If you look at the labels on old 78 band records, you’ll see "arranged by...”. Arrangers used to travel with big bands and they were a big part of road and studio musicianship.
Prince had the ability to do what those old time arrangers did. He would hear a snatch of music in the air, in his head, or on the air, and could immediately visualize how each instrument and voice could make it his, and make it bigger. Since he could play keys, woodwinds, and fretted instruments, he had an orchestral vision. Now, most musicians and music writers depend on producers in the studio to fulfill their vision, but Prince was arranger, producer, business manager, and musician all in one. His musical vision was giant.
I visited England in 1996, and every single person I met, young or old, when they found I was from Minneapolis, said, “oooooh, PRINCE!”
I worked his 30th birthday party. He opened a long disused ballroom, the Prom Center in St. Paul, and a big crew of electricians, rigger, fabric artists, and laborers prepared it for the event. I was a props guy. He paid real well, union scale with time and a half. We had ten days to get it ready.
We were all highly motivated to do a good job. I was hoping I could get on at Paisley park, a fabulous work space, I’d heard.
Last day of the job, as we were cleaning up and loading our tools, one of the many stunningly beautiful and fashionably dressed women walked by, a model or singer. I said, “Hey we finished our contract early, how about a couple comps for the party?” She looked at my torn jeans and engineer boots and said, in a pleasant but withering voice, “I...don’t...think so”.
He did so much for the music history of Minnesota and the world...did so much anonymous social good, did so much...giving...to us all.