Prince: Inside the Music and the Masks

Capturing the essence of a constantly evolving artist like the massively successful Prince is no easy task, but music journalist and biographer Ro’s look at the man behind the curtain is a worthy effort. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Prince Rogers Nelson was immersed in music from a young age, listening to his musician father, John, trying to make it big. Just as he would years later for his studio albums, young Prince played whatever musical instrument he could find and mastered each one. He formed several bands as a teenager in the 1970s, playing Top 40 covers, before striking out on his own. Though record labels were first leery about a teenager who not only performed but also produced his own material, 17-year-old Prince signed with Warner in 1977 in one of the most lucrative contracts ever offered to an unknown. From his first album For You, one thing was obvious: Prince was devoted to his music and nothing would prevent him from making the kind of sound he wanted to make. Ro chronicles Prince’s increasingly difficult relationship with Warner, as well as his tumultuous history with his backup band, the Revolution, and the young artists he brought into the fold. Prince has helped redefine the boundaries of the music industry, and this solid biography gives fans a peek at a complicated talent. (Nov.)