Prince's First Music Teacher: 'He Was at the Band Room Door at 8 a.m. Sharp Every Day Waiting to Be Let In'

o4/27
Link


Former Bryant Junior High music teacher Jimmy Hamilton vividly recalls having Prince Rogers Nelson, the "shy, smart" kid he taught piano, in his class in the early 1970s.

"He was a seriously smart kid, and he just got music," Jimmy Hamilton, 79, tells PEOPLE. "He really understood it, what music was at the core. Even from that early age."


But Hamilton says he "had no idea" Prince would go on to become one of the world's most beloved musicians.

"I thought he would achieve success as a local musician, because he was a natural musician, he had the ear," he says. "But he was so shy, nothing like the persona he put on while on stage.

"It still baffles me thinking that the smart kid in my class would go on to become the Minnesota king of funk."

The former music teacher, who had Prince in his seventh and eighth grade business of music and music theory classes at Minneapolis' Bryant Junior High, describes the icon as being "introverted" – until he picked up an instrument, that is.

"He was extremely quiet, but when he played music it just seemed like he was a different person altogether," says Hamilton. "His eyes would light up when he started performing."

Prince also spent an hour before class each morning jamming with friends in a band practice room.

"He was at the band room door at 8 a.m. sharp every day waiting to get let in," recalls Hamilton. "After, I would go in and break up the session and make the kids go to biology class."

Hamilton says Prince was mostly "self-taught," so the two focused on music theory and learning fun, contemporary songs.

"He was an easy student, he was so eager to learn and it came naturally to him. He could play any instrument, but the song we worked on the most was 'Stairway to Heaven' on the piano," says Hamilton with a laugh. "He loved that one!"

[Edited 4/27/16 6:28am]

I know I'm a few days late, but this one took a LONG time to write. How do you sum up one of the most important musical influences of your entire life with a handful of words?
You can't. You try, anyway. Read if you can, and share if you enjoy.
http://richpicks.blogspot.com/2016/04/i-could-never-take-place-of-your-man.html

We all had a great time at your party, Prince. Some of us ain't leaving the party yet, but you can go on ahead and the rest of us will lay low until our own candles go out.

If any of us are fortunate to cross your path in another life, we all will recognize you, and it may seem that the party never really ended, we just skipped over to a new location because the Housequake was too rockin'. Prince, your cookin' was too hot in this life.

I wonder where you are? In what existence are you? What form have you taken? We all find out soon enough. But Earth was your jam, your home for at least a lil while. We do things a lil slow on Earth, so I'm a take some time in my life to reflect on all the great gifts you have bestowed us.

HousequakeWallaby said:

We all had a great time at your party, Prince. Some of us ain't leaving the party yet, but you can go on ahead and the rest of us will lay low until our own candles go out.

If any of us are fortunate to cross your path in another life, we all will recognize you, and it may seem that the party never really ended, we just skipped over to a new location because the Housequake was too rockin'. Prince, your cookin' was too hot in this life.

I wonder where you are? In what existence are you? What form have you taken? We all find out soon enough. But Earth was your jam, your home for at least a lil while. We do things a lil slow on Earth, so I'm a take some time in my life to reflect on all the great gifts you have bestowed us.

Listen to Affirmation III, it has a whole new meaning now.

starkitty said:

hey everyone:

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PEOPLE GRIEVE DIFFERENTLY.

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we need to allow for that and respect that. let's not start playing holier than thou because mourners are grieving. no one said you had to engage.

[Edited 4/27/16 5:26am]

you're absolutely right. i spoke a bit out of careless emotion, and i should have known better. I apologize.

Shhh747 said:

Identity said:

So incredibly hard to watch and hear.

http://kron4.com/2016/04/...alifornia/

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Fourteen people in the Sacramento, California, area have fatally overdosed on a pill disguised as a popular painkiller, and now the drug has turned up in the San Francisco Bay Area.

It seems they are mostly counterfit drugs sold on the street but who knows. there have been dozens of cases in the Bay Area. So it could be a manfacturing error.

jokocur said:

sandraparke said:

Awww its gonna be emotional..... sooo much stuff to go through.

i had my day today..it was Montreux jazz , Syracuse PR, and Sheperds Bush... what could be better.. except that 4/21/16 never happened

Im just watching the lovesexy tour....

Today a 15 year old kid in my class told his friend "My mother has gone crazy. She has been sitting in the car all week listening to Prince. She keeps saying "Prince is dead. Prince is dead"". I don`t know what is up with her. She has never behaved so strangely."

I overheard the conversation and told the kid: "Tell your mother I feel the same". The boy stared at me saying:"You don`t know my mum". I said:"I think I do."

Thank you for every comment on the board. Who else would understand?

Thanks. I'm going to pick up a copy.

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maybe it's just me, but i find it insulting to us fans, his family, his bandmates, and everyone else who knew Prince personally, when ALL these celebrities keep referring to Prince as "my good friend"

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"unless someone sits down and talks with me, they can't really KNOW me" (Prince)

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how many of these celebrities really "knew" Prince. i don't mean to discount those celebrities who really did get to know him, but as i watch this, i feel sometimes that the media is seeking answers from the wrong people

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Identity said:

KingSausage said:

As someone else mentioned above... Everyone Grieves Differently...

Prince had an entire world full of people who loved and cared for him. Some knew him much more personally than others, and for them, I truly pray for strength and guidance.

Of course, many of us are feeling outrage from one thing or another. We aren't all supposed to agree all the time. That's what makes the world such an interesting place. Our differences make us unique and special. No two people are going to feel exactly the same.. not exactly. We each have our own personal memories which are so special and shaped us into who we are today.

Go easy on each other... we've lost a greatness that we cannot possibly ever replace, nor would we want to. The fact that we LIVED during this era and were part of it... our personal memories... is something no amount of time can take away. We are blessed.

My own views may differ from others. But to me, this IS his beginning... not his end.

As far as I'm concerned; The only good thing right now it seems is there are so some new releases of the old stuff visable. Such as this great recording of the original Purple Rain filmed at First Ave.

Enjoy! https://www.facebook.com/...841764825/

free2bfreeda said:

Im gonna try and pick up some of these magazines about his death tomorrow just to have

" May you live in interesting times"

We were so so lucky to be alive when Prince was alive and see him in concert.

Imagine all those who are not even born but will thankfully yet discover his greatness , but regretably will never see hm live.

I still find it so hard to believe he is gone. I do not think there has been such an outpouring of grief for any other artist before.

[Edited 4/27/16 11:47am]

filthyrich said:

I know I'm a few days late, but this one took a LONG time to write. How do you sum up one of the most important musical influences of your entire life with a handful of words?
You can't. You try, anyway. Read if you can, and share if you enjoy.
http://richpicks.blogspot.com/2016/04/i-could-never-take-place-of-your-man.html

Great blog article. Except the fact that I myself DID want to be Prince at the age of 11, you just perfectly described my own youth... I share exactly the same feeling about a lot of songs you mention and would use the same words. I only couldn't write them down myself. Thanks for this.

From 1 spirit 2 another

or The spiritual open heart surjourney of Safire Bloom.

I wrote only once here before. But I have been reading, checking out once in a while, not very often. The negativity and mean behaviour of certain people kept me from writing here. I didn't need another dose of negativity, there's already enough out there. I will not write anymore here after this.

Everything that you'll read next is the absolute truth, and most of it I was supposed to carry to my grave. But after reading so many testimonials here I changed my mind and decided to allow perfect strangers, you girls & boys, ladies & gents to learn very personal and intimate details about me, my Life and my relationship with my good old friend and his wonderful art. But most of all it ends up being posted here because that conversation that I should have had with him will never take place, obviously. And so you'll understand that I'll not reply to any comment, positive or negative about it. I'm not naive nor stupid; I know that many, inhabited by evil will slash at me. But I'm taking this leap of Faith anyway because it has become clear to me after reading many of what all of you have written, that it might be beneficial to somebody. It may even be simply entertaining. Even if it was only that, I think it would have been worth it since I may have made someone smile in such sad times. Whomever it may or may not reach, so be it. This is for open minds, hearts and eyes. I'm throwing this bottle to the sea. Of course, some details will still be kept secret just in case, please accept it. I'm opening my wings and taking this flight.

Starting transmission...

Somewhere on Earth, April 23 2016

Dear good old friend, I'm writing this to you because that's the only way left to reach you. I don't know if you're still with us in this verse, on this plane, in this reality, or have you moved on already?

I have a few things to tell you and I wish we could have talked while sipping nice hot herbal teas, sitting in the living room with great music playing in the background. For now, my main concern is how can I be taken seriously and not look like a fake who regurgitates what has already been said; that you were a genius(I believe so), that your music was the soundtrack of so many moments of my Life(that is a simple fact!). Let me start by the beginning...

Before

As far as my memory allows me to remember, I was gifted at a very young age. My parents offered me a gift box when I was 3, with something inside and I already showed that I had something special as I started using it. In kindergarten, I was already ahead of other children when it came to display my art. I had it inside of me. Although I must admit that I was surrounded with family members who showed artistic qualities, so I'm convinced it had a profound effect on me. But no classes were needed, my talent just was and amazed my family.

I've always been a quiet and shy child as well, and very sensitive; I know there are others here with us.

Another thing that also characterized me is no matter how a fight would end, my nose bleeding or the other boy's, on my way back home for sure I would start sobbing. Why? ... Because my spirit would be hurt, because inside I knew that what just happened was wrong. That I was not supposed to do something bad such as this. It was not my path. It was not my way. It was not me. It was not how and who I was supposed to be. I would feel bad and sad for the rest of the day.

The first song

I remember the first song I heard, it was "Controversy" playing on the radio in the car. But I was a bit too young at that time to start my journey with you.

Then, when 1999 started playing on the radio I got hooked; I was a young teenager and things were falling into place so my adventure could start. I remember calling radio stations to request "1999" and "Little red corvette". I was getting you airplay in a small town of a remote region(Later on I became a radio DJ and gave you extensive airplay, spinning anything I pleased including the uncensored version of Sexy MF). Nobody knows what Funk was, there it was white rock all over N.E.W.S. Back then I didn't have money to buy the album. So I depended on the radio. Remember, that's how things were back then. You should have seen me drooling while watching Lisa and Jill in the"1999" video, they officially made me a horny teenager!

The doves cried

Then June of 1984 happened and "When doves cry" solidified my interest in your music. Came the rest of the singles and of course the movie. At this point I was totally immersed; I was dressing up, had the hairdo, wearing eyeliner, to the extent that some losers at school started calling me "Prince". That was annoying, I didn't want attention. I was simply doing what I wanted to do with my Life. If I wanted to dress a certain way, listen to a certain type of music, act a certain way, I wasn't about to let anybody dictate how I should live my Life. As far and for as much as I knew, this(Life) was a one time deal and I had no guarantee to have a second chance so I was making sure to enjoy it to the fullest, make most of it, so I don't end up with a collection of regrets at the end of the road. Must I specify that I was doing this with no intent to hurt anybody and I wasn't being rude. It was all done with respect. But of course, by being different, by being myself as in doing and living what I wanted to live, envy and disapproval erupted. Rumours also were going around; half of the school thought I was homosexual while the other half thought I was getting every girl pregnant. Teasing became bullying, and it got ugly enough... very ugly...dangerously ugly. Fortunately at this point, I had already found a source of strength in your music. It helped me a lot. I'm sure you're smart enough and guessed how it could have turned out and how much it helped me.

I wasn't able to afford to go with my friends for the premiere of the movie in our small town. So they went without me. The next morning when we all met in high school, they gave me freaky look and started accusing me of playing them, they were sure I was an act. I was completely shocked, I was confused, I really didn't understand what was wrong with them. When they finally calmed down they started explaining that they couldn't believe what they were watching the movie, they simply couldn't believe how much we were so alike. Not identical, different but close, like brothers can be. I smiled and told them it was just a coincidence. I watched the movie a week later and I saw what they meant. It was obvious. I looked a lot like you, I could have been a body double.

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I was saving my lunch money(5$/day) just to afford the extended versions, 12 inches and anything I could find about you. I didn't tell my mother and she still doesn't know to this day so let's keep it a secret between us OK? I was buying magazines, small books, buttons, etc. Without knowing it I was turning into a collector. 3 of my bedroom walls had posters all over them and I painted the fourth one with the face from “Purple rain” inner sleeve, the one we see in the “When doves cry” video. You, the Revolution, scenes from the movie, it was grand, it was like a museum. My friends said that entering my bedroom was like stepping in another world. I started building a collection of 90 minutes cassettes where I would first put the album followed but all the extended versions and remixes I could find. I even custom made my own covers for those cassettes. I would be in front of the TV with my finger on the remote of the VCR ready to press record each time you were performing at an award or when your new videos would be presented on shows like Friday Night Videos. So many times I closed my bedroom door, dropped the needle on a record and started lip-synching in front of the mirror, dancing all around my small room which was now a huge stage, jumping on and off my bed, singing for thousands of delirious fans around the world. I was living a dream through you. Not only were you a companion through your music but it began to inspire me to be creative as well. I decorated my bedroom with candles, unicorns and I even found that little puppet in a cone that you use to tease Wendy & Lisa in the movie. A good friend and I even started role playing, he personified Morris while I was The Kid. We had so much fun! It was the eighties, we were young and free and we felt like we could live every fantasy. One time I learned that my parents would leave for a weekend so I immediately organized a party which theme was “Erotic city” and all the guests had to come dressed accordingly. So the girls & boys ended up wearing very sexy outfits, lingerie, lace and all. That was a wild party and more than 30 years later they still remember it, trust me! Guess whose music played at this unforgettable party...

The more I came to learn about you the more I thought we have many things in common. I was also becoming hungrier for more material so I bought “For you” and “Prince”. I was getting a more complete and accurate vision of your world, little by little, piece by piece. Pleased by what I learned in my readings, you became a role model. I stopped drinking alcohol and I never touched any drugs. Much later I would discover that you were a vegetarian as well. I continued buying your albums, eagerly awaiting their release. Each time it was an event. I bought all vinyls up to the “Love symbol”. Then I started all over again with CD's and now have quite an impressive collection.

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To be continued...

Continuing...

The ride

I could make a movie with the story of my Life. In fact, my Life is a movie, really! And if only I had a lot of money, I would make that movie. But I would need A LOT of money since probably 50% of the budget could go just in music rights since I would need to use so many of your songs for so many amazing moments of my journey. I often dreamed of being rich enough to afford inviting you to come and play a private concert in my house. You would have played anything you want. Just played. Just for fun.

Your music played such an important and crucial role in my Life. In many different ways, at many different times. It touch me so deeply. You also broadened my musical knowledge by leading me to listen to Jimi Hendrix , Sly & the family Stone, P-Funk and Tower of power. And the more I discovered, the more I learned, the more I got you. When “Around the world in a day” came out I understood what you were doing and I loved how it was refreshing, bold, exploring new directions far away from “Purple rain”. Along the way I've been getting you. I understood your decisions and went with it, I was on the ride and no bumps would get me off it. Even if I haven't always agreed with you. When the “Love symbol” album came out and I saw there was a song titled “My name is Prince” and you just had changed your name I laughed hard and loud. I loved the irony. I must reveal somethings that will surely upset you, but please bear with me. I bought bootlegs. I have lots of them. I even got my hands on a copy of the black album. You have to understand that a one point, your music became my drug and I needed my fix. So I was thirsty, hungry for new material. I wanted more and more. There would never be too much. And when I started getting my first pieces of live recordings or outtakes, I was convinced it was you doing this to break the leash from WB. I thought it was a brilliant plan; since they wouldn't let you release your music as you please then why not do it on your own under the table. But from now on, it may be over... depending on what happens next.

As for what's happening right now, well, not that I'm in any way proud of it but I predicted it 30 years ago. And I really have no merit. It was pretty obvious and easy to guess the ending of this story. I was telling people that all the media whores would swoop down on your still warm body like the rotten vultures that they are. Media that had ignored you all along would have suddenly found a sudden value in your music and your Life. But it's far worse than I ever imagined; and of course ignorant and incompetent fools still perpetrate fallacies and inaccuracies about you like what you wrote for such artist and so on. And it's very irritating for somebody like me, to the point that it infuriates me. I know it's all fake, hypocrisy, lies and pretend. It's really insulting. Thieves in the temple!

Sharing the love

I used to sing “The question of U”, “Sweet baby”, “Don't talk to strangers”, “Empty room” and “Be my mirror” as lullabies to my son. When he turned 16 I made him a compilation of your songs spanning all eras of your career so when the time of going to a show would come, he would be musically educated. This paid off when you surprised us in 2011 for Montréal's Jazz Festival with 2 shows. I was able to grab 2 tickets and announce the great news to my son. He couldn't believe it. Then June 24 happened, you gave us of course another show to remember; 4 hours of pure delight!!! My son was levitating, he understood my passion, he got you!

My girlfriend gets really in the mood when I sing “Damn U” to her. I proceeded to educate her as well in case you would come back, since she was out of town unfortunately on 2 occasions when you came to Montréal. But last March, when the “Piano & a microphone” was suddenly announced, we jumped on the opportunity even if the tickets were very expensive and hurt our budget, because she really wanted to see you perform, plus I told her that this show will surely be one to remember as a classic since you would be solo and would spoil us with beautiful vocal prowess. We got good seats, not front row but 50 feet away from you. We were at the first show(7pm). It was again unique and magical, like only you could deliver. My girlfriend was insatiable, she would have taken 2 more hours of your beautiful, lovely, emotional, amazing musicianship. I still have the set list that I quickly wrote down as soon as we got home. And now, she's showing signs of a mild depression case: barely sleeps and loss of appetite, lack of energy and of course crying. We would have loved to do our pilgrimage to Paisley Park to put something on the fence, a few words, flowers, and maybe shed a few tears. Maybe I would had a chat with some people, maybe not since I'm so shy, it would depend if they approach me first. But we can't, we don't have the money. So we're stuck here, witnessing it at a distance, like many others.

There will never be another

I learned a lot from you, in many ways; about sensuality, sexuality, seduction, how to dance, even maybe how to sing, about perseverance, to be bold and courageous, striving for perfection, do my best to live a positive and productive day so when I lay my head on the pillow at night I would not have regrets. So many times I had to defend you, as I was ridiculed for listening to your music and admiring you. People simply didn't get you and your art.

I often thought that we could have sung a duet or 2. Or if you were not satisfied I could have simply settled for back-up vox. I think I could have brought something to your creations, a very small collaboration but it could have been nice. I was so loyal to you that if you would have fired me on Monday, I would come back the Tuesday morning and apply for the job wearing a fake moustache, so you wouldn't recognize me.

A couple of times a year I would have those dreams where we were performing together, in the Studio or on stage and the beautiful music we were creating, the new melodies, the new grooves and unknown beats we would come up with were incredible. Often the harmonies are so touching and intense that I wake up with tears rolling down my cheeks. Or other times I wake up and catch myself signing the last notes of those magical songs. Every time I'm deeply moved by these vibrant dreams. I have a hard time going back to sleep. Last time was a month ago.

But some dreams do come true.

I will never forget that night of March 1993. After waiting for 10 years I was finally going to attend your very first show in Montréal. It was the “Love symbol(Act 1)” tour and I wasn't going to let a rare opportunity like this one go to waste so I made something for you and planned to offer it to you. As soon as we reached our front row seats I spotted one member of your security crew and asked him to give you the present. He nodded reassuring me that it would reach you. He walked away and I hoped he would keep his word. I had written a short note with that present to tell you my gratitude for this opportunity to finally attend one of your show. You know what I said and which words I used to describe my appreciation. The show started and there you were for the for the first time in Montréal and made sure the long wait was worth it. And boy was it!!! And then, suddenly the magical moment happened, in the middle of “The continental” you came right in front of me and signalled me to meet you on stage. I will never forget the feeling when you grabbed my hand and led me to the centre of the stage and we turned around to face that thundering crowd of 15,000 cheering madly as they had 2 Princes(Yes! I dressed appropriately). We were standing side by side holding each others shoulders and then you invited me to go and join Mayte on the speakers to dance with her, which I did with style. Do you remember my good old friend? Maybe Mayte remembers since as soon as I reached her I told her that I've been waiting 10 years to see your show. Watching me dance with Mayte, the crowd went crazier. I would have never thought that the roar of 15,000 ecstatic people could be so deafening. I never got to thank you for this magical moment which was the highlight of my very first show. But, as I discovered months later, the dream was not over yet; you managed to thank me for the present through the VHS of “3 chains o' gold”. For that, I thank you a million miles my good old friend.

Friends later asked me how was the experience and I replied that words were too restrictive to fully express what I felt. I'm having the same difficulty while trying to describe those profound links between your music and precise feelings and moments of my Life. The more accurate I want to be, the more complex it gets. It's as if there was a connection between us, and sometimes your songs would be just for me, for what was going on in my Life. Countless times I've had goosebumps or tears would fill my eyes while listening to songs that were so close to me; So blue, Something in the water, It's gonna be lonely, Gotta broken heart again, Free, Condition of the heart, Sometimes it snows in April, The question of U, Comeback, Old friends for sale, Grand progression, Empty room, There's others here with us. There was a strange impression of exclusiveness. I know it can't be, but I'm just telling that it felt like that at times. It may explain why I was dreading that tragic situation. Now, who's going to compose the rest of the score of my Life? I can't go on in silence! It would be unbearable. Sure, I could always go back in time and use all you left me, us. But wouldn't it be like reading yesterday's news, as you used to put it, day after day?

I'll let you go now, others surely need you, they too have important things to tell, so many things...

I most sincerely hope you will find the Grand progression... and hope we meet again, in any time, space, shape or form.

As for me...Empty room? You bet, nobody will ever know. I'm a child in a dark room with no lights.... And there is lonely.

All my brotherly love, Godspeed my beautiful good old friend!

End of transmission...

As for you girls & boys I leave you with a little piece of art (2 versions)done by my talented best friend SteGo, and a fascinating tribute by David Icke here, right on the mark.

Hope you enjoyed. Take good care. Farewell.

Safire Bloom

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mothyham said:

Don't curse the darkness, People.

What did we learn from Prince?

Love.

Plain and simple.

I LOVE that I was alive while He was.

I LOVE that I lived during His lifetime AND Bowie's simultaneously.

I LOVE that they both found their calling and it led to our JOY.

Really, Folks.

We are lucky sonsabitches.

Let's feel that blessing and be thankful they were here as long as they were.

LUCKY US!

Absolutely. Prince fans are and will be the luckiest fans ever. They went where no other fan will be going. Love4oneanother.

tower records in s. f. california was rocking (at the early prince record making era) depending on who was on the register at the time.

i luved me some 'controversy' it was so "now."

when i would go to tower at the time, and if 'controversy' was playing, i'd be walking on rhythmic sound waves. even the walls inside the recca stowe was rockin'.

i still have my vinyl from the time.

[Edited 4/27/16 12:44pm]

Been a long time since I've been here. This past week has been so unreal, I truly feel like I've lost a family member. I keep thinking I'm OK and then I completely lose it. Thank you so much for everything P.

1contessa said:

Shhh747 said:

Identity said:

So incredibly hard to watch and hear.

Best tribute I've seen. So amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6uzBHhPEWpE

[Edited 4/27/16 12:46pm]