Is it Candy Dulfer? I have just recently noticed her (I really don't pay attention to his band members that much, though I am aware of the current line up).

I started looking at liner notes and she dates back to Graffitti Bridge or before (?). Has she been with him the longest? He hasn't put the spotlight on her until recently it seems.

This isn't particularly scientific and is based on his tour band members rather than those musicians / performers who featured on record, or when those people effectively made guest appearances - e.g. Kirk and Morris H returned at the Celebration 2002 - there's more grey areas here than the top of my head - but that's because I've lost so much hair scratching my head thinking about it.

Moreover, the reference to years is deceiving, because RAD (for example) toured with Prince in 2003-4 and is given 2 years as a result, but she made very few appearances in reality, so don't place too much store by it - but effectively, Matt Fink is still out there in front.

But here it is for what it's worth - alll corrections welcome (Not sure whether, for example, Desiree should be up there as a dancer?)

Dr. Fink (1978-1990 13 years Keys
Mr. Hayes (1993-2001) 9 years Keys
Kirk Johnson (1990-1993, 1996-2000) 9 years Drums / percussion
Bobby Z (1978-1986) 9 years Drums
Lisa Coleman (1979-1986) 8 years Keys
Michael B (1989-1996) 8 years Drums
Rhonda Smith (1996-1998, 2000-now) 8 years Bass
Levi Seacer Jr. (1987-1993) 7 years Bass / Guitar
Sonny T (1991-1996) 7 years Bass
Dez Dickerson (1978-1983) 6 years Guitar
Tommy Babarella (1991-1996) 6 years Keys
Mike Scott (1996-2000, 2004) 6 years Guitar
Brownmark (1981-1986) 6 years Bass
Eric Leeds (1986-1988, 2002-03) 5 years Horns
Miko Weaver (1986-1990) 5 years Guitar
Mayte (1992-1996) 5 years Dancer
Wendy Melvoin (1983-1986) 4 years Guitar
Tony M (1990-1993) 4 years Rap
Damon D (1990-1993) 4 years Dancer
John Blackwell (2001-now) 4 years Drums
Andre Cymone (1978-1981) 4 years Bass
Maceo Parker (2001-2004) 4 years Horns
Greg Boyer (2001-2004) 4 years Horns
Candy Dulfer (2002-2004) 3 years Horns
Atlanta Bliss (1986-1988) 3 years Horns
Cat (1987-1989) 3 years Dancer
Boni Boyer (1987-1989) 3 years Vocal / Keys
Sheila E (1987-1989) 3 years Drums
Rosie Gaines (1990-1992) 3 years Vocal / keys
Kat Dyson (1996-1998) 3 years Vocal
Renato Neto (2002-2004) 3 years Keys
Najee (2000-2002) 3 years Flute / sax
Kip Blackshire (1999-01) 3 years Vocals
Gayle Chapman (1978-1979) 2 years Keys
Wally Safford (1986-1987) 2 years Dancer
Greg Brooks (1986-1987) 2 years Dancer
DJ William Graves (1992-1993) 2 years DJ
NPG Hornz/Hornheadz (1992-1993) 2 years Horns
Larry Graham (1999-2000) 2 years Bass
Geneva (2000-2001) 2 years Dancer
Chance Howard (2003-2004) 2 years Keys / vocals
DJ Dudley (2002-2003) 2 years DJ
RAD (2003-4) 2 years Keys
Jerome Benton (1986) 1 year Dancer
Diamond (1992) 1 year Dancer
Pearl (1992) 1 year Dancer
Estaire Godinez (1999) 1 year Percussionist
Mike Phillips (2004) 1 year Horns
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[This message was edited Sun May 9 11:37:30 2004 by langebleu]

langebleu said:

Thank you. That's pretty impressive.

So that puts Candy way down the line...this makes sence as to why I have just noticed her. SHe's been touring with him. ok.

But how does this figure in with Musicians? She's been working with him for a long time. Do you (or anyone) have a guess as to who he worked with the longest? Or are there engineers that he's had longer. Don't know Mani's story, but she's been around for a long time as well.

Prince...

Wendy - 1983 to 2004 (Tavis Smiley Show) - with a big long break.
Sheila E. - 1983 to 2004 (Musicology album) - with intermittent breaks.

BinaryJustin said:

lol

I've thought about trying to catalogue the version of a list that is being discussed here - i.e. years when people have worked with Prince - but then Madame L'ange Bleu has caught me thinking and insisted I mow the lawn or do the dishes.

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superspaceboy said:

I'll try to work it out for Candy - from what I've read she has worked with him on and off (aside from touring) because she has been pursuing her own musical career for the most part, so my instinct tells me she still isn't going to be near the top of the list.

If my wife doesn't catch me, I'll try to work on it.
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langebleu said:

Try to work out who is longest-serving collaborator is too!

It's actually surprising how long Rhonda has been around. I would say only Fink, Bobby Z. and possibly Morris Hayes served longer.

langebleu
Pretty darn good job on this!!!
But Candy was touring with Prince before this time, during Graffiti Bridge so doesn't that count, also I think Maceo first started doing stuff with P. including live stuff in 1999 around the time of Rave...
I thought Morris Hayes was closer to 10 years, but then again I might be wrong on this. and without being pedantic Mike Phiilips only started this year so it hasn't been a year yet, and didn't RAD start with Prince around the Australia tour last year which would make her tenure less than a year too. Finally I'm sure that Larry was around before 1999...??? still your work was very intense! I'm most impressed.

FelixtheCat said:

All the points you make about tenure are valid.

As I said, it's unscientific. If they started in December, 2003 and finished in january 2004 - that's 2003-2004 so it looks like two years! I know it's inaccurate.

But I really haven't sat down to work out the date of each person's first and last gig to calculate it to the precise day, month or year of tenure.

I'll look into 'Larry's reign' too.



BTW, I don't think Candy ever toured with Prince before ONA - she simply featured on the albums - her only other live work was Lovesexy guesting, wasn't it?

Happy to be corrected.
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BinaryJustin said:

I can hear the divorce papers falling through the letter box already!!


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langebleu said:

I think I read somewhere Candy and her band were due to appear as a warm-up act or something for a Lovesexy show, but got cancelled at the last minute - she was so angry she stormed over to see Prince - he was reportedly impressed with her guts, and let her do a small sax solo during the show. Then after that he must have got in touch with her again and they did the Partyman video, and a few things on Graffitti Bridge.

She may not have been the longest serving in actual working years, but of the current line-up she definately worked with him first, and on-and-off over the longest period, I would say.

sosgemini said:

You are so hilarious

How about Clare Fisher. Ever since Parade, right?
Sheila has performed with him regularly for the longest.

i go with....sheila e

she has performed most consistently on his major projects throughout the years
[This message was edited Sun May 9 19:03:34 2004 by meltwithu]

metalorange said:

When I want trombone, my dog is handy
But when I want sax I...call...Candy.

(CandyCandyCandyCandy)Everybodyonthedancefloor!

Wally Safford (1986-1987) 2 years Dancer
Greg Brooks (1986-1987) 2 years Dancer


what was P thinking???

metalorange said:

That's more or less how it happened, but she sent a note to Steve Fargnoli rather than confronted Prince personally when the support act appearance was cancelled: the tale is related on her official website - http://www.candydulfer.nl/ in the biography section.

The bio also mentions her performing with Prince on the Saturday Night Live show.
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langebleu said:

Yeah, she has a good website, doesn't she? Colourful, easy to use, straight to the point. And in her messages she seems really intelligent, she manages to convey her thrill at playing with her musical heroes despite being hugely experienced herself anyway. She's one of the very few members of Prince's bands who've managed to retain an individual identity and their own successful career - she's released quite a few albums.

Candy had her own career way before Prince, she started very young and was probably influenced to be more than a pop star by her dad being a great jazzer. So there's a sense she always had her own identity.
She also by the way played with Dave Stewart (Eurthymics) and Van Morrison, as well as doing stuff with Maceo. An all round kind of girl!
(great looking too)!

langebleu said:

Should read:

Sonny T (1976-1996) 20 years Bass.

Prince collaborated guitar and backing vocals on at least two tracks, one of which was "Gotta Be Something Here", as part of a Sonny Thompson project called The Lewis Conection (sic). The album was eventually released independently in 1978 and was a very limited edition run.

On the above evidence Thompson wins by a country mile.

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[This message was edited Mon May 10 7:41:17 2004 by giotto]

giotto said:

Yep - like I said, the criterion used for the above list was purely based on active participation in live touring bands. It was something I began putting together in 2001 on Usenet in answer to a slightly different question, if I recall correctly.
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Marva King? Was she one or two years?

NCC2012 said:

Should be:

Marva King (1998-99) 2 years Vocal
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Not sure that it is fair to leave a gap in Eric Leeds' work with the man.

He definitely appeared on various things between 88 and 02.

E.g. Scandalous Sex Suite, I Hate U remix.

He also did some touring on the Gold Experience Tour (and kicked ass the night that I saw him at the Emporium - what a show!)

So I would have him down as 86-03, which would be 17 years and the winner by a mile.

Big Props to Mister Eric Leeds - the best sax man we have ever had

something else about candy.

she played for "The Artist" on the european tour in late 1998. (what was that tour called btw?)
i´m not shure about the other parts of that tour, but she definetly was there at the end of the year.

Eric and Alan Leeds I do believe.

kirk johnson

was a geust player at a few ONA concerts in europe in oct. 2002.

he definetly played berlin (oct. 19.) and from what i´ve heard he played a few gigs after and/or before that. he played percussion , in case u wondered (and served some jerome-style sidekick duties, like holding the mirrow for J.Blackwell and dancing).