*the author of the article mistakenly says Eddie left in the middle of the Purple Rain tour, which he actually left in the middle of the Parade tour summer 1986*

Remembering Prince: Milpitas musician recalls working with ‘genius’

Having the freedom to make mistakes in the recording studio is one of the many lessons saxophone player and Milpitas resident Eddie Mininfield learned from working with late singer and songwriter Prince.

Mininfield, who performed and recorded with Prince and The Revolution during the “Purple Rain Tour” in the mid-1980s, said Prince taught him to not worry about miscues and to express himself through his instrument in a similar way to a paint brush on canvas.

“‘Your painting is what you make,'” Mininfield, 54, recalled Prince telling him.

A genius with music flowing through him is how Mininfield will always remember Prince — born Prince Rogers Nelson — who died on April 21, 2016 at age 57.

His unexpected death, the cause of which still remains undetermined, came as a shock to Mininfield who was at home in his office when one of his daughters called him with the news. Prince collaborator Sheila E., with whom Mininfield has played with as a member of her band for more than 30 years, confirmed the death to him that same day after a flurry of phone calls.

“I think he lived a full life,” Mininfield said of Prince’s musical accomlishments.

In the months before his death, Prince performed twice in the Bay Area — on Feb. 28 at The Paramount Theater in Oakland on his “Piano & A Microphone” tour and on March 4 at Oracle Arena, also in Oakland. Due to his schedule, Mininfield was unable to attend and now regrets not being able to see his one-time mentor for those final shows, Mininfield said.

The last time Mininfield spoke with Prince was during the San Jose stop on his “Welcome 2 America” tour in 2011. The conversation was cordial, he said.

On the “Purple Rain Tour,” which launched after the movie of the same name came out in 1984, Sheila E. and her band opened for Prince. For Mininfield, who was in his early 20s at the time, Prince was a teacher and he tried to absorb as much knowledge as he could like a sponge such as learning how to record music and about the music industry.

“He was awesome to me I must say,” he said. “I spent some good time being educated by him. Learning how to record. Learning what this music industry was all about. He taught great lessons.”

While Prince could be clever, sharp and willing to share, he could also go though phases where he did not walk to talk to anyone, Mininfield said.

Life on tour with Prince was grinding, Mininfield said. The schedule was filled with back-to-back show dates in different cities. The band traveled by bus, the favored mode of travel by Prince back then.

“He loved the bus at that point,” he said.

Sheila E. and her band performed at the Los Angeles premiere of “Purple Rain” in July 1984. In a surprise to attendees, Prince and The Revolution also took to the stage.

But Mininfield decided to leave the tour to pursue recording with a band he had formed with drummer John Paris, who played in Sheila E.’s band at the time and is now with the band Earth, Wind & Fire.

“It was just time,” he said.

Including the tour and time recording in the studio and performing in music videos, Mininfield worked with Prince for almost five years. He recorded with Prince and The Revolution on the “Around the World in a Day” album, which came out in 1985 and sold more than 1 million copies. He also appears in the music video for the first single on that album, “America.” The video was shot in Nice, France.

Mininfield performed with Prince at the Grammy Awards and other award shows. The last time Mininfield performed on stage with Prince was at the 36th NAACP Image Awards in 2005.

In his career, Mininfield, also known by his stage name Eddie M., has recorded and performed with artists including Eric Benet, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Nicks and Karyn White. After watching Duke Ellington perform at Berkeley High School when he was 8 years old, Mininfield wanted to play the sax. He now owns seven of them.

“You can never have too many saxophones,” he quipped.

The saxophone was one of the few instruments Prince did not play along with the trumpet and other band instruments.

Prince recruited many musicians out of the Bay Area to play and record with him, according to Mininfield, who was born in Oakland and raised in Berkeley.

“He loved this place,” he said.

Mininfield has lived in Milpitas on and off for about 27 years.

“I kind of fell in love with the town,” he said of an ex-wife’s hometown.

Coming off the “Purple Rain Tour,” Mininfield was looking for a change of pace before settling in Milpitas, he said.

One of his four daughters, Jacinda Mininfield. 18, graduated from Milpitas High this week. Also known as Jaci M., she is the lead vocalist for Pacific Soul Band, which her father manages. He also has three step children.

Eddie M tour with Sheila E 4 the Glamorous Life album

and he performed on the PR tour with Prince and the Revolution on a few songs like Take Me With U, Possessed, Irresistable Bitch, Baby I'm a Star, (America)

He recorded on the Romance 1600(Sheila E) 1985 album

and he played sax on The Ladder & Temptation from the Prince & the Revolution album Around the World in a Day

He performed @ Prince's 1985 Birthday show/Masquerade Ball with Prince the Revolution Sheila E the Family members

He performed with Prince & the Revolution @ the Theatre Du Verdure Oct 1985

he performed on the unreleased Love or Money video

and continued with Sheila E for her 3rd album and co-wrote one of her big hits Hold Me

Nice article--thanks for sharing. I always wondered what made Prince choose Eric Leeds over Eddie M as a permanent sax player. I'm sure if I researched it more, it may be indicated. I just remember watching the Purple Rain Syracuse show for the first time, not knowing Leeds or M and thinking, "Man, that Eddie M. is fabulous." Then, of course, after the Parade Tour, when the Sign 'O' the Times movie was released, Leeds was the permanent sax player. Of course, I grew to respect and love Leeds' playing as well, but, on first sight/sound, it was something about the raw energy in M's playing that made me think that he would have been the one that Prince choose. But, as history shows, choosing Leeds was not a bad choice.

1725topp said:

Nice article--thanks for sharing. I always wondered what made Prince choose Eric Leeds over Eddie M as a permanent sax player. I'm sure if I researched it more, it may be indicated. I just remember watching the Purple Rain Syracuse show for the first time, not knowing Leeds or M and thinking, "Man, that Eddie M. is fabulous." Then, of course, after the Parade Tour, when the Sign 'O' the Times movie was released, Leeds was the permanent sax player. Of course, I grew to respect and love Leeds' playing as well, but, on first sight/sound, it was something about the raw energy in M's playing that made me think that he would have been the one that Prince choose. But, as history shows, choosing Leeds was not a bad choice.

I've researched and researched as well what happened. I thought it was just Sheila E changing the band up, but Eddie was still with her summer 1986

.

Part of me think Prince might have had Eddie & Eric in his band. They both were in the (unrel) Love or Money video that was shot too

.

I love their sounds. Eddie was wild and Eric was smooth. There sounds I've come to totally associate with Purple Music.

Eddie M on the left Eric on the right

wow, those pics are beautiful.

Much love for Eddie M!

I LOVE this pic! Where did you get it? It's rare to see wide shots like this from Prince tours. See Prince and the Revolution on the Purple Rain Tour in LA was my first ever concert. I was 13 at the time and have been facinated with that tour ever since. I gobble up any info I can on it. Thx for posting!

OldFriends4Sale said:

1725topp said:

Nice article--thanks for sharing. I always wondered what made Prince choose Eric Leeds over Eddie M as a permanent sax player. I'm sure if I researched it more, it may be indicated. I just remember watching the Purple Rain Syracuse show for the first time, not knowing Leeds or M and thinking, "Man, that Eddie M. is fabulous." Then, of course, after the Parade Tour, when the Sign 'O' the Times movie was released, Leeds was the permanent sax player. Of course, I grew to respect and love Leeds' playing as well, but, on first sight/sound, it was something about the raw energy in M's playing that made me think that he would have been the one that Prince choose. But, as history shows, choosing Leeds was not a bad choice.

I've researched and researched as well what happened. I thought it was just Sheila E changing the band up, but Eddie was still with her summer 1986

.

Part of me think Prince might have had Eddie & Eric in his band. They both were in the (unrel) Love or Money video that was shot too

.

I love their sounds. Eddie was wild and Eric was smooth. There sounds I've come to totally associate with Purple Music.

Eddie M on the left Eric on the right

Back in the day, I thought of Eddie as Prince's version of Maceo. As a very young trumpet player, I foolishly tried to mimic his style of play. Atlanta Bliss turned out to be more in my lane. Anyway, this guy and Prince made some funk magic.

Yes, I love that photo too

To be able see all the musicians/singers

and this one doesn't even have Jerome and Apollonia in it

imtbone said:

I LOVE this pic! Where did you get it? It's rare to see wide shots like this from Prince tours. See Prince and the Revolution on the Purple Rain Tour in LA was my first ever concert. I was 13 at the time and have been facinated with that tour ever since. I gobble up any info I can on it. Thx for posting!

OldFriends4Sale said:

I've researched and researched as well what happened. I thought it was just Sheila E changing the band up, but Eddie was still with her summer 1986

.

Part of me think Prince might have had Eddie & Eric in his band. They both were in the (unrel) Love or Money video that was shot too

.

I love their sounds. Eddie was wild and Eric was smooth. There sounds I've come to totally associate with Purple Music.

Eddie M on the left Eric on the right

OldFriends4Sale said:

1725topp said:

Nice article--thanks for sharing. I always wondered what made Prince choose Eric Leeds over Eddie M as a permanent sax player. I'm sure if I researched it more, it may be indicated. I just remember watching the Purple Rain Syracuse show for the first time, not knowing Leeds or M and thinking, "Man, that Eddie M. is fabulous." Then, of course, after the Parade Tour, when the Sign 'O' the Times movie was released, Leeds was the permanent sax player. Of course, I grew to respect and love Leeds' playing as well, but, on first sight/sound, it was something about the raw energy in M's playing that made me think that he would have been the one that Prince choose. But, as history shows, choosing Leeds was not a bad choice.

I've researched and researched as well what happened. I thought it was just Sheila E changing the band up, but Eddie was still with her summer 1986

.

Part of me thinks Prince might have had Eddie & Eric in his band. They both were in the (unrel) Love or Money video that was shot too

.

I love their sounds. Eddie was wild and Eric was smooth. There sounds I've come to totally associate with Purple Music.

Eddie M on the left Eric on the right

*

You summarized perfectly how their sound complimented each other, adding even more texture and layers to Prince's sound.

i was wondering when someone would be able to get a word from him.

PeteSilas said:

i was wondering when someone would be able to get a word from him.

I just remember a little note on his FB page when Prince died: Rest in Peace Teacher

Funny when I saw the thread title I thought it was referencing Eddie Murphy.