I was having a discussion over the weekend with a few jazz musician friends of mine about Prince and they all remarked that he was able to take music to the next level because his influences were so wide-ranging and diverse. This comment brought to mind a quote I read a while back where someone stated that only Minneapolis could produce someone like Prince. A black man in an area where blacks made up only 1% of the population, where black (R&B Soul) radio was only played 2hrs a day during and other radio fromats dominated the airwaves. The author said that someone like Prince thrived in this environment because it made his music uncategorizable and genre-straddling, and a comparison was made between Prince and Sly and the respective areas where they evolved, Sly in San Francisco and Prince in Minneapolis. I feel that the wide array of musical styles both musicians listened to sparked them to create a new sound that took music to another direction/level. Sly did it in the late 60's-early 1970's and Prince took the torch and did it in the 1980s. Amazingly both men only get the respect they truly deserve from their peers. It's amazing how most musicians have a great respect and appreciation for Sly and Prince, even moreso than their more popular contemporaries during their runs.

Urbanhang22 said: It's amazing how most musicians have a great respect and appreciation for Sly and Prince, even moreso than their more popular contemporaries during their runs.

Probably because he is so incredibly talented.

Jimi Hendrix in Seattle as well.Bob Marley on the Islands.among others.

Urbanhang22 said:

I'm not sure of your qualifications for making such a statement.
How many musicians do you know and how many of them express an admiration
limited ONLY to Prince and/or Sly? Who are these "popular contemporaries"?
You haven't heard another musician, say, express admiration for Lennon/McCartney,
Miles, SRV? I have. So I guess it just depends on who you know, eh?

(Please note I'm not challenging your notion that Prince or Sly is talented, nor am
I doubting their influence, but I just don't follow your reasoning here).

Sly is truely one of the greats! Artists like Herbie Hancock, Buddy Miles, Miles Davis, Bobby Womack,and many others used to hang around Sly trying to "be down". All the above mentioned were much better "Musicians" than Sly, but he was very free, and original (not to mention, FUNKY) and created a very quirky and unique style of music based on the foundation that James Brown had laid. "Fresh" is probably my favorite album of all time!

What get's me is that hella people on this site criticize other artists who are influenced by the amazing genius of Prince, whereas Prince made no bones about his respect for artists like Sly and James, and even emulated them on many a recording (ie, chocolate and almost all the Time's songs, purple music, possesed, make your Momma happy, the list goes on and on)

Emualtion is the greatest form of flattery, and each musician borrows from his predecessors, and adds his own unique touch to the music that moves him.

That being said, Sly is THE MAN!

chaz said:

like who? Who was influenced by Prince that gets criticized? I don't know who you're talking about.

PFunkjazz said:[quote]

Urbanhang22 said:

I'm not sure of your qualifications for making such a statement.
How many musicians do you know and how many of them express an admiration
limited ONLY to Prince and/or Sly? Who are these "popular contemporaries"?
You haven't heard another musician, say, express admiration for Lennon/McCartney,
Miles, SRV? I have. So I guess it just depends on who you know, eh?
[quote]

Obviously you do not comprehend what you are reading. I am not stating that they are the end all in music, I'm simply saying that these particular two musicians rarely get mainstream credit however they receive a great deal of credit from their peers. What is so hard to comprehend about that??? The musician you mentioned are all regarded as legends and rank highly on every poll of all time musicians.

Urbanhang22 said:[quote]PFunkjazz said:[quote]

Urbanhang22 said:

I'm not sure of your qualifications for making such a statement.
How many musicians do you know and how many of them express an admiration
limited ONLY to Prince and/or Sly? Who are these "popular contemporaries"?
You haven't heard another musician, say, express admiration for Lennon/McCartney,
Miles, SRV? I have. So I guess it just depends on who you know, eh?


Yep you're right I still have no comprehension of the point you are making.
S'okay. it's not very important.


If I don't understand you; that's your fault.
If you don't understand me; that's my fault.

"Saturday Nite" - (Bailey/McKay/White)

PFunkjazz said:

That's not what he said though.

chaz said:

I think you have to take it on a case by case basis. Just because someone's favorite artist has influenced someone else doesn't always mean that the fans of said artist are automatically going to like that person who is influenced by him/her. The Beach Boys influenced the Beatles to some extent, but I don't like the Beach Boys and I still like the Beatles.

As far as emulation goes; it depends on how far it's taken. Emulation without eventually bringing something of your own vision to the table makes one a tribute act.