I'm not sure where y'all are hearing things from band members, but I hear the opposite. First, I agree with BillieBalloon, but would argue Sheila was a better drummer - a lot of folks have said Prince was a good drummer, but he wasn't Neal Pert or John Bonham etc. Even a seasoned person like Sonny T., who Prince often praised as being an idol to him, left being a better player.

All that aside, almost every person that has worked with Prince has talked about he pushed them to be better, to do and play things they never thought they could accomplish. Years ago it was Jimmy or someone from The Time that talked about how they were playing, then Prince made them dance or do moves. They said, "How am I supposed to play, and sing, and dance?" They thought Prince was crazy demanding that sort of thing. Then after some practice, they realized they could do all that, and more.

While I don't know much of the background of 3rd Eye Girl, I would think some of them never thought they'd be in their 20s playing "Raspberry Beret" or "Ice Cream Castles" with Prince.

I would venture to say that every person who was ever in Prince's band went in as one player, but left being quite another. And they've always said that.

I think because it is a given that being a protege/band member within the 'album utopian visions' that they were greatly inspired and opened to influences by Prince the head frontman.

But style and stage presense. Bring out the look, the eyes, the reflection of Prince through them was why those in the 80s had such a huge impact in the Prince world.

creating a 'little vision' or world via the music, the band, the album cohesion.

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis took what Prince did during the 1980-1986 period and translated it to Janet Jackson. It was 70% of why her first 4 albums were so successful.

Indeed! And in terms of playing style? Song writing?

paulludvig said:

Ok. So Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were influenced by Prince. Who else? And in what way?

My post was about all of them.

I cannot say much about those in the NPG

I would assume most have been inspired in the way of Prince's dedication to the craft of music.

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The Jimmy & Terry + Janet is specific, because they almost did the protege thing.
I would like to know more about how the developement of the songs that had 'erotic' conversation came about ie Do Me Baby, the Walk etc They duplicated that with Janet Jackson on songs like Funny How Time Flies, Some Day Is Tonight etc

But Janet was a huge Prince/The Time/Vanity 6 fan too so I don't know how much of it was Janet.

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Same with Jesse Johnson. He did a lot of that in the 80s having TaMara & the Seen and 1 other 'protege' I cannot recall right now. The Minneapolis sound was definately strong on his first 2 albums.

Some have reported that fear made them better.

NorthC said:

Sheila E never even thought about being a singer before she met Prince. So I guess it's safe to say that she owes her solo carreer to him. Same for Morris Day, Brownmark... And folks often talk about how Wendy & Lisa introduced Prince to psychedelic pop, but he was the one who made them sound funky!

I think Sheila E & David Coleman brought in a lot of different percussion sounds, that obviously influence Purple music. But Sheila E definately continued that protege band 'image' throught her career. I don't think Prince really took to her heavy Latin Jazz percussion sound.

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you can hear Prince's influence here from 89 and reminds me some of his 94East days music too

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and this is from 2011 and has an undercurrent of his 1978-1980 stuff

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Wendy & Susannah talked about first hearing Prince dancing in a club to Soft n Wet and fell in love with his music from there, so I think being a fan of someone obviously is influencing them musically. You can hear it well in Wendy's playing that she definately took to Prince's guitar style.

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Those in the band in the earlier years, as the music is literally being developed, will have a different experience than those who came after that foundational period of 'purple music' was established.

OldFriends4Sale said:

NorthC said:

Sheila E never even thought about being a singer before she met Prince. So I guess it's safe to say that she owes her solo carreer to him. Same for Morris Day, Brownmark... And folks often talk about how Wendy & Lisa introduced Prince to psychedelic pop, but he was the one who made them sound funky!

I think Sheila E & David Coleman brought in a lot of different percussion sounds, that obviously influence Purple music. But Sheila E definately continued that protege band 'image' throught her career. I don't think Prince really took to her heavy Latin Jazz percussion sound.

.

you can hear Prince's influence here from 89 and reminds me some of his 94East days music too

.

.

.

.

and this is from 2011 and has an undercurrent of his 1978-1980 stuff

.

.

.

.

.

Wendy & Susannah talked about first hearing Prince dancing in a club to Soft n Wet and fell in love with his music from there, so I think being a fan of someone obviously is influencing them musically. You can hear it well in Wendy's playing that she definately took to Prince's guitar style.

.

Those in the band in the earlier years, as the music is literally being developed, will have a different experience than those who came after that foundational period of 'purple music' was established.

Interesting! I think this b-side has a definite Prince vibe as well