Does it seem odd to anyone else that Prince is choosing NOW to start promoting a protege? I mean...he's less than two months away from his OWN album, and he's out there playing guitar behind the latest "flavor of the month" who doesn't even have a record deal yet...and no...NPG doesn't count as a deal. How many copies do you honestly think she'd sell on NPG? New acts need huge promotion...Prince can sell records on NPG, but even he has been using the "evil" corporations for his latest albums.

Anyway...I just don't understand why he's not just doing "hit and run" gigs with HIS band playing HIS songs...both new and old. It would be a great warm-up for any upcoming tour...and a great way to create buzz for the new album.

Of course, this is Prince..."making sense" doesn't necessarily have to be part of the equation.

Peace.

mattmcbr said:

Perhaps that's exactly the point. There's been talk within the industry that Prince is trying to secure major label promotion and distribution for Ta'mar's project as the shows have had a number of label reps in attendance. Given that she is reportedly the opening act of Prince's upcoming tour A) she needs the practice more than he does and B) she needs to get a deal now so her record can be out by the time the tour starts. And I have no idea why so many people who've never heard Ta'mar are dismissing her talent. Prince's track record aside, enough about her is out there between her performances on last year's NAACP Image Awards, her turn on Star Search, the 1994 Prince outtake "On Your Own" and her history here in Houston as a member of the group Girls Tyme as a child along with future Destiny's Child members Beyonce, Kelly and LaTavia to know she's not in the Vanity/Apollonia/Carmen Electra category.
[Edited 1/26/06 17:05pm]

Even without a record deal, Prince can take her on tour and use her pretty much as he used Bonnie Boyer and Rosie Gaines -- maybe warmups, some songs between his own and the prospect of a solo record some time in the future. What's new is that she's having her own show in connection with him. So this does seem more serious. Who knows? Maybe Ta'mar agreed to play the Rosie role, but with a chance to do more than some Aretha covers here and there when she has the stage to herself? In any case, the whole exercise does seem familiar yet a bit different.

I'm just glad that Prince is out there somewhere on a stage performing. I hope that they both come to the ATL soon.....and boy do i hope that she is good, damn good not just mediocre that would piss me off.....Anyway it's a good start to a good Prince year.....lots of music and stories for all woo-hoo!
[Edited 1/26/06 17:04pm]

Aerogram said:

One possible difference is that according to Billboard, there's already a completed album by Ta'mar that was produced by Prince in the can and ready to go. It just needs a distributor.

redflag said:

Yeah. I heard about that and wasn't sure if it was confirmed. Then this is progress in terms of bringing vocal talent forward.

This NEW protege kinda hearkens back to the days of old when Prince would put out Shelia's albums around the time of his own like he did with "The Glamorous Life"

I'm starting to wonder if the album 3121, like the actual 3121 parties is going to be a "party album" with a lot of invites ala Graffiti Bridge, 1-800-NEW-FUNK and the "New Power Pack" as it was sold at the time with Chaka, NPG and Larry. He did say he was inviting some old friends. Maybe Tamar is one of the cuts. I dunno.

Just sayin' ... We've seen this cycle before.
[Edited 1/26/06 17:43pm]

maybe he is bangin' her..with P who knows....anybody got a picture of this Tamar person???

Then again, with all the hoopla and mystery behind 3121, it seems to be steering to something "special" as if it will be something we're not going to expect.

I love all this speculation and excitement
Yippee!

yamomma said:

Me too. For sure, the NAACP award show was a soul revue. I like this type of thing once in a while but I'm not really looking for that kind of show right now. We'll see.

redflag said:[quote]

mattmcbr said:

I think that's completely logical and likely. Besides, isn't the band behind Tamar basically Prince's new band too? So he is getting to rehearse them in a live setting without all the hooplah that a proper Prince gig would bring.

I have a feeling that Tamar will feature heavily on 3121 either as backing vox or co-vocals, much like Rosie Gaines did on D&P.

I'm glad Prince is doing anything at all. I miss the old days when he had the Time, Vanity 6, Mazarati and the Family. This is definitely a step in the right direction. I think Prince really wants Ta'mar to be successful. He realizes his own limitations and is trying to get her some decent distribution.

at least she can sing. There's been some proteges in the past that lacked talent.


I didn't realize she was a part of the pre-destinys child group. Interesting.

I wonder if her album will contain On Your Own, the 1994 outtake she recorded with Prince.

this question could apply to all the other female proteges he's put out there over the years.

missfee said:

ludika said:

The girl CAN sing!!!!!

Ooops, I meant SANG.




SANG edit
M
[Edited 1/27/06 14:17pm]

ludika said:

Apart from being beautiful, she has a hell of a vox!

Rhondab said:

http://www.chron.com/CDA/...92_1074953

NOTE: Look for the name Ashley Davis (her middle name is Ta'mar).

And she looks as good as a chocolate sundae! Yum....