I've heard most of P's interviews and speeches since '82 and I don't ever recall him ever giving any credit or even mentioning Chris Moon or Owen Husney. For those that don't know, Moon was a studio owner that took P under his wing way before P was ever close to a deal. I believe P was only 17 or 18 at the time. Moon taught him how to engineer in the studio and also co-wrote Soft and Wet. Owen Husney was P's first manager that got him the deal with Warner Brothers in 1978/79. Now I would think without these to guys Prince may of not have ever made it in the business. I'm sure his ego may think otherwise but these fellas without a doubt guided him to his first taste of success. Does anyone remember him ever mentioning these guys and giving them props?

bigben07 said:

Not that I recall.

But you know, worldwide success can change a lot of things.

I remember during the CNN Larry King interview in '99 when they were talking about how he got started he had the chance to bring up Owen Husney, but instead of mentioning him by name he just said something to the effect of "his name escapes me right now".

there's a somewhat cryptic nod to Chris Moon in the movie, Under the Cherry Moon
i believe it's in one of the opening scenes where Prince is leaving a note for his lover
on the note is a drawing that shows "C." and the a picture of a moon
but hey, that could stand for "Christopher" (the character in the movie)
and/or "Cherry Moon"
so it's not very clear
perhaps just a coincidence
[Edited 8/3/08 13:45pm]

NPG2045 said:

i remember that, too
and thought it mean-spirited

Owen was also involved in Andre's career to a larger extent
no way Prince forgot Owen's name

Snap said:

I didn't think it was mean spirited. I honestly think that in that split second, under the stress of a tv interview, he simply forgot. Names often escape my memory around the exact time I'm put under pressure to recall them. He probably remembered the second the interview was over.

For a comparable comparison, just ask someone around Ps age, "quick, name your first boss"...see how many can recall on the fly...
[Edited 8/3/08 15:44pm]

I remember the names...however, often times...I really don't know what their true relationship is or was with Prince, and I really don't believe we ever really know those personal relationships. Those are Prince's, Even if we assume we know something, we really don't. Only two people know what their relationship is with eachother.

simm0061 said:

I don't know....P isn't one to give prop's to folks...I think he knew what he was doing.

prime said:

Perhaps. I'd have to see the interview again and read the body language to judge. But I swear to god, someone asked me the other day where my dad worked and I could not for the life of me remember the name of the company. And he has worked there for 20 years! Sometimes a person just blanks out.

simm0061 said:

But we all remember that teacher or coach or someone that really did something special for us....P remembers his name (IMO). This dude gave him his break or helped him get it.... Again JMO

prime said:

Yes he knew what he was doing, that remark was definitely made on purpose! But, I'm sure he had his reasons....

prime said:

Oh I'm sure he remembers his name. I just think it was a blank-out moment. But you may very well be right, he may have intentionally omitted it at the time of the interview. I've just had enough blank-out moments to understand how a name could not pop into memory when you are put on spot to recall it.

no way, being a musician implies having a good memory bank. No way he forgot Husney's name, he practically lived with him and his wife. Like most of Prince's relations they couldn't match the demands of Prince's ever growing ego so they were left by the wayside. Happens often in the music business, whether it was right or wrong I don't know. If someone can't deliver you have to get rid of them, it worked out for Prince in the end even if it comes off as ungrateful.

I think he was the dude who quit after P called him at 2 in da morning wanting a space heater brought to him because it was cold in the studio....

Chris Moon tried to sell Prince out around the Purple Rain era attempting to sell a tell-all book and release unauthenticated early Prince recordings.

BTW, when you think about it, it's a pretty incredible cosmic happenstance that a broke 16-year-old musical genius was given full reign to explore in a Minneapolis studio. Prince singlehandidly killed the big bands (EWF, Ohio Players, Commodores, etc.) with his revolutionary studio skills.

And I'm sure there's a reason for the forgetting of Husney's name.

Chris Moon got credit on the For You album, other than that he is just a footnote in Prince's bio. A rather important one though. My feelings are this, if someone can get you to a certain plateau, you use them, just like they use you, if they can't get you higher and other people can, go to them, simple. I think Prince's choices at that time in his career were not only ungrateful but also extremely practical too. Say what you will about Prince, and I've known a few men like him, they ask for the world but they also give everything in them and I think that should make up for the end results.