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    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince Photo Credit: Karrah Kobus By Sylvia Obell and Dominique Hobdy ·Updated April 21, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

    A decade after his passing, Prince’s legacy still pulses through music, fashion, and culture with unmistakable force. As we reflect on the 10th anniversary of his death, it’s impossible not to revisit the moments that captured both his mastery.

    In June 2014, when he graced the cover of ESSENCE Magazine in a landmark feature tied to his headlining performance at the ESSENCE Festival. The issue delivered an iconic,src="https://media.essence.com/vxcjywbwpa/uploads/2013/12/images/2013/12/02/alicia-keys-prince-tribute-bet-awards.jpg" alt="Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince" width="400" height="297" /> Frederick M. Brown/ Getty 02B: Baltimore

    The turmoil in Baltimore in 2015 prompted Prince to drop a socially conscious single (music video!) named after the city. He also played a free charity concert promoting racial justice and peace.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince Getty Images 03C: Capri Theater

    Prince held his first major performances at the Capri Theatre in his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota in January 1979. Those three shows at the legendary theater are said to have launched his career.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 04D: Dave Chappelle

    Dave Chappelle’s homage to Prince on his TV show will forever go down as one of the greatest comedy skits. Prince liked his impression of him so much he used the image for his exclusive pajama party invite.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince 05E: Epilepsy

    Prince was born with epilepsy. “I used to have seizures when I was young,” he told PEOPLE. “My mother and father didn’t know what to do or how to handle it but they did the best they could with what little they had.”

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince 06F: For You

    Prince released his first album, For You, in October 1978. It only peaked at 21 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart, giving the public little indication of what was to come.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince 07G: Grammys

    Prince has won seven Grammys: two for the Purple Rain soundtrack and Best R&B Song for “I Feel For You” in 1985; one for Best R&B Song for “Kiss” in 1987; one for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “Call My Name” and one for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for “Musicology” in 2005; as well as Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television for “The Song of the Heart” in 2008.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince Kevork Djansezian/ Getty 08H: Hollywood Exes

    Prince’s ex-wife Mayte Garcia called her relationship with the Purple One “bizarre but wonderful” in an interview with Mirror UK. The two married in 1996 and were divorced in 2000. She went on to star on VH1’s Hollywood Exes.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince SINEAD LYNCH/AFP/Getty Images 09I: Instruments

    Prince played several instruments, including the guitar, bass guitar, piano, saxophone, harmonica and drums.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince 10J: June 7

    Prince was born on June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to musician John L. Nelson and jazz singer-turned-social-worker Mattie Shaw.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images 11K: Chaka Khan

    Prince and Chaka Khan maintained a decades-long friendship. In 1984, he let her re-record the song “I Feel For You,” which helped her relaunch her career. In 1998, he signed her to his NPG Record label. In 2011, she co-headlined parts of his Welcome 2 America tour.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince Michael Caulfield Archive 12L: Love Symbol #2

    Following a copyright struggle with his record company Warner Brothers in 1993, Prince changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol that was dubbed “Love Symbol #2.”

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince 13M: Minneapolis

    Besides being born in Minneapolis, Prince was credited with pioneering “the Minneapolis sound,” a blend of rock, synth pop, R&B and funk.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince Frank Micelotta/ Getty 14N: Prince Rogers Nelson

    Prince was born Prince Rogers Nelson. The name was taken from his father John Nelson’s jazz group, the Prince Rogers Trio.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince Michael Ochs Archive/ Getty 15O: Sign O’ the Times

    His ninth studio album, Sign O’ the Times, was released in 1987 and received the greatest critical acclaim of any of his albums: It was nominated for Album of the Year at that year’s Grammys.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince 16P: ‘Purple Rain’

    Need we say more?

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince Paul Natkin/ Getty 17Q: ‘Q.U.E.E.N.’

    Prince was featured on a remix to Janelle Monae’s song “Q.U.E.E.N.” from her album The Electric Lady. “Yes, Prince remixed our Q.U.E.E.N.” tweeted Monae. “What an honor.”

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince 18R: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

    Prince was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince KMazur/WireImage 19S: Sheila E

    Prince met drummer Sheila Escovedo in 1983 while watching her perform with her father, percussionist Pete Escovedo. He began calling her Sheila E. and helped launch her recording career. She soon became his musical director. They would collaborate on several albums and tours before parting ways in the late 80s.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince Paul Natkin/WireImage 20T: Thirteen-Times Platinum

    Prince’s Purple Rain album has gone platinum 13 times, according to Billboard.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince Dave Benett/Getty Images 21U: Universal Records

    Despite past issues with major labels, Prince signed a one-album deal with Universal to release his 2006 album, 3121. “I don’t consider Universal a slave ship. I did my own agreement … I got exactly what I wanted,” he said at the time.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince Chris Graythen/Getty Images 22V: Vegan

    Prince was a strict vegan. In 2006, he was voted “the world’s sexiest vegetarian” by PETA.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince Vince Bucci/Getty Images 23W: Wendy and Lisa

    During his Purple Rain era, Prince hired music duo Wendy Melovin (pictured) and Lisa Coleman who went by the name Wendy & Lisa as part of his Revolution touring band.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince 24X: ‘Xpectation’

    In 2003, Prince released his 26th album, the jazz-influenced instrumental Xpectation, via download-only. Each of the album’s nine songs began with an X.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince 25Y: Yellow Guitar

    Prince donated his Yellow Cloud custom-made guitar to the Smithsonian Institute in 1992.

    Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince Kevin Winter/Getty Images 26Z: Bobby Z

    For his first major performance in 1979, Prince created a band that included one of his closest friends, drummer Bobby Z, who became a member of his Revolution band from 1984-87. 

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    The post Remembering a Legend: The A-Z of Prince appeared first on Essence.

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