.

Billy Sparks is still alive and well????!!! Thank God and God bless. He was wonderful in Purple Rain... I loved the scenes with him in it..."I don't have time for your BULLLSHIT Billy whataya want???!"...lol...thanks for posting!