From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016), known by his given name Prince , was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and actor. Prince was renowned as an innovator and was widely known for his eclectic work, flamboyant stage presence, and vocal range . He is regarded as the pioneer of Minneapolis sound ; his music integrates a wide variety of styles, including funk , rock , R&B , soul , psychedelia , and pop . Prince was born in Minneapolis and developed an interest in music as a young child, writing his first song when he was seven years old. After recording songs with his cousin's band 94 East , 19-year-old Prince recorded several unsuccessful demo tapes before releasing his debut album For You in 1978, under the guidance of manager Owen Husney. His 1979 album Prince ...