Dear Reader,
We are gathered here today to get through this thing called life. And yes, I was literally “dreaming when I wrote this.” From the moment I first heard Prince’s music on an 8-track cassette in my dad’s Mercury Grand Marquis, I was captivated. I might have been just 11 years old at the time.
The first voice I ever fell in love with was Sam Cooke. Then Stevie Wonder. Then Al Green. Then Mavis Staples. Then Andre Crouch. And then Prince. There was something mystical, fun, freeing, and yes, a little naughty, about his music that spoke to me in ways I couldn’t fully articulate.
Growing up, everything seemed to be a sin. So, I learned to keep silent, to stifle my voice and my desires. Life was easier that way—or so I thought. But Prince’s music gave me a sense of rebellion, a feeling that it was okay to be myself, to express myself, even if it went against the grain.
Prince’s influence on my life was profound. He inspired me to get a job at 15, even if it meant getting fired from McDonald’s shortly after. But that job gave me the means to buy his music, which became a source of solace and inspiration during some of my darkest days.
I remember eagerly unwrapping cassette tapes from Radio Shack, sitting in my car, and immersing myself in Prince’s melodies, eager to discover something new with each listen. His music became the soundtrack of my life, accompanying me on long drives to college and through the ups and downs of adulthood.
My first Prince concert, “1999”, was a secret indulgence, but it left an indelible mark on my soul. Over forty years later, I still have my tee shirt and it is still purple. And while I don’t consider myself any more special than any other fan, I recognize the profound impact Prince had on shaping the person I’ve become.
I don’t think I’m any more special than any other that adores Prince’s work and contributions. I believe that just like you, his work inspired me, impacted me, taught me, and showed me pieces
of the world and shone a light on the assembly line that was going on in my soul. And over the years, it all added up and formed a rich tapestry that made me a better and more self-aware and self-accepting human being.
I know this for sure. Without his impact, I would not be the same. I am honored to be the subject of his visitation. I don’t have a lot of poignant dreams. Sometimes I do, but I forget most. But this time, I was so deeply touched and affected by my dream that I was inspired to immediately get it all written down.
We all know that Prince was intensely private, but the Prince I met in my dream was candid and forthright. His words resonated deeply, inspiring an awakening to the extraordinary within myself, as I hope it will within us all.
So, as I embark on this journey of exploration and self-discovery, I do so with a sense of gratitude and reverence for the man who inspired it all. I hope this work honors him in the spirit of honesty, freedom, and nobility—a space we shared with him in this life, and now also, the afterworld.
Thank you for joining me on this journey.
