Prince dies without his hero ever calling
In 2016, the music world mourned the passing of Prince, a figure whose influence stretched across genres and redefined the landscape of popular music. Amidst the tributes to legends like Leonard Cohen and David Bowie, the conversation turned to the sheer genius of Prince, but the real story often lies in the innovative pathways he carved out for himself.
One of the most passionate admirers of Prince was Ahmir Thompson, known to the world as Questlove, the drummer for The Roots. Thompson reflected on Prince’s career, highlighting how the artist consistently rejected the traditional blueprints of funk and soul music, pioneering a unique sound long before it became mainstream.
This innovative spirit was deeply rooted in the music of pioneers like Sly Stone. Stone, who fundamentally shaped what music meant in the 1970s and successfully bridged the gap between funk and rock, was a significant inspiration for Prince. It is easy to wonder what sound might have emerged from the collision of these two titans.
In fact, the relationship between Prince and Sly Stone included a specific, tantalizing possibility: the chance to collaborate.
The story of this potential partnership unfolded through a unique encounter. It is recounted that one day, Sly Stone’s manager and girlfriend, Arlene Hirschkowitz, met with Prince. While Prince initially communicated mostly through his security, he eventually engaged directly with Hirschkowitz. When she revealed her role as Sly Stone’s engineer, Prince reportedly responded in a unique manner, leading to a direct expression of interest.
Sly Stone recalled this moment, noting that Prince approached the conversation with a surprising level of candor, proposing they work together. Stone waited for a call, hoping for a real collaboration to materialize, but the opportunity never fully came to fruition.
The dream of a Prince and Sly Stone musical pairing remains one of the most enduring and poignant “what ifs” in music history. While the hypothetical outcome is impossible to know, the music that they did create stands as a testament to their individual genius and enduring legacy.
Buy on Amazon
Credit
