Why is this main page news?

R.I.P.

This doesn't have anything to do with Prince or his music.

So sad. Being from Chicago, I too, remember her and her newsletter.

clovesandtea said:

This doesn't have anything to do with Prince or his music.

Are you serious? If you don't know what you're talking about, you should not speak! Edwena Brunell was very instrumental in getting Prince fans together well before the internet became the primary means of our discussing Prince! I'd say you should be ashamed of yourself but you probably don't know how to do that since you already said what you did. Ask somebody who knows......

sad...but hardly front page news.

NewPowerSista said:

clovesandtea said:

This doesn't have anything to do with Prince or his music.

Are you serious? If you don't know what you're talking about, you should not speak! Edwena Brunell was very instrumental in getting Prince fans together well before the internet became the primary means of our discussing Prince! I'd say you should be ashamed of yourself but you probably don't know how to do that since you already said what you did. Ask somebody who knows......

he actually has a point

its tragic when anyone passes away but this is hardly "prince music news"

kbarso said:

Why is this main page news?

THIS IS MAIN PAGE NEWS because there are many of us who were around before the internet became the main way of communicating and Edwena Brunell had The Prince Family Newsletter for us. The newsletter was actually the way I connected with a wider group of Prince fans outside my very small circle and I will forever be indebted to her for that. She is the reason I've had so many opportunities involving Prince to this day! I never met her in person but I communicated with her personally several times. I still have prizes I won and in fact, still have my newsletters stored away!! For you to suggest that she is not important enough is just a travesty! R.I.P. Edwena. We've missed you and we'll miss you more now knowing that you're not in our midst anymore.

OMG, I used to get the newsletter and call everyweek for the phone message...

RIP

NewPowerSista said:

kbarso said:

Why is this main page news?

THIS IS MAIN PAGE NEWS because there are many of us who were around before the internet became the main way of communicating and Edwena Brunell had The Prince Family Newsletter for us. The newsletter was actually the way I connected with a wider group of Prince fans outside my very small circle and I will forever be indebted to her for that. She is the reason I've had so many opportunities involving Prince to this day! I never met her in person but I communicated with her personally several times. I still have prizes I won and in fact, still have my newsletters stored away!! For you to suggest that she is not important enough is just a travesty! R.I.P. Edwena. We've missed you and we'll miss you more now knowing that you're not in our midst anymore.

^ this. For a lot of us, the Prince Family was our prince.org before there ever was a prince.org

The first live boots I ever heard were the ones I got from a pen pal I met thru the newsletter.

RIP edwena

some new fans might not remember being a fan in the days before the internet was common. these days we get the tiniest bit of gossip and rumour sent instantly to our mobile phones, we can download music and videos, we can share information before, during and after shows. we can group together on online forums, social networking sites, and do things we just couldn't imagine 20 years ago

back then few people had access to the internet at all, nevermind in thier homes. prince started talking about interactive and downloading music but it was just a dream to most. instead to get prince news we had to rely on fanzines and newsletters, put together by fans for fans and mailed to peoples homes. if prince wanted to play a gig at paisley, he couldn't just stick a message on the internet and people turn up the following day

these fanzines and newsletters were the predecessors of the internet forums. few people had access to AMP and the PML and PPML, these came before prince.org. people take facebook and twitter for granted, even though they've only been around a short time. fans who have been around a while will understand the importance these fan publications had in the community, and to many they were more important than any group on facebook, bringing fans together in the flesh at concerts and parties, and even to paisley park

unique said:

RIP edwena

some new fans might not remember being a fan in the days before the internet was common. these days we get the tiniest bit of gossip and rumour sent instantly to our mobile phones, we can download music and videos, we can share information before, during and after shows. we can group together on online forums, social networking sites, and do things we just couldn't imagine 20 years ago

back then few people had access to the internet at all, nevermind in thier homes. prince started talking about interactive and downloading music but it was just a dream to most. instead to get prince news we had to rely on fanzines and newsletters, put together by fans for fans and mailed to peoples homes. if prince wanted to play a gig at paisley, he couldn't just stick a message on the internet and people turn up the following day

these fanzines and newsletters were the predecessors of the internet forums. few people had access to AMP and the PML and PPML, these came before prince.org. people take facebook and twitter for granted, even though they've only been around a short time. fans who have been around a while will understand the importance these fan publications had in the community, and to many they were more important than any group on facebook, bringing fans together in the flesh at concerts and parties, and even to paisley park

^ This.

RIP edwena

I had the pleasure of speaking with Edwena on the phone many times whether it was for new tapes or the Controversy fan club or magazine. She was very talkative and knowledgable about all kinds of Prince-related things, and she was also a very caring person and was interested in getting to know people on more than just a Prince fan level. She was a wonderful soul.

For those of us who used to have to rely on Controversy magazine or the Prince Family newsletter this IS front page news. These used to be our only connection to what was going on and I have MANY a show, friend, and amazing memories because of their hard work. I used to call the hotline for news and that is where I heard that Wendy and Lisa would be playing in L.A. at the Roxy in 98. I met some of my closest friends there at the show that day so a HUGE thank you to Edwena for taking her time to keep us all up to date on all things in the Prince Family world. RIP Edwena.

Am so sorry to hear of her passing. She was a generous lady with her time, talents, and passions.

Nikademus said:

OMG, I used to get the newsletter and call everyweek for the phone message...

RIP

...and that was when you had to pay by the minute for long-distance! I couldn't help myself. I HAD to call for the Prince updates!

===========================

Rest In Peace Ms. Brunell

===========================

I never met nor had the pleasure of using your resources. But the memorials written here

give enough reason for me to say,

"Thank you for treating Prince's music & its fans, so well." @)-}--------

1725topp said:

Wow! Where to even begin discussing what a loving, wonderful woman Edwena Brunell was? In all my dealings with Prince fans, I've never met a more loving and giving person as Edwena. My first association with her was when she was a USA regional rep for Controversy Magazine. I had purchased the Lovesexy Tour tapes and didn't know that there is a different VHS system for Europe and America. However, she helped me identify a company close to where I lived that could convert the tapes for me. That began an association with a woman who was a well of information and who would share anything with a Prince fan or help you access it. The Prince Tape Lending Library was like air for someone just getting into collecting Prince boots. It not only nourished my need for live Prince music and helped to build my own collection, but it helped me to learn the difference between quality and poor recordings. And along with Goldmine Magazine, Edwena helped me to learn which traders and sellers to trust. And on our first trip to Minneapolis, my wife and I had a two-hour layover in Chicago. She came to the station, got us, and took us to her home, sharing music from the live show that featured early music from The Beautiful Experience and The Gold Experience. When I think about it, she was so trusting and open. While we had corresponded for about five years via postal mail beginning in 1990, that meeting at the train station was the first face to face, and she treated us like family. As an African American male from Mississippi, one of the most racially intense places on the planet, I smile knowing that Edwena and Diana Dawkins, two white females, were a great gateway to obtaining information and much of my collection. She and Diana Dawkins had been on my mind a lot lately. For some reason, I had been reminiscing about my early endeavors of collecting Prince audio and video. Now, I hear that she has made her transition. Wow!, again, is all I can say. Rest in peace "Blue," rest in peace baby...I know there is a blue light shining somewhere for you…

Thanks for this, I wasn't remembering Edwena but, now I know EXACTLY who she was / is ... ( small prayer said ) ... RIP

...

So sorry to hear that she passed. I used to love getting her newsletter. RIP, Edwena.

...

[Edited 3/12/12 10:32am]

I remember when she was forced to shut down the newsletter due to threat of legal action by her idol Prince. He absolutely loves to reward fans.

jonylawson said:

sad...but hardly front page news.

WRONG. No Prince Family = No Prince.org Please believe it and show some damn respect

NewPowerSista said:

kbarso said:

Why is this main page news?

THIS IS MAIN PAGE NEWS because there are many of us who were around before the internet became the main way of communicating and Edwena Brunell had The Prince Family Newsletter for us. The newsletter was actually the way I connected with a wider group of Prince fans outside my very small circle and I will forever be indebted to her for that. She is the reason I've had so many opportunities involving Prince to this day! I never met her in person but I communicated with her personally several times. I still have prizes I won and in fact, still have my newsletters stored away!! For you to suggest that she is not important enough is just a travesty! R.I.P. Edwena. We've missed you and we'll miss you more now knowing that you're not in our midst anymore.

Thank you. I can't believe the fucking nerve of some people.

OMG...I didn't know about Edwena's passing...I did have the pleasure of knowing her personally and am in shock...

Edwena was the person that introduced me to the Prince world (outside of the everyday stuff). She opened her home to annual Prince Parties, where I met some life-long friends. Always informative and along with publishing "The Prince Family" newsletter she keep us connected with the now defunct, "Controversy" magazine from the UK. My first trip to Paisley Park was with Edwenda (through Controversy arrangements). I have so many stories...just so sad to hear this..already missing ya, Edwena..j

RIP Edwena thank you and God Bless.

Condolences to her family. I hope they know how treasured she is by the Prince Fan Community.

PoorLonelyComputer said:

jonylawson said:

sad...but hardly front page news.

WRONG. No Prince Family = No Prince.org Please believe it and show some damn respect

i am showing respect

tragic she passed away

but im sorry i never heard of her nor met her...i used to get my cassetes from vicky in newcastle from controversy back in 1988

i would presume as well her passing wouldnt make front page news.

i just find what makes front page news here odd

I am so sorry to hear this. I LOVED the Prince Family newsletter and looked forward to it every other week. I still have most of them from back in the day. What an amazing magazine. My thoughts are with Edwena's family.

I have nothing but respect for the work she had done keeping all of us informed.

The newsletters were extraordinarily detailed and up-to-date. Her efforts to consolidate a fan base for Prince were seemiingly unappreciated by him, but I'll never forget her nor will I forget the hard work she put forth for Prince fans everywhere.

[Edited 4/23/16 12:09pm]

NewPowerSista said:

Nikademus said:

OMG, I used to get the newsletter and call everyweek for the phone message...

RIP

...and that was when you had to pay by the minute for long-distance! I couldn't help myself. I HAD to call for the Prince updates!

Yep!

I learned in a hurry to wait till night time to call that number

This is so sad All throughout the 90s,I received the Prince Family newsletters.It was an excellent news source for Prince fans (they began in 1993,several years before the Internet took off).