When you read lists of who influenced Prince, it's usually: Santana, Hendrix, Sly Stone, Joni Mitchell, P-Funk, Led Zep... a mix of funk & rock, some folk.

But when you listen to P's early albums, there's a lot of smooth dance grooves, jazzy ballads, and not too much funk/rock.

So why don't we hear about influences like Aretha, Natalie Cole, Roberta Flack, Spinners, even Stevie Wonder?
The early stuff even sounds a bit EWF-ish, despite P rejecting Maurice White as a producer early on.
(Okay - Al Green is mentioned sometimes, but few other mellow or dance artists are.)

Why do you think soul, jazz and dance artists are rarely included in the usual list of influences?
I guess I wish we'd hear more about these artists in a Prince context...

I can imagine that anyone as creative musically as Prince is, is equally a great listener. I believe that anyone that Prince has heard has a place in his heart's pool...as with us as people, we are made-up of all of our experiences and interactions with other's as well as our private relationship with GOD.

Eloquently spoken--typed--Tame!

I totally agree.

Tame,
Prince being influenced by everyone he meets (and by God) is not what I'm talking about.

What I'm curious about is why the soul musicians never make the lists of who Prince is influenced by. In lots of the biographies, including interviews with band members, rock & funk musicians are mentioned. Soul, jazz and dance artists rarely are.

So you're right that we're all influenced by all our relationships.

But what I'm wondering about is why some influences get talked about, and others don't.