My 2024 Prince Year in Review!
My 2024 Prince output and input!
The original forward written in 2024 was:
As Mr. Rogers would say, COMMUNITY is the word for the year! In 2024, the purple community helped me get through this thing called life.
I’ve had this in my draft folder since December 2024. But, I keep punting it and punting it and punting it.
I didn’t want to release it at the beginning of the year because so much was—and still is—going on in the world. It would have seemed disrespectful and insensitive to do so. Then, I succumbed to whatever flu was going around and was sick for several weeks. And then there was the perfectionist in me, rearing its unwelcome head, even though I know there’s no such thing as perfection or perfect timing.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this YouTube video I stumbled across about the 70% rule. While my percentage is higher, it’s never 100% due to how many projects I’m always juggling.
So, without further ado, I give to you my imperfect 2024 Prince year in review because March is “just around the corner”! That’s Graffiti Bridge speak, you understand :) And, if you don’t, that means you need to watch Prince’s third narrative film as soon as possible!
In list form first in no particular order
Completed book one over the course of two years and 103 episodes (count ‘em) for Duane Tudahl’s first book, Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions: 1983 and 1984 (Expanded Edition), in his Studio Sessions series. Man, what a milestone!
Being in community with Prince associates and purple fam!
Curated the Prince #EroticCity40 Symposium at NYU!
Curated the Prince #Come30 Virtual Symposium!
Spoke at PopCon 2024 about being a record collector who collects Prince!
Spoke at the Prince on Screen conference curated by the International Centre 4 Prince Studies!
Interviewed by Arthur Turnbull on his Entry Points podcast
Saw Under The Cherry Moon twice in the theaters (once at the Museum of Moving Images and then at the Alamo Drafthouse)
Celebration 2024 at Paisley Park
What Did Prince Do This Week? #WDPDTW
What Did Prince Do This Week? Week 52 of 1984 (Episode #103)
Completed book one over the course of two years and 103 episodes (count ‘em) for Duane Tudahl’s first book, Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions: 1983 and 1984 (Expanded Edition), in his Studio Sessions series.
We’ve now moved on to Duane’s 2nd book, Prince and the Parade and Sign O’ The Times Era Studio Sessions: 1985 and 1986. If you want to join us, please buy the paperback version as it is the most updated and has 50 more pages than the hardcover. And, after two more years, hopefully, Duane’s 3rd book will be released. And, I’m so looking forward to that 3rd book. Lovesexy and The Black Album, anyone? And hopefully, the Batman soundtrack, too! Yes, it is a commitment, but we’re reading the book in very short, digestible, bite-sized chunks! Here’s the schedule.
What Did Prince Do This Week? #WDPDTW is an interactive, virtual book club where we very slowly read Duane Tudahl's entire Prince Studio Sessions book series in its entirety. Michael Dean is my co-host, as he is the only other person in my purple circle crazy enough to commit to this! However, C Liegh McInnis and my dear friend Ricky Wyatt, who I have known since high school at Southwest DeKalb in Decatur, GA, have been joining us on the regular and are also co-hosts at this point!
One of my favorite episodes last year was Week #42 of 1984. It's not every day that you get to talk to one of your musical heroes– Trumpet Player Atlanta Bliss (Matt Blistan), who recorded ("Mountains," "Kiss," and SO many others) and toured (Sign O' The Times, Lovesexy, and more) with Prince for six years! We talked about his brand new book, Mind Body Trumpet, which is a must-have for all Prince fans and aspiring musicians!
Many, many thanks to all of the guests we had last year including the author Duane Tudahl, Dr. Fink, Andrea Swensson, Arthur Turnbull, Zachary Hoskins, Theo DePina, CydneeC, ondrai staley, JD Washington, Ms. India, Chinisha Scott, Taunja Pegues, Big Sexy, Robin Shumays, Kamilah Cummings, Troy Gua, Tonya Pendleton, Lee Christian, Roseann Vanessa Warren, Olga Hernandez, Angela Lesaca, L*A*W, and last, but definitely not least all of the #WDPDTW fam in the chat who show up every week, and a mad shoutout to our voluntary timekeeper, Kim Glenn, who tries to keep us in check :) I am forever grateful to all of you for your continued support. If I missed anyone, my deepest and sincerest apologies. Remind me and I’ll add you to the list.
The author and my friend, Duane Tudahl, has been joining us for the first episode of every year, as he did this year on What Did Prince Do This Week? Week 1 of 1985 (Episode #104).
Feel free to join us live every Saturday at noon ET on @polishedsolid on YouTube, to discuss what Prince did during the parallel week.
We began this journey in January 2023! I hope some of you will be committed, brave, and crazy enough to join us in 2025 on this very LONG journey!
We’re winding down the Purple Rain tour. But, if you want to come on and share your Purple Rain tour experience for any of the upcoming dates February, March, and April of 1985, please email wdpdtw@gmail.com to let us know.
The Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson is not affiliated, associated or connected with the ‘What Did Prince Do This Week?,’ etc.
Being in community with Prince associates and purple fam!
Sharing a meal in the LES in October with the legendary Jimmy Jam, the amazing Andrea Swensson, who released two books last year, Prince and Purple Rain: 40 Years (The Great Albums) and Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris, and my dear friends Anil Dash, Zaheer Ali, and Joe Holt, who are all extraordinary in their own right! This was special because this doesn’t happen every day.
Meeting Ruth Arzate in person FINALLY in November at Mathieu Bitton’s book launch at the Leica Gallery in the meatpacking industry for his stunning photo book release, Paris Blues!
Thanks so much to the purple LA squad for attending my Pop Con 2024 talk and for inviting me out to a delicious Thai dinner–Isadora Santos-Lesaca, Danielle Gaskins, Angela Lesaca, Olga Hernandez, and Rhonda Nicole in March!
We had a wonderful time seeing Under The Cherry Moon at the Museum of Moving Image in February and sharing a meal with some of the best people on the planet: Natalie Serrano, Clarisa James, and Jessie Jenkins. We need to do this more often.
Only by looking back over the year, did I realize that I shared several meals over the year with many purple fam, particularly during June in MPLS. But, we didn’t take photos. So, I’ll mention a couple: all the meals I shared with Virginia Henriksen during Celebration and the meal I shared with LaTasha Barnes, Karen Turman, and Robert Loss during the Prince on Screen conference in MPLS.
There’s also a couple more special ones:
The speaker dinner for the #EroticCity40 symposium in Brooklyn and the meal with my husband and Mr. Vaughn Terry in Harlem.
Also, meeting #WDPDTW enthusiasts Theo DePina and CydneeC in person, as well as DreaDances above, at Celebration.
Normally, I wouldn’t share these personal photos, but this is what life is truly about– being in communion with one another!
Saw Under The Cherry Moon twice in theaters this year
Saw Under The Cherry Moon–my favorite Prince film–twice in the theaters in 2024 (once at the Museum of Moving Images in February in Queens and then at the Alamo Drafthouse in April in Brooklyn.)
Celebration 2024
There’s nothing like being inside Paisley Park—it always feels like home to me.
This year, during Celebration, I was only able to visit once because I had a general admission ticket. I really missed being at Paisley Park every day of Celebration. It didn’t truly feel like Celebration until I finally arrived on Sunday, my only day there.
The soundstage at Paisley Park is my happy place! Looking up and seeing Prince’s huge symbol watching over us is truly something to behold. Every year post-Prince, that’s what I look forward to—seeing that symbol lit up always gives me comfort.
While on stage the previous year, it bothered me that one of the bulbs was out. But, this year, all of the bulbs were shining like they are supposed to. We miss U, Prince!
Interviewed by Arthur Turnbull on his wonderful Entry Points podcast
It’s rare that I get to talk about both of my worlds–Prince world and my work as an educator–at the same time. So, I am grateful to the one and only Arthur Turnbull for the opportunity to do so. That’s what makes his resurrected podcast, Entry Points, so special. We dive deep into my work in higher education, focusing on the future of teaching and learning with generative AI. And, of course, the discussion wouldn’t be complete without talking about… 🥁 drumroll… Prince!💜
Catch the audio episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify & everywhere RSS feeds are consumed and you can also watch the conversation on YouTube! There are other amazing conversations with my purple fam, Miles Marshall Lewis, Jason Orr, and Troy Gua!
Curated the Prince #EroticCity40 Symposium at NYU
Symposium website: https://eroticcity.polishedsolid.com
The #EroticCity40 symposium was held at NYU in Brooklyn, NY & livestreamed on April 12–14, 2024 (Friday through Sunday) to celebrate the four albums that defined 1984—Prince’s Purple Rain, The Time’s Ice Cream Castle, Apollonia 6, and Sheila E’s The Glamorous Life—alongside the Purple Rain film.
Over 3 days, there were 48 speakers and a total of 14 sessions, featuring 14 presentations, 5 roundtable discussions, a daily 80s fashion contest, a special in-person segment of What Did Prince Do This Week?, and a very special keynote with Vaughn Terry, best known as one-half of the design team duo Louis & Vaughn, who crafted Prince’s iconic looks during the Purple Rain era! We discussed film, race, gender, and sexuality in addition to music and fashion.
Mr. Terry’s keynote will be one I remember forever, ever, ever, ever, ever. I am still thinking about it. I am so grateful for his generosity and trust. He’s one of a kind.
#EroticCity40 Keynote with the singular Mr. Vaughn Terry
I still need to do a proper recap of this symposium. So, much transpired. But, I am grateful for webiva3000’s recap on Instagram, it packs a powerful punch. And, let’s not forget Michael Dean’s shoecam of C Liegh!
MASSIVE THANKS to our wonderful sponsor, NYU, and Rev3rend for the amazing graphics!
The Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson is not affiliated, associated, or connected with the ‘#EroticCity40 Prince Symposium’ nor has it endorsed or sponsored the ‘#EroticCity40 Prince Symposium.’ Further, the Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson has not licensed any of its intellectual property to the producers, advertisers, or directors of the ‘#EroticCity40 Prince Symposium.’
Curated the Prince #Come30 Virtual Symposium
Symposium website: https://come.polishedsolid.com
The Prince #Come30 virtual symposium, celebrated 30 years of Prince’s Come, on August 10-11, 2024 (Sat-Sun)!
Over 2 days, there were 41 speakers over a total of 8 sessions, featuring 12 presentations over 3 presentation panels, 4 roundtable discussions, and an integrated segment of the weekly What Did Prince Do This Week? on the conference platform, Zoom Events, instead of the usual YouTube and Facebook!
MASSIVE THANKS to our wonderful sponsor, NYU, and Marco ‘t Hart of 9t99art for the amazing graphics!
#Come30 was the 8th polished solid Prince symposium and the 13th Prince event, curated by De Angela L. Duff!
I also need to do a proper recap of this symposium and will eventually do so. But between What Did Prince Do This Week? and the planning required for two more this year. It’s extremely difficult to do.
This event was FREE, but please consider donating to the DIVAS (Digital Interactive Visual Arts Sciences) for Social Justice, a 501(c) nonprofit that empowers and inspires youth living in underserved communities in NYC and very soon MPLS to use tech and visual arts to promote social justice and become change makers in their communities. On Juneteenth 2024, DIVAS will open its first satellite office in South Minneapolis. The organization will launch a social justice makerspace designed by the community. To learn more about the DIVAS, watch this trailer and visit https://www.divasforsocialjustice.org.
The Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson is not affiliated, associated, or connected with the ‘Prince #Come30 Virtual Symposium’ nor has it endorsed or sponsored the ‘Prince #Come30 Virtual Symposium.’ Further, the Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson has not licensed any of its intellectual property to the producers, advertisers, or directors of the ‘Prince #Come30 Virtual Symposium.’
Spoke at the Prince on Screen: Images and Ideology conference
I presented at the Prince on Screen: Images and Ideology Conference at the University of Minnesota on June 17-18, 2024! This conference was curated by the International Centre 4 Prince Studies!
My presentation was “”Life Is Just A Party, And Parties Weren’t Meant To Last:” Life, Death, And Celebration In Prince’s Cinematic And Musical Odyssey” on the “Brave New World: Prince’s Cinematic World Building” panel! Many thanks to my co-panelists Robert Loss and Mauriciere de Govia, and moderator Casci Ritchie.
Abstract:
Prince’s prolific oeuvre traverses a spectrum of human emotions and existential reflections, manifesting most evocatively through the themes of life, death, and celebration and crafting a narrative that is as melancholic as it is euphoric. This talk explores these thematic recurrences in Prince’s narrative films, Purple Rain (1984), Under The Cherry Moon (1986), and Graffiti Bridge (1990), alongside a parallel analysis of these themes within his musical compositions.
Moreover, the interplay between joie de vivre and mortality is further nuanced as we approach the 40th-anniversary celebration of Purple Rain, Prince’s award-winning, debut film, and eight years since Prince’s own transition. Through a multidisciplinary lens encompassing film studies, musicology, and cultural analysis, this presentation seeks to understand Prince’s embrace of the inevitable– death, thereby enriching the understanding of his life, his moving image, and his musical legacy, as we continue to celebrate and honor his “everlasting now.”
The entire “Branew New World: Prince’s Cinematic World Building, Part 2, with talks by Robin Shumays, Sherry Wein, who always gives the best presentations about Under The Cherry Moon, and Arlene Oak, moderated by Elliott H. Powell was my favorite panel of the conference, but I was deeply moved by Chris Johnson’s brilliant presentation, “Lay Down Your Funky Weapon: Graffiti Bridge as an ‘Avant-Purple’ Parable of Hope” on that panel. And the waacking of LaTasha Barnes of ASU and j. bouey was an INCREDIBLE way to open the conference!
Spoke at PopCon about being a record collector who collects Prince
What a conference! I've been to a gazillion conferences in my lifetime including previous Pop Cons, but Pop Con 2024, https://lnkd.in/e8mQxUeY, at the USC Thornton School of Music is by far the best conference I've ever attended with the exception of the first Prince conference, Purple Reign, in 2017 at the University of Salford in Manchester, England, organized by the intrepid Professor Kirsty Fairclough and Professor Mike Alleyne, Ph.D.
I can't believe that a week has already passed. So, I MUST take time out to thank the key organizers of Pop Con 2024–(I'm always so proud and never tire of saying the following) *Dean* Jason King (We miss you at NYU, but it was so wonderful to see you shine like you always do at USC!) & the INCREDIBLE Michelle Habell-Pallan of the University of Washington! I am in awe of how flawless this multi-track conference was with not one, but two unforgettable keynotes with the one and only George Clinton and Wendy & Lisa, who are all near and dear to my 💜 heart! I know all too well how stressful organizing conferences can be, but neither of you ever let on.
I have to give a special shoutout to Melissa A. Weber AKA DJ Soul Sister for moderating and gathering the stellar, "A Seat at the (Mother)Ship: The Reclamation of Women's Stories in Parliament-Funkadelic" roundtable. Massive thanks, also, for the photos she took of my presentation that are shared here.
Jason King's spirited conversation with dream hampton was, also, extremely powerful and illuminating! I met her briefly while I was working at Spelman, but it was so lovely to see her, again. Most of all, I enjoyed our impromptu conversation about Prince and Larry Graham in between sessions.
I was grateful to speak about how my childhood obsession with record collecting, passed on from my uncles and aunt, has transformed into my personal mission to keep Prince's name on the lips of the children on the "Legacy Junkies and Collectors: The Archive and the Personal" panel! Massive thanks to my co-panelists, the legendary music journalist Robert Christgau, Andy Zax, Chi Chi Thalken, and our moderator Justin Sayles.
I was also grateful to get to moderate the "Repackaging Dreams: Media as Archives from Greatest Hits" panel with outstanding presentations by Erin Macleod, Alfred Soto, Steve Waksman, author of the book, Live Music In America, and Jacqueline Zeisloft.
There were so many more amazing talks and roundtable discussions I could speak of, but they are far too numerous to name! I can't thank each and every speaker and moderator enough for the amazing presentations and roundtable discussions.
I have a couple of additional special shouts to Rhonda Nicole Tankerson for filming my talk and being a true friend my entire trip and to Olga Hernandez for the additional photos documenting my talk, as well.
Last, but definitely not least, I was extremely grateful for all the members of the Prince community who came out to support me. Last, but definitely not least, I was extremely grateful for all the members of the Prince community who came out to support me.
Thanks again to the purple LA squad for attending my talk and for inviting me out to dinner!
MASSIVE thanks to Dr. Funkenberry for coming out twice, not only for my presentation, but also the panel I moderated!
MASSIVE thanks to DJ Soul Sister for attending my talk, as well! It was such a blast to get to meet you for the first time!
And, last, but definitely not least, MASSIVE thanks to Sakari Dixon Vanderveer, an amazing composer, for not only attending my talk but for also bringing their Diamonds and Pearls Super Deluxe hardcover book for my very first autograph!
If this year was any indication of next year, I can't wait for Pop Conference 2025 on March 13-15. I've curated and will be moderating a Prince and fashion panel on Friday morning with Kirsty Fairclough, Casci Ritchie, Robin Shumays, and Karen Turman! Don't sleep on this amazing conference that is always FREE and open to the public! It is not livestreamed, but they did post the videos from the two amazing keynotes they had last year with George Clinton & Wendy & Lisa.
Thank you again, Jason King, conference producer and keynote curator, and Michelle Habell-Pallán, program chair, and madison moore, associate program chair for #PopCon2024! 🙏
Learn more about Pop Con 2024 at https://music.usc.edu/spotlights/popcon-2024.
#FunkCancer Jeremiah Freed!
Our thoughts and prayers are with U, Jeremiah Freed AKA Dr. Funkenberry! U will beat this!
As most of the purple community knows, Jeremiah is going through treatment for cancer. Much gratitude to Jeremiah for participating despite this!
Please donate to his gofundme to help him with his very expensive medical costs.
Jeremiah, thank U so very much for sharing this with us and 4 Ur unwavering dedication and commitment 2 the Prince community 4 DECADES.
Purple Rain Album Roundtable with Moderator Tonya Pendleton, Matt Thorne, Jeremiah Freed AKA Dr. Funkenberry, and Rodney Fitzgerald
Ur strength, determination, and commitment 2 still participate in both #EroticCity40 symposium
#Come30 Virtual Symposium Roundtable: Jason Orr, Jeremiah Freed, L*A*W, Marc Wiggins, and Randy Ferguson, Moderator
and the #Come30 virtual symposium, despite everything, is truly awe-inspiring.
Please continue 2 focus on your health and know that we’re all here rooting 4 you during this time.
#FunkCancer Troy Gua
#TripleThreat40 Symposium Roundtable: Troy Gua, Casey Rain, Tonya Pendleton, and Michael Dean, Moderator
Troy Gua is an amazing artist most known for Le Petit Prince. I am so grateful that Troy accepted my invitation to participate in a couple of my Prince symposia including 2023’s #TripleThreat40 and 2024’s #EroticCity40, both in person at NYU. I can’t believe that yet another member of our purple family is also now dealing with cancer.
Please donate to his gofundme to help him with his very expensive medical costs.
Our thoughts and prayers are with U, Troy, wishing you strength and healing!
Cat Glover, Rest in Peace, Power & Movement!
(July 24, 1962–September 24, 2024)
Eye No Cat Glover and Prince are dancing with the angels, as Boni Boyer sings heavenly sounds! Rest in peace, music, and movement, Cat Glover! You were loved!
I am so very grateful that we were able to give Cat Glover her flowers at the EYE NO Lovesexy Symposium in 2018 at NYU Tandon in Brooklyn, NY! I didn’t know if she would accept the invitation because many don’t when I ask, but she did! She showed up for us! I will never ever ever forget her entrance on the stage that evening. It brings me sheer joy just thinking of it.
Massive thanks to Hayley Drinkall for making this happen and Kirsty Fairclough for making the introduction to Hayley!
Many, many thanks to Luke Dubois for his tremendous support! It would have NEVER happened without it. Also, massive thanks to Krysta Battersby for the tremendous assist!
The Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson is not affiliated, associated or connected with the ‘Prince Lovesexy Symposium,’ nor has it endorsed or sponsored the 'Prince Lovesexy Symposium.’ Further, the Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson has not licensed any of its intellectual property to the producers, advertisers or directors of the 'Prince Lovesexy Symposium.’
My triplet Kamilah Cummings gave a wonderful presentation about Cat Glover. If you don't know about Cat, Kamilah's presentation is a wonderful introduction! It’s cued to about 56 minutes into the video above.
I am so very grateful that I was able to give Cat Glover her flowers while she was here with us in all of our extraordinariness! She gave us her all and it was always beautiful to watch her move!
Rest in Peace, Tyka Nelson!
"Tyka told me I was good at everything & I believed her." ~Prince
In 2024, Prince was **FINALLY** inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame-LONG OVERDUE (an understatement)! 🎉
I can rest easy now…
Eventually, I will post a few of my 2024 favorite things. But, I gotta kick into overdrive for the next symposium…
#PopLife40 Virtual Symposium
(April 11-13, 2025)
To learn more, visit the symposium website, https://poplife.polishedsolid.com, and to pre-register subscribe to
Join us for the #PopLife40 virtual symposium, celebrating 40 years of Prince’s Around The World In A Day, The Family, and Sheila E.’s Romance 1600 on April 11-13, 2025 (Fri-Sun)!
Over 3 days, there will be 35+ speakers over 10 total sessions, featuring 13 presentations over 5 presentation panels, 3 roundtable discussions, and an integrated segment of the weekly What Did Prince Do This Week? on the conference platform, Zoom Events. Hopefully, we’ll also have a keynote on Friday on YouTube.
MASSIVE THANKS to our wonderful sponsor, NYU!
#PopLife40 is the 9th polished solid Prince symposium and the 14th Prince event, curated by De Angela L. Duff!
This event is FREE, but please consider donating to DIVAS (Digital Interactive Visual Arts Sciences) for Social Justice, a 501(c) nonprofit that empowers and inspires youth living in underserved communities in NYC and very soon MPLS to use tech and visual arts to promote social justice and become change makers in their communities. On Juneteenth 2024, DIVAS opened its first satellite office in South Minneapolis. The organization launched a social justice makerspace designed by the community. To learn more about DIVAS, watch this trailer and visit https://www.divasforsocialjustice.org.
The Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson is not affiliated, associated, or connected with the 'Prince #PopLife40 Virtual Symposium' nor has it endorsed or sponsored the 'Prince #PopLife40 Virtual Symposium.' Further, the Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson has not licensed any of its intellectual property to the producers, advertisers, or directors of the 'Prince #PopLife40 Virtual Symposium.'