On the occasion of the release of the EP The Cookhouse Five , Original Sessions 1975, the songwriter / performer / producer Pepe Willie talks about the historical beginnings of a promising young musician from Minneapolis: Prince Roger Nelson.

The Cookhouse Five Original Sessions 1975 contains the first five professional recordings of Prince's career. These titles have been published on the albums Minneapolis Genius - The Historic 1977 Recordings and 94 East Featuring Prince: Symbolic Beginning . The old songs for a new project?
This project marks the 35th anniversary of the first time Prince entered a studio. That was in 1975, the Cookhouse Studios with my band East 94. These tracks were remixed recently Matt Fink , aka Dr. Fink of The Revolution. We have isolated my guitar parts and those of Prince , and it is amazing to see how he was already good at that age. For this reason we have decided to offer cell phone ringtones. No one had had this idea! The most important is the historical aspect of these bands, we leave the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame. They are part of the history of black American music. We also need to be corrected this story, because few people know the story of early Prince. I wanted to tell you to better understand its beginnings in the music industry. I helped him to create his publishing company, members of The Revolution spent their auditions in my house and we held one of his very first concert at the Capri Theater in 1979. This new project is a gift to his fans and those of 94 East.

In 1975 you were a kind of godfather in the music community in Minneapolis
It's true. I grew up in the music industry. My uncle was Little Anthony , Anthony and the Imperials. I followed all their shows in the New York area in the early 1960s. I met Marvin Gaye , Ray Charles ,Jimi Hendrix , Stevie Wonder , the Supremes . I learned a lot about this business thanks to the Imperials. At the same time, I met Shontel Manderville, Prince's cousin, and I married her in New York, in Copacabana . She spoke of a cousin from Minneapolis who wanted a career in music. We talked on the phone once or twice when Prince was fifteen. I explained what consisted copyrights, contract rights of artists and musicians in general. Two years later, we moved to Minneapolis and we started working with his band, Grand Central . And there was a job (laughs)! They were still teens and I was 24. He did not even have their driver's license. It is I who took them to the studio and rehearsals in my truck. They came to me because I knew how to create music for on the radio, to be signed by a label. They did not know all that. They just wanted to get on stage and play.

How did the first rehearsal with Grand Central?
Prince, André Cymone and Morris Day were unaware of the career of musician and songwriting. At the first rehearsal with Grand Central, I asked them to play me one of their songs. It lasted ten minutes!they did not know what an intro, the construction of the piece was incorrect. I told them: "First, you need an intro. After the intro, you need a first verse and the hook, which should be the title of the song. This is the hook that should mark the listeners, it must be repeated at least three times in the song. After the first hook, we must have the second verse and the hook and so on .... "

Prince was ever aware of his instrumental abilities?
The group was very good from a technical point of view. They followed my instructions and they learned very quickly. I also discovered very quickly that Prince could play bass and keyboards in addition to the guitar. It really stood out from others, even if Morris was an excellent drummer. That's why I asked him to come and register as a guitar with my band East 94.

"If You See Me" is the most famous song from this session. Prince and Jesse Johnson recorded under the title "Do Yourself a Favor." What is your favorite version? That of Prince, Jesse Johnson or yours?
It's easy guy: mine! This is the original, true. One night I had an argument with Shontel. She had just left the apartment and I was very angry with her. I sat and I thought I had to write what had happened. I wrote this song in an hour. It came from the heart. Prince was back in 1982 and Jesse Johnson was such an admirer that he recorded for Shockadelica . I'll tell you a story: I was driving through the streets of Minneapolis with Morris Day next to me and now Prince is perceived to walk. As soon as he sees us coming, he goes to the car and throw a tape across the glass. I ask him what is on them and he said " listen, that's all ! ". Morris put the cassette in the radio and hear my song! He later told me he wanted to leave at that time but he never did. What surprises me still is that it had no record of the original Studio Cookhouse . He remembered it all in his head!

Returning to The Cookhouse Five. Could you have imagined for a moment that these securities would be part of the history of pop music?
Frankly, no. It's very difficult to know how far will an artist's career from the start, even if Prince was already very good. I am not a soothsayer. I love these songs, and they have allowed 94 East to be signed toPolydor . Unfortunately, Hank Cosby (note: the author of "My Cherie Amour" by Stevie Wonder) who worked with us was fired and the signature has fallen into the water.

After this failure, you have found Prince in the studio in New York in 1978?
Yes. Tony Sylvester, the leader of The Main Ingredient , working on an album of the Imperials . He was looking for musicians to work on some demos. Prince was currently recording her second album and I remember hearing "I Feel For You" and "Do Me Baby" for the first time. André Cymone was there, and I think that it was he who wrote "Do Me Baby."

Prince is he aware of this event. What kind of relationship do you have today?
No, he does not know, but we're still friends. I helped him when he started, and even a little after signing with Warner . I did everything to protect him from the dark side of the music industry. I was married to his cousin, he was part of the family, I had to help him. I wanted him to be strong and he worked very hard to get there. It crosses less than before, but each time, we are happy to meet us, even if our relationship is much weaker today.

One last question, what is the origin of your nickname Pepe?
is French! My mother had French friends, and it is they who have nicknamed Pepe at my birth. Everyone thinks it's Mexican, but it's 100% French (laughs)!