Excerpt from the letter published online by Business Insider--

http://www.businessinsider.com/prince-secret-letter-2016-5

For most of all of my adult life, I have labored under one construct. I compose music, write lyrics, and produce songs for myself and others. My creativity is my life; it is what guides my everyday, my sleepless nights. My songs are my children. I feel them. I watch them grow and I nurture them to maturity. I deliver them to my record company, and suddenly, they are no longer mine. The process is painful. I have been long ready for a new program. The time is now...

The story is about Prince's copyright battles, but the letter offers a glimpse of the man who fought for 18 years to regain control of his Masters and his life.

I don't understand why Warner was so unwilling to negotiate another deal. In an interview, the man who originally signed Prince had also signed Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin--and both of those people owned their Masters. Why not Prince?

Corporations can relay run an issue for generations grinding through technicians (lawyers, accountants and executives--even owners) but each of us has only one life. Eighteen years in a life of 57 years is a long time.

Yet, this challenge perhaps contributed to the man Prince became. In interviews, despite the constant struggle and legal expenses, he grew stronger. Deeper, grounded and confident. His music at the end of his life reflected his personal growth. And this, like his music and creative genius, will be part of his legacy.

That being said,

In one small paragraph I read, I understand a little more about what it was like being around Prince. In an interview I think he did around the time of musicology, he said that he felt he didn't write music, that he was channeling it or was a medium for his higher power. The paragraph is the one where he talks about his songs being his child to nurture from birth and raise them until they are mature.


He was obsessed with his music ( not in a bad way) and that could be why he had few relationships. Music was more important. Or perhaps it was what saved him when ahmir passed away...

Is that the letter Neal Karlen wrote?

The last thing we worked on together was a private 1993 manifesto, written by me in his voice, explaining why he really changed his name to that goofy glyph. He told me the manifesto was for a “time capsule” to be buried on the grounds of Paisley Park. I have no idea if it ever was. I have my copy on a last-century floppy disk in a Minikahda Storage locker where I keep memories I don’t know where to put.

http://www.startribune.com/letters-from-prince-a-minneapolis-writer-remembers-his-relationship-with-a-lost-star/377555951/

Quote "I would never be able to leave the legacy of my music to my family, my future children or anyone"

Then why is there no will?

Superconductor said:

Quote "I would never be able to leave the legacy of my music to my family, my future children or anyone" Then why is there no will?

Many don't believe that Prince did not have a will. I, as well, find it hard to believe. Now, why someone would lie and say that Prince didn't have a will is anyone's guess. But here's one, maybe they weren't in the will. Maybe it's in someone's vested interest that it be believed that he didn't have a will.

Superconductor said:

Quote "I would never be able to leave the legacy of my music to my family, my future children or anyone" Then why is there no will?

<double post>

[Edited 5/30/16 7:39am]

Superconductor said:

If true, isn't this the best explanation yet for the LACK of a will? Because right now it looks like he didn't do exactly what he says he wouldn't do in that quote.

McD said:

Superconductor said:

Quote "I would never be able to leave the legacy of my music to my family, my future children or anyone" Then why is there no will?

If true, isn't this the best explanation yet for the LACK of a will? Because right now it looks like he didn't do exactly what he says he wouldn't do in that quote.

No.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

McD said:

Superconductor said: If true, isn't this the best explanation yet for the LACK of a will? Because right now it looks like he didn't do exactly what he says he wouldn't do in that quote.

No.

I took this to mean that since he did not own his masters, he could not leave them to anyone. Maybe if he didn't have a will, this is why.

MJ007 said:

"Many don't believe" is not the same as "it is true". Besides, this letter was written somewhere in the 90s, has absolutely nothing to do with a will...

NorthC said:

MJ007 said:

Many don't believe that Prince did not have a will. I, as well, find it hard to believe. Now, why someone would lie and say that Prince didn't have a will is anyone's guess. But here's one, maybe they weren't in the will. Maybe it's in someone's vested interest that it be believed that he didn't have a will.

"Many don't believe" is not the same as "it is true". Besides, this letter was written somewhere in the 90s, has absolutely nothing to do with a will...

Who said anything about it being true that he didn't have a will? Nor did anyone speculate that the letter had anything to do with a will. Keep up.

"Why someone would LIE and say he didn't have a will"... Those were your own words, weren't they, MJ007?

NorthC said:

"Why someone would LIE and say he didn't have a will"... Those were your own words, weren't they, MJ007?

Yes, those were my words - and why would someone lie? I gave you a reason if you go back and read what I wrote. I don't believe that he didn't have a will. Now if you believe otherwise, that's you.

Wait so was The Vault Old Friends for Sale one of the last 3 albums to fulfill the Warner Bros contract? In the letter it says "The Artist is prepared to deliver the three (3) remaining albums under his former name Prince which will fulfill his contractual to WBR. Currently, the albums are titled: Prince: The Vault — Volumes I, II and III."

.

But why was The Vault OF4S released under warner bros in 1999?

MJ007 said:

No, you didn't. You were just speculating. That's not the same as "giving a reason".

LuvuInMe said:

Wait so was The Vault Old Friends for Sale one of the last 3 albums to fulfill the Warner Bros contract? In the letter it says "The Artist is prepared to deliver the three (3) remaining albums under his former name Prince which will fulfill his contractual to WBR. Currently, the albums are titled: Prince: The Vault — Volumes I, II and III."

.

But why was The Vault OF4S released under warner bros in 1999?

I believe that at the settlement of his contract in 1996, Prince delivered two "vault" albums to Warner - Chaos & Disorder and Old Friends 4 Sale. Warner held off releasing the latter til 1999. They were also allowed to release a certain number of greatest hits collections (2, I think - The Very Best of and Ultimate)

NorthC said:

MJ007 said:

Yes, those were my words - and why would someone lie? I gave you a reason if you go back and read what I wrote. I don't believe that he didn't have a will. Now if you believe otherwise, that's you.

No, you didn't. You were just speculating. That's not the same as "giving a reason".

Well hell, that's all any of us are doing is speculating! You don't know the circumstances either so your input is nothing but speculation also.

I do not believe in conspiracy theories and neither that someone is hiding a will or lying about it.

.

If there was a will, there would be a lawyer or someone official who would know about it. You can't just write a will and put it in the drawer for it to be a valid will. It needs to be witnessed etc.

Superconductor said:

I do not believe in conspiracy theories and neither that someone is hiding a will or lying about it.

.

If there was a will, there would be a lawyer or someone official who would know about it. You can't just write a will and put it in the drawer for it to be a valid will. It needs to be witnessed etc.

Exactly. A legal will has to have a witness. If there was a witness around, he would have spoke up and said he witnessed a will. as far as we know, no one has come forward saying that. Of course, he could have ended up at the bottom of a river...

McD said:

Superconductor said:

Quote "I would never be able to leave the legacy of my music to my family, my future children or anyone" Then why is there no will?

If true, isn't this the best explanation yet for the LACK of a will? Because right now it looks like he didn't do exactly what he says he wouldn't do in that quote.

Doesnt that mean he did do what he said he would do? Trying to get me head around the double negatives..

MJ007 said:

Superconductor said:

Quote "I would never be able to leave the legacy of my music to my family, my future children or anyone" Then why is there no will?

Many don't believe that Prince did not have a will. I, as well, find it hard to believe. Now, why someone would lie and say that Prince didn't have a will is anyone's guess. But here's one, maybe they weren't in the will. Maybe it's in someone's vested interest that it be believed that he didn't have a will.

With all at stake I personally believe his sister or some other family member found that will and decided to shred it 'cause they weren't in it!! Why on God's green earth would he abandon his "children" after fighting so long and hard to get them back?? It makes absolutely NO sense and no one can convince me otherwise. Just my opinion...