I am a big fan of Larry Graham. Even work with the legend. I met Prince many times with LG. And I saw one thing you 'fans' never saw: the friendship between two man. They were really great friends, yes indeed almost brothers.

Say what you want about LG religon, but you can't tell me that LG guide Prince into Jehova. Prince was an adult and not someone who had no opion. So it was his own choice.

Any of you who blames LG of the dead of Prince or his changed in music, does not respect Prince.

I witness myself that Prince was happy with LG around. True, the mix of they two doesn't produced the greatest music what you can expected.

You might don't like the music of Sly & the Family Stone, you might don't like the music of Graham Central Station, you might don't like the music of Larry Graham solo, or you might don't like Jehova. That's fine, but please don't be rude on Larry Graham.

He is one of the greatest bass players in the world, a legend on his own, one of the nicest people in the world and always treading his fans the best.

There are people here who hates LG. How can you hate somebody? You can not blame LG for Prince. Sorry, but Prince was his own boss. If you are truly a Prince fan, you've got to respect LG. He is a true friend of Prince.

LG is still grieving for the dead of his friend. And still in pain of losing his brother. He never wrote a book or a song about Prince.

Great advice, thanks for the post.

donnyenglish said:

Some of these people hate on Larry and Joshua, who Prince loved until the end, but show love to Sharon, Kim Berry and Londell, who Prince didn’t F with for years and for good reason. Some of y’all would be banished if Prince came back.

So true. Don't understand why some people he cut out of his life seemingly for good, get all the praise and love where the folks he was still close with throughout his life and up until the end get the most hate. smh

Missmusicluver72 said:

donnyenglish said:

Missmusicluver72 said:

So true. Don't understand why some people he cut out of his life seemingly for good, get all the praise and love where the folks he was still close with throughout his life and up until the end get the most hate. smh

Because the people he cut out now have the most to say and are the main ones trying to capitalize off of his passing. Some fans feel special when these former associates give them access. It is no coincidence that his close circle of friends that he had before his passing generally have been quiet.

Agreed

donnyenglish said:

Some of these people hate on Larry and Joshua, who Prince loved until the end, but show love to Sharon, Kim Berry and Londell, who Prince didn’t F with for years and for good reason. Some of y’all would be banished if Prince came back.

I´ll never understand how any "fan" can still support Kim Berry after her joke of a book and all the things she keeps saying in interviews.

As far as Sharon and Londell are concerned, I haven´t been following those two and don´t know what they´ve said or done.

I don´t think that people here really "hate" Larry. Most of them probably used to be fans of Larry before the late 90s and early 00s. I was never really a fan because I was too young to appreciate him in his prime years but Prince´s cover versions around 1993-95 such as The Jam, Hair and I Believe in You got me interested in Larry´s music so I bought some of his older albums and his GCS 2000 album but I think fans just had a problem with Prince playing the same old cover versions again and again and again for more than a decade, hence why many got a bit fed up, and they didn´t like him as part of the NPG which I think had very little to do with Larry´s legendary bass skills but more to do with his stage persona and how it clashed with the way Prince used to be before he met Larry.

As far as the JWs are concerned, you are right that Prince was a grown man who made his own decisions but for some reason many things, including lyrics and behavior, changed when Larry became part of Prince´s camp, and we´ve had a gazillion threads and discussions here where fans outlined why they disliked Larry, and many didn´t hate him at all but just wished his influence wasn´t as big as it obviously was.

Personally, I am a bit undecided because as much as I understand some fans´ criticism, I think we will never know what might have happened to Prince if he had not met Larry in the late 90s. Maybe things would have been different, maybe better, but maybe even worse.

To me, he always came across as someone who Prince could rely on, someone who was there for him when he was no longer part of the mainstream media and charts.

amsterdamman said:

He is one of the greatest bass players in the world, a legend on his own, one of the nicest people in the world and always treading his fans the best.

There are people here who hates LG. How can you hate somebody?

amsterdamman said:

I am a big fan of Larry Graham. Even work with the legend. I met Prince many times with LG. And I saw one thing you 'fans' never saw: the friendship between two man. They were really great friends, yes indeed almost brothers.

Say what you want about LG religon, but you can't tell me that LG guide Prince into Jehova. Prince was an adult and not someone who had no opion. So it was his own choice.

Any of you who blames LG of the dead of Prince or his changed in music, does not respect Prince.

I witness myself that Prince was happy with LG around. True, the mix of they two doesn't produced the greatest music what you can expected.

You might don't like the music of Sly & the Family Stone, you might don't like the music of Graham Central Station, you might don't like the music of Larry Graham solo, or you might don't like Jehova. That's fine, but please don't be rude on Larry Graham.

He is one of the greatest bass players in the world, a legend on his own, one of the nicest people in the world and always treading his fans the best.

There are people here who hates LG. How can you hate somebody? You can not blame LG for Prince. Sorry, but Prince was his own boss. If you are truly a Prince fan, you've got to respect LG. He is a true friend of Prince.

LG is still grieving for the dead of his friend. And still in pain of losing his brother. He never wrote a book or a song about Prince.

I went to the Autism Rocks Prince tribute gig at the Eventim Apollo in London, June 2016. Larry's set couldn't have been more respectful to Prince's memory. Unlike Cee-lo, who saw the event more as a promotional opportunity for some bizarre reason, Larry mainly played Prince classics. He was very visibly choked up when they played Purple Rain - as was I. I've got nothing but the utmost respect for Larry.

I wonder if Prince's fans feel that Larry was too influential in Prince's life when Prince was vulnerable after the death of his baby. LG's influence/JW may have had a de-stablizing effect on his marriage to Mayte during this time.

PeggyO said:

I wonder if Prince's fans feel that Larry was too influential in Prince's life when Prince was vulnerable after the death of his baby. LG's influence/JW may have had a de-stablizing effect on his marriage to Mayte during this time.

I think it's entirely possible that Larry saved Prince's life.

Genesia said:

PeggyO said:

I wonder if Prince's fans feel that Larry was too influential in Prince's life when Prince was vulnerable after the death of his baby. LG's influence/JW may have had a de-stablizing effect on his marriage to Mayte during this time.

I think it's entirely possible that Larry saved Prince's life.

Agreed. It seems like Prince really felt he could confide in Larry and didn't appear to trust anyone else.

Missmusicluver72 said:

Genesia said:

I think it's entirely possible that Larry saved Prince's life.

Agreed. It seems like Prince really felt he could confide in Larry and didn't appear to trust anyone else.

I know it hurts Larry to the core to lose him this soon.

ChocolateBox3121 said:

Missmusicluver72 said:

Agreed. It seems like Prince really felt he could confide in Larry and didn't appear to trust anyone else.

I know it hurts Larry to the core to lose him this soon.

Missmusicluver72 said:

Genesia said:

I think it's entirely possible that Larry saved Prince's life.

Agreed. It seems like Prince really felt he could confide in Larry and didn't appear to trust anyone else.

Interesting thoughts...I never looked at that way. Has opened my mind.

Larry Graham is awesome and is a legend musically , but I don't think people really hate on Larry Graham but on his JW influence and his blind following of it that rubbed off to much on Prince.
It was his mothers dying wish for Prince to be saved JW style and in came Larry I guess.

PeggyO said:

I wonder if Prince's fans feel that Larry was too influential in Prince's life when Prince was vulnerable after the death of his baby. LG's influence/JW may have had a de-stablizing effect on his marriage to Mayte during this time.

Yes I agree. I think get the same sense that Larry was too influencial that he pushed is own agenda on to Prince which did start to create a divide betwwen Prince and Matye. Prince was extremely vuldernable and instead of saying..hey Matye probably feels the same as you and she is the only one in the world that shared this with you. Lean on her. He probably said lean on me and my religion and it can show you the path. Matye also said that Prince asked her to convert. She said no. Thats when he became more distant. Although Prince was a grown man. I do believe that he played a role and to be honest and a lot of people would disgree but I always got the sense that he if Larry was not in the picture then Matye would have been there with him for life. I believe she knows this too. and it is soo sad. He may not have met his early passsing on if he had a life partner with him. Yes he married again but it didn't seem the same commitment and utter devotion that Matye gave him. He knew it probably after his second divorce. So guess what...ya..Larry played a role in Prince demise. I am sure there will be a lot people who disagree. But that's ok. Its my opinion. You have yours.

ChocolateBox3121 said:

amsterdamman said:

I am a big fan of Larry Graham. Even work with the legend. I met Prince many times with LG. And I saw one thing you 'fans' never saw: the friendship between two man. They were really great friends, yes indeed almost brothers.

Say what you want about LG religon, but you can't tell me that LG guide Prince into Jehova. Prince was an adult and not someone who had no opion. So it was his own choice.

Any of you who blames LG of the dead of Prince or his changed in music, does not respect Prince.

I witness myself that Prince was happy with LG around. True, the mix of they two doesn't produced the greatest music what you can expected.

You might don't like the music of Sly & the Family Stone, you might don't like the music of Graham Central Station, you might don't like the music of Larry Graham solo, or you might don't like Jehova. That's fine, but please don't be rude on Larry Graham.

He is one of the greatest bass players in the world, a legend on his own, one of the nicest people in the world and always treading his fans the best.

There are people here who hates LG. How can you hate somebody? You can not blame LG for Prince. Sorry, but Prince was his own boss. If you are truly a Prince fan, you've got to respect LG. He is a true friend of Prince.

LG is still grieving for the dead of his friend. And still in pain of losing his brother. He never wrote a book or a song about Prince.

Yes but you weren't in Matye and Prince's marraige. So yes they had a bond. Prince's bond with Larry came from adormation of his Larry's musical skills. A lot of people are still grieving for Prince. Look at the person who played his love interest in Purple Rain. She recently said she has been in a deep depression and finally is starting to come out of it now due to Prince's passing. Larry maybe a nice guy, but I also believe he is a hussler. His family are husslers. Look at Larry's brother and his nephew Drake. Drake is hussling to stay relievent on the on top of the musical charts off the backs of new talent. Its a reach. But hey it deosn't take a lot to connect these dots. Larry should have stayed out of Prince's marraige. Even if he wasn't the cause because there were other issues in Prince and Matye's marriage...but from the outside the perception is that Larry played a role in the demise of Prince's marriage and perhaps he knows this and what's causing him pain. Also Yes I am Prince's fan and what one thing that Princes' legacy has taught me is freedom. I have my own mind and I dont' need to respect someone because you say so. He hasn't writen a song or book yet, I am sure one day it will be coming.

Rainbow1 said:

ChocolateBox3121 said:

Yes but you weren't in Matye and Prince's marraige. So yes they had a bond. Prince's bond with Larry came from adormation of his Larry's musical skills. A lot of people are still grieving for Prince. Look at the person who played his love interest in Purple Rain. She recently said she has been in a deep depression and finally is starting to come out of it now due to Prince's passing. Larry maybe a nice guy, but I also believe he is a hussler. His family are husslers. Look at Larry's brother and his nephew Drake. Drake is hussling to stay relievent on the on top of the musical charts off the backs of new talent. Its a reach. But hey it deosn't take a lot to connect these dots. Larry should have stayed out of Prince's marraige. Even if he wasn't the cause because there were other issues in Prince and Matye's marriage...but from the outside the perception is that Larry played a role in the demise of Prince's marriage and perhaps he knows this and what's causing him pain. Also Yes I am Prince's fan and what one thing that Princes' legacy has taught me is freedom. I have my own mind and I dont' need to respect someone because you say so. He hasn't writen a song or book yet, I am sure one day it will be coming.

Neither were you. Apparently if he and Mayte's marriage was "so strong and meant to be" like some of you all still want to believe, then they wouldve worked through it TOGETHER without him having to turn to Larry and the JW for comfort and guidance. This is what couples who are serious about their vows and their commitment to each other do, you know "for better or worse". Losing a child couldn't be no worse. Besides he looked extremely miserable to me for the majority of that marriage anyway. Appears he wanted to act like that marriage never happened in the first place.

[Edited 8/28/19 14:30pm]

[Edited 8/28/19 14:40pm]

[Edited 8/28/19 14:45pm]

Seems Prince may have wanted certainty (JW) and a kind of fatherly figure to take over. He kind of abdicated, (IMO)

Mayte was too young to really be equipped to offer mature,emotional support to a full-grown man. I think Prince needed alot more than an average bereaved father. He was also seeking a new world-view. Previous posters have talked about Larry saving Prince; perhaps this what they meant.

Though she was young, I felt Mayte handled her grief in a more balanced way,overall.

PeggyO said:

Seems Prince may have wanted certainty (JW) and a kind of fatherly figure to take over. He kind of abdicated, (IMO)

Mayte was too young to really be equipped to offer mature,emotional support to a full-grown man. I think Prince needed alot more than an average bereaved father. He was also seeking a new world-view. Previous posters have talked about Larry saving Prince; perhaps this what they meant.

Though she was young, I felt Mayte handled her grief in a more balanced way,overall.

Yes. Its ironic on of the last things she saw in Studio B before they separated Prince had placed a picture of his father in the studio.

Missmusicluver72 said:

Rainbow1 said:

Neither were you. Apparently if he and Mayte's marriage was "so strong and meant to be" like some of you all still want to believe, then they wouldve worked through it TOGETHER without him having to turn to Larry and the JW for comfort and guidance. This is what couples who are serious about their vows and their commitment to each other do, you know "for better or worse". Losing a child couldn't be no worse. Besides he looked extremely miserable to me for the majority of that marriage anyway. Appears he wanted to act like that marriage never happened in the first place.

[Edited 8/28/19 14:30pm]

[Edited 8/28/19 14:40pm]

[Edited 8/28/19 14:45pm]

People who have worked with Prince and also associates have said he never seemed happier and more content with any other women than with Mayte. Besides he barely cracked a smile it was his persona he tried to cultivate. Prince faith was so strong that losing his children broke him. He questioned his faith and his relationship with the higher power.

Rainbow1 said:

PeggyO said:

Seems Prince may have wanted certainty (JW) and a kind of fatherly figure to take over. He kind of abdicated, (IMO)

Mayte was too young to really be equipped to offer mature,emotional support to a full-grown man. I think Prince needed alot more than an average bereaved father. He was also seeking a new world-view. Previous posters have talked about Larry saving Prince; perhaps this what they meant.

Though she was young, I felt Mayte handled her grief in a more balanced way,overall.

Yes. Its ironic on of the last things she saw in Studio B before they separated Prince had placed a picture of his father in the studio.

I was thinking more along the lines of Prince having had an unpredictable/less-than-loving father in his childhood.

(IMO) If Prince had had a strong, present father in his childhood, he may not have been as 'in need' of someone like Larry in his adulthood.

Rainbow1 said:

Missmusicluver72 said:

Neither were you. Apparently if he and Mayte's marriage was "so strong and meant to be" like some of you all still want to believe, then they wouldve worked through it TOGETHER without him having to turn to Larry and the JW for comfort and guidance. This is what couples who are serious about their vows and their commitment to each other do, you know "for better or worse". Losing a child couldn't be no worse. Besides he looked extremely miserable to me for the majority of that marriage anyway. Appears he wanted to act like that marriage never happened in the first place.

[Edited 8/28/19 14:30pm]

[Edited 8/28/19 14:40pm]

[Edited 8/28/19 14:45pm]

People who have worked with Prince and also associates have said he never seemed happier and more content with any other women than with Mayte. Besides he barely cracked a smile it was his persona he tried to cultivate. Prince faith was so strong that losing his children broke him. He questioned his faith and his relationship with the higher power.

(He was always smiling more in other pics than he was with her, based on many ones I have seen. With M2 he smiled more.) Yet he and Mayte STILL divorced so if he was supposedly "SO" happy with her, then why did they break up? Some people keep bringing up "oh he just LOVED her SO Much" nonsense over and over! Ugh, give it a rest already! And NOPE, losing their child should not be an excuse for them to end a marriage. I understand she was young and thrown into his world and suffered trauma also but I am saying if people are supposedly "SO IN LOVE" then they should find a way to work it out IMO. I am not trying in any way to be rude towards you it is just that some folks wanna hang on to their marriage as if it was some sort of fairy tale that was so meant to be. Of course people around them during that time will say that lovey dovey stuff because maybe they like Mayte the best, their opinion of course, but apparently it was not meant to be in the end. Why can't some people just accept that and move on? He sure did!! At the end of the day I am here for Prince and not Mayte. BTW however, I don't wish her any ill will. I am just basing my thoughts on how things ended. So if he found a sense of comfort and guidance confiding in Larry Graham than so be it.

[Edited 8/29/19 15:20pm]

[Edited 8/29/19 15:31pm]

PeggyO said:

Rainbow1 said:

Yes. Its ironic on of the last things she saw in Studio B before they separated Prince had placed a picture of his father in the studio.

I was thinking more along the lines of Prince having had an unpredictable/less-than-loving father in his childhood.

(IMO) If Prince had had a strong, present father in his childhood, he may not have been as 'in need' of someone like Larry in his adulthood.

Agreed

Rainbow1 said:

ChocolateBox3121 said:

Yes but you weren't in Matye and Prince's marraige. So yes they had a bond. Prince's bond with Larry came from adormation of his Larry's musical skills. A lot of people are still grieving for Prince. Look at the person who played his love interest in Purple Rain. She recently said she has been in a deep depression and finally is starting to come out of it now due to Prince's passing. Larry maybe a nice guy, but I also believe he is a hussler. His family are husslers. Look at Larry's brother and his nephew Drake. Drake is hussling to stay relievent on the on top of the musical charts off the backs of new talent. Its a reach. But hey it deosn't take a lot to connect these dots. Larry should have stayed out of Prince's marraige. Even if he wasn't the cause because there were other issues in Prince and Matye's marriage...but from the outside the perception is that Larry played a role in the demise of Prince's marriage and perhaps he knows this and what's causing him pain. Also Yes I am Prince's fan and what one thing that Princes' legacy has taught me is freedom. I have my own mind and I dont' need to respect someone because you say so. He hasn't writen a song or book yet, I am sure one day it will be coming.

I think Prince's 'adoration' was more or less an adoration for Sly & the Family Stone. And that Sly didn't really care for Prince, Prince took the next best option.

.

Missmusicluver72 said:

Rainbow1 said:

People who have worked with Prince and also associates have said he never seemed happier and more content with any other women than with Mayte. Besides he barely cracked a smile it was his persona he tried to cultivate. Prince faith was so strong that losing his children broke him. He questioned his faith and his relationship with the higher power.

(He was always smiling more in other pics than he was with her, based on many ones I have seen. With M2 he smiled more.) Yet he and Mayte STILL divorced so if he was supposedly "SO" happy with her, then why did they break up? Some people keep bringing up "oh he just LOVED her SO Much" nonsense over and over! Ugh, give it a rest already! And NOPE, losing their child should not be an excuse for them to end a marriage. I understand she was young and thrown into his world and suffered trauma also but I am saying if people are supposedly "SO IN LOVE" then they should find a way to work it out IMO. I am not trying in any way to be rude towards you it is just that some folks wanna hang on to their marriage as if it was some sort of fairy tale that was so meant to be. Of course people around them during that time will say that lovey dovey stuff because maybe they like Mayte the best, their opinion of course, but apparently it was not meant to be in the end. Why can't some people just accept that and move on? He sure did!! At the end of the day I am here for Prince and not Mayte. BTW however, I don't wish her any ill will. I am just basing my thoughts on how things ended. So if he found a sense of comfort and guidance confiding in Larry Graham than so be it.

[Edited 8/29/19 15:20pm]

[Edited 8/29/19 15:31pm]

Well some people attach life drama to a person, like Mayte was very tied to the WB battles. And Mayte also could not give me children. There are many marriages that end because of that kind of trauma and sadness. It is something that has happened throught human history.