[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 64 (Thursday, April 19, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2298]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                           Remembering Prince

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I come to the Senate floor today to 
remember a Minnesota icon, and that would be Prince, whom we lost 2 
years ago. Prince was a one-of-a-kind artist, fiercely independent, and 
uniquely talented. I grew up with his music.
  For Minnesotans, Prince was our superstar next door. He made ``Purple 
Rain'' a household name, First Avenue a landmark, and brought 
international fame to Minnesota's music scene.
  Minnesota loves Prince, and Prince loved Minnesota. He was born in 
Minneapolis in 1958 and developed an interest in music at an early age. 
He wrote his first song at just 7 years old and recorded his early demo 
tapes at Sound 80 Studios in Minneapolis.
  With seven Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award, 
he pioneered that ``Minneapolis sound,'' that mix of funk, rock, and 
pop that emerged in the late 1970s and 1980s and influenced music for 
decades to come. From Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to Janet Jackson and 
Bruno Mars--even Beyonce--so many artists have been influenced by 
Prince's music and his heart.
  Over his career, Prince sold more than 100 million records worldwide, 
released 39 studio albums, had 5 No. 1 billboard hits, and 40 singles 
in the top 100 songs.
  In 2004, Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the 
very first year he was eligible. And 6 years later, he received a Black 
Entertainment Television Lifetime Achievement Award.
  Despite all of his success, Prince never stopped calling the State of 
Minnesota home. He lived in our State, and he never lost the sense that 
he was a beloved son, neighbor, and Minnesotan.
  He wrote songs about Minnesota sports teams, including ``Purple and 
Gold'' during the Minnesota Viking's run to the 2010 National Football 
Conference Championship. When the Minnesota Lynx won their third 
Women's National Basketball Association Championship, Prince held a 
concert in their honor.
  When Prince passed away on April 21, 2016, he left behind millions of 
fans and a legacy of music that touched hearts, opened minds, and made 
people all over the world want to dance. I am proud to honor Prince's 
life and his achievements as a musician, a composer, an innovator, and 
a cultural icon, and I am proud to call his home, Minnesota, my home as 
well.
  Prince reminded us all that there's a world waiting for us after this 
life:

       A world of never-ending happiness
       You can always see the sun, day or night.

  I am sure that is where Prince is today. On Saturday, the 
anniversary, purple will reign again.