purplethunder3121 said:

Good subject. I don't claim to have a huge knowledge of music but it seems to me that artists like Bowie and Prince have carried on the traditional torch of artists who came before them and influenced them (like James Brown, etc. in Prince's case). In the case of the specified artists, they didn't simply repeat what influenced them--they turned it into something of their own, which IMO is the biggest compliment you could ever give an artist that you admire. After all, there is "nothing new under the sun." And that, in my opinion, is what is missing from too much music today--carrying on the torch of great music by turning it into your own individual great music.

[Edited 9/20/11 20:03pm]

Folks, I agree that Prince (and everyone) is influneced by someone etc. Im stating that it is never spoken of , of how Princes band mates were taken higher/influenced by Prince himself as well, and not just them showing him the way to go. AKA Prince/Purple fusion..