Hello Beautiful People!

What a week!

I found out that Prince passed away on Thursday when I arrived back at work from my from lunch break. I could not believe it. At first, I thought, it could not be true?!? Sadly, the reports that I was hearing turned out to be true. Prince was an icon, a musical genius, and a true professional who had a heart for helping people.

 I celebrate Prince’s life, I never met him nor did get a chance to go to one of his concerts, but i enjoyed a lot of his music. I could not listen to Prince’s music as a young girl because my parents would not allow me. We use to have this show here in the Lou called Friday Night Videos. I had a chance to see the video for When Doves Cry. I practiced and practiced and was able to get the moves down pat, including his signature scream. I was not allowed to listen to the radio because my parents never knew what song might be playing. My Dad was an avid Jazz enthusiast, so I may get a chance to turn the channel to catch some pop tunes; but it was mostly Jazz for me growing up. When I was in high school I had to exchange gifts with one of my classmates. I but don’t remember exactly what was the reason for the gift exchange. But my friend wanted the Purple Rain album. I knew that I could not get that one for myself, so chose another favorite of mine, Wham! I know you are saying, you can buy it for someone else; but not yourself?  Hey, I didn’t ask questions, I followed the directions and that made for a happy household.

I remember watching the Raspberry Beret video and I asked my mother if she could get me  my very own beret from JCPenney. The beret was white with leather trim. I remember the lyrics, …”The kind you buy in a second hand store.”

Another memory I have was of guy who thought he was Prince. He would dress in purple and I would see him walking down the street dancing in his own world. He was the boyfriend of a girl I was friends with while in high school. When I would be on the bus going to school, he would motion for the bus driver for his stop and he would do a spin and jump up and go into splits before he got off the bus.  It was pretty amazing to see the influence Prince had on him.

My style file today is dedicated to Purple Rain and the influence that Prince had on fashion for both men and women.

JT in Bob Mackie Sequined and Embroidered Cardigan

I decided to wear my purple Bob Mackie 3/4 quarter length cardigan for church today. The design amassed with pallets and black embroidery that highlights the cardigan reminds me of rain. Prince was never afraid of incorporating lace, sequins or pearls in his wardrobe and still be masculine.

My hubby and I wore purple on Sunday, he wore a purple cotton shirt and I wore a black shirt with my Bob Mackie cardigan.

JT & Hubby

 I didn’t wear a necklace because I thought the cardigan spoke for itself, however I wore a purple drusey ring and  a fashion bracelet that was gifted to me.

JT3

The outfit worked and the purple is a deep color and means royalty.

This is one of my favorite videos, Diamonds and Pearls. When I heard this song, I bought some a 36″ strand of pearls from a girl at school named Rochelle.  She sold fashion jewelry when I was in high school. I wore those pearls with all sorts of outfits.

 In interviews Prince was soft-spoken; but didn’t take any stuff off of anyone and would get his point across. Videos of Prince from loving fans are being taken off Youtube because Prince was very specific about his musical content and who had access to it.  This is a vintage interview below I watched on Youtube with Larry King interviewing Prince whom at the time called himself “The Artist.” In this interview he was married at the time and gives you a little glimpse why he called himself the Artist and how he felt about his music.

He wrote his own songs and if he wanted to make sure his music was filtered the way he wanted to into various outlets then he had the right to do so.

Prince wanted this video taken down but it’s Radiohead’s song so it’s still up on Youtube.

This was his final appearance on the Arsenio Hall show in 2014 below.

I miss Prince and celebrating his life, his music will live on forever.

JTwisdom signature*I linked  a Youtube  that wasn’t uploaded by me of a video of Diamonds and Pearls in this story; however, it had been taken down which I was not surprised at all.  I included in its place some good interviews with Larry King and Arsenio Hall in case you missed them. Also, included to video, 2008 Coachella, Prince performing Creep.