October 2022
K-ROB, Controversy podcast, Chicago Prince Immersive Experience, 2022 Prince Celebration, Prince's Friend, Star Tribune, Journal of Popular Music Studies, Khari Cabral & Jiva, RIP Wally Safford
This is only my second proper newsletter of the year IF you don’t count my special edition issue for C Liegh McInnis and the #SexyMF30 Symposium bonus post! Next year, I’ll try to post at least quarterly.
While this year has been filled with trials and tribulations, I embrace gratitude. I, also, learned that perseverance (sometimes) wins in the end!
One Year
September 26 marked one year since my dear friend Kevin Roberts passed! He is sorely missed, but his words live on through me.
The only video I have of Kevin! For my 31st and ONLY birthday party on Nov 24, 2001 (actually, my grandaddy’s birthday, which is the day after mine), I filmed everyone coming down the hall because I had just gotten my video camera. I’m so happy that I did!
For Kevin, the only friend who would go see Wild Orchid and Boomerang more than four times (lost count) each in the theater!
Me: “Kevin, Let’s go see Boomerang!”
Kevin: “Let’s do it!” (No questions asked, every single time! :)
I. miss. him. dearly!
K-ROB is Dead! (Inside joke between Kevin and I)
There have been a couple of recent deaths that continue to remind me that tomorrow is never promised. We must cherish each day and live life to the fullest. This is what my mama tells me all of the time and she is right!
Shine on *you* (yeah, you:), crazy diamond!
(Yes, I’m quoting Pink Floyd! I’m a MASSIVE fan ;)
~De Angela
Participated in the Dance / Music / Sex / Romance Controversy Podcast: 41 Years of Controversy with Harold Pride and Zachary Hoskins
I had a blast talking for (four) hours about my favorite Prince album, Controversy, on the Dance / Music / Sex / Romance podcast with my brother in Lovesexy Harold Pride and host, Zachary Hoskins.
It is my very first time being on somebody else’s podcast to talk about one of Prince’s albums and not one of the polished solid symposia or other Prince events!
Thank you, Zach, for having me on–even though I invited myself (LOL!), and for compiling all of the podcast notes–a very nice touch (as I am a liner notes junkie)!
Visited the Chicago Prince Immersive Experience in July
Scott Woods is far better with words than I. So, I’ll let him describe Prince The Immersive Experience on video with Dr. Funkenberry and in print on his website!
I went to the Prince Immersive Experience with several Prince friends on July 9, 2022! Thank you for gathering all of us together, KaNisa! From left to right, Gina, Scott Woods, Mia, Tonya Pendleton, Kamilah Cummings, KaNisa Williams, Erica Thompson, Andrew Stanger, me, Zaheer Ali, and Kabria Cummings!
I don’t normally like sharing photos of myself, but this is pretty darn special. However, *I* wanted to take the picture in the doorway (I asked, but they wouldn’t let me :(, NOT because I wanted to be Apollonia, but because I’ve always loved the smoke coming out of the door on the Purple Rain cover, which will only make sense if you watch my 78-88 presentation from, last year.
They’ve extended the Prince The Immersive Experience until January 1, 2023, in Chicago! If you haven’t gone, do make the trip and check it out and, if you’ve already gone, go again if you’re in the area!
I really do hope they make it a traveling exhibition to other major cities. It is an important exhibition IMHO! I don’t know this for a fact, but I’m sure they’re using this as a test run. So, we gotta show up for Prince and get this to other cities!
Attended the 2022 Prince Celebration
Two years is a mighty long time… it was so great to be back at Paisley Park for Celebration after the chaos and disorder of COVID-19! It was great to see some of the symposium posse (2 of the core 4 (Zaheer Ali & Elliott H. Powell), Rhonda Nicole, Tonya Pendleton, Casey Rain & Kim Camilla, 3 of the 4 style posse (Casci Ritchie all the way from Scotland, Karen Turman, and Laura Tiebert), and the incredible KaNisa Williams AKA Darling Nisi, as well as other Prince fams (Duane Tudahl and Scott Bogen)! It was incredible to see Marco of 9t99 art in person and his work at the largest scale I’ve ever seen! His prints were stunning. Also, it was truly an honor and privilege to hang out with the one and only Bob Ruede and his lovely wife, Lisa!
Last, but definitely not least, I was FINALLY able to meet my heroine IN PERSON, Jill Jones! What an understatement! While I did capture the moment, it’s too sacred for me to share! I’m truly at a loss for words. The experience was indescribable.
However, I am truly thankful that the stars aligned and Jill was honored at Paisley Park, as she should have been from the very beginning.
Words truly can’t express how thankful I am to Jill Monroe for making this happen! Jill Monroe knew (I didn’t have to say a word:) and without asking she got Jill Jones to me.
“All action. No Talk.” ~Women feat. Cleo Sol by Little Simz
Jill Monroe, thinking of your generosity literally brings me to tears. I am eternally grateful. Thank you! I’ll never forget your actions. I dedicate the following song to you.
Discussed Celebration 2022 with Prince’s Friend
Massive thanks to Prince’s Friend AKA Eloy Lasanta for inviting me to discuss my 2022 Celebration experience. It’s too much to write down so I hope you’ll watch my interview with Eloy, instead!
Mentioned in Minneapolis' Star Tribune
I finally met and shared a meal with Jon Bream (Thank you so very much, Tonya Pendleton!), the music journalist who covered Prince the longest and the author of my very first Prince book at the age of 13, Prince: Inside The Purple Reign (1984), at this year’s 2022 Prince Celebration at Paisley Park! It was an absolute surprise and honor to get a mention in his Star Tribune review of Celebration.
Experienced the Pitchblack Playback of Prince & The Revolution Live at Syracuse (Dolby Atmos Mix) at the Museum of Future Experiences in Williamsburg
I experienced the Pitchblack Playback of Prince & The Revolution Live (Dolby Atmos Mix) at the Museum of Future Experiences in Williamsburg, NY! I’m glad I went. My husband and I met a fellow Prince fan! Cam met Cam :)
Included in the Roll of Honour for the Lady Day photography book
Lady Day (Special Edition) is a must-have book for any jazz, Billie Holiday, or photography fan. There are a lot of photos I’ve never seen of Billie Holiday in here and I’ve seen a lot of them. The Special Edition is divine, but there is also a cheaper, Classic Edition!
It is an honor to have my name printed in the book, as an early supporter by pre-ordering the book.
I love Nichelle Gainer’s Vintage Black Photography Book series. If you haven’t already, seek out Vintage Black Glamour (Special Edition) and Vintage Black Glamour: Gentlemen's Quarters (Special Edition). This entire series is 🔥!
Interviewed about Welcome 2 America for DJ Tricky Kid’s Prince: The Encore podcast.
I was interviewed by DJ Tricky Kid for the “Welcome 2 America: Part 3” episode of his Prince: The Encore podcast a while back, but the conversation got posted earlier this year. We discuss the four shows of Prince’s Welcome 2 America tour (2010–2011) I saw in person:
Friday, December 17, 2010, IZOD Center in NJ with Cassandra Wilson, Maceo Parker, Misty Copeland, and Sheila E.
Saturday, December 18, 2010, at Madison Square Garden (MSG) in NYC with Sinbad, Larry Graham, Sheila E., and Misty Copeland.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011, at MSG with the incendiary Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings.
Monday, February 7, 2011, at MSG with Cee-Lo Green. This was also the last show at MSG and the show where Prince kicked Kim Kardashian off the stage for not dancing!
#1plus1plus1is3 Virtual Symposium featured in the Journal of Popular Music Studies (June 2022)
Massive gratitude to the Journal of Popular Music Studies, Volume 34, Issue 2, p. 5–27, for highlighting last year’s Prince #1plus1plus1is3 Virtual Symposium in their field notes section of the June 2022 edition, released just in time to celebrate Prince’s birthday.
https://online.ucpress.edu/jpms/article/34/2/5/182288/1plus1plus1is3Transcripts-from-a-Virtual-Symposium or https://doi.org/10.1525/jpms.2022.34.2.5. (You’ll need a university account to register to read them.)
Three expanded transcripts are featured with citations, representing each album celebrated during the event: Controversy (1981), Diamonds & Pearls (1991), and The Rainbow Children (2001).
It was extremely difficult to whittle down twenty stellar presentations to just three. My heartfelt thanks & gratitude also extends to ALL of the presenters from #1plus1plus1is3!
To accompany the transcripts, you can (re)watch the video archives of each transcript:
Controversy #1plus1plus1is3 Presentation:
“I Wish We All Were Nude: Prince’s Controversy Shower Poster as Aesthetic Linchpin & Artifact” by Zachary Hoskins (25:19)
Diamonds & Pearls #1plus1plus1is3 Presentation:
“A Tale Of Two Princes: Diamonds & Pearls & the Myth of Colorblindness in the Work of Prince” by Kamilah Cummings (30:31)
The Rainbow Children #1plus1plus1is3 Presentation:
“Deconstruction: Work & Racial Capitalism in The Rainbow Children” by Robert Loss (27:00)
For abstracts and bios of the speakers, visit https://1plus1plus1is3.polishedsolid.com.
Massive thanks to one of the Core 4, Dr. Elliott Powell!💜🙏
Robert Loss Revisits the Sign O' The Times Box Set Two Years Later
Robert Loss’s personal essay about the Sign O' The Times Box Set is absolutely a must-read for all Prince fans! It's heartbreakingly beautiful! I'm elated to see someone write about it a year later. We *should* still be talking about this release!
Thank you so very much for writing this Robert Loss! There's so much to unpack here! You echo many of my sentiments in a more eloquent way than I ever could! You are an impeccable wordsmith!💜
Khari Cabral & Jiva’s 5
Please support Khari Cabral Simmons and Jiva by purchasing their new album, 5! I've been waiting for this one! It's SO good! We’ve been playing it on repeat since it was released. I ADORE the cover–simple, but powerful! While you're at it, check out the entire Jiva catalog.
You can buy the album here: https://kharicabraljiva.bandcamp.com
"Real music by real musicians."~Prince
P.S. The Pimp Needed His Assistant!
It seems that the Pimp needed his Assistant for a special mission so now Wally has entered his Dawn. I can only be thankful for the manner in which Wally shared his talents to help make our Parade more beautiful. And, I’m thankful that all of y’all continue to help me get through this thing called life as wonderfully as possible.
~C Liegh McInnis
Man, Wally Safford will be sorely and truly missed!🖤
"There were only two great ones. There was Ali and then there was Wally!"
He was just good people. Down to earth. Kind. HILARIOUS ("The Pimp Assistant!"). And extremely generous.
I'll never forget when Wally popped up @ 1 of the #SOTTSDC After Salons. He discussed so many things with us including his wonderful book!
Out of the plethora of Prince books post-2016, Wally's has always been my favorite! I'm not saying this now. I said it then during one of the #SOTTSDC After Salons. If U don't have it, try to acquire a copy. I hope it gets a reissue somehow. It's genuine and heartfelt! U also learn about Wally's own story which is incredible and, of course, his #Prince stories are the best!💜
I am ELATED Wally participated in the Netflix documentary! I hope he is featured in the doc so we can hear more from Wally!
It's so important to talk to EVERYONE who worked with Prince NOW! Their stories need to be heard and recorded. Time Waits For No One!
P.S.S. I found a Beacon of light! (This is a note to myself to mark an important milestone in my life :)
If you’re still reading this, I’ll make sure the newsletter isn’t this long next time!💜
Loved this (surprise) issue! I live in Chicago, and I think I’ve been spoiled by having “Prince: The Immersive Experience” so nearby for so long. It definitely should be a hit in other cities! And thank you for the tribute to Wally.
It was more “immersive” than I expected! I loved the nods to his activism best.
But, someone like me only will be satisfied at Paisley Park. I’m finally going on the 29th of this month. 🙌🏾 I’ve put it off for far too long, and the Chicago exhibit only forced my hand.