2026 marks ten years since we lost Prince, and the purple faithful have marked it in style. Fans gathered in Minneapolis for the 10th Anniversary Celebration of Life in June, and on 28 August the estate released Timeless, ten rare and unreleased vault recordings spanning 1977-2016.
A decade on, nobody has quite matched his mix of funk, rock, pop and soul. Browse more tribute designs in our music collection.
Prince Fact File
| Full name | Prince Rogers Nelson |
| Date of birth | 7 June 1958 |
| Place of birth | Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA |
| Died | 21 April 2016, Paisley Park, Chanhassen, Minnesota (aged 57) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actor |
| Years active | 1975-2016 |
| Genres | Minneapolis sound, funk, R&B, rock, pop, soul |
| Labels | Warner Bros., Paisley Park, NPG, EMI, Columbia, Arista, Universal |
| Nicknames | The Purple One, The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, Camille (alter ego), Skipper (childhood) |
| Known for | Purple Rain, five US number one singles, Super Bowl XLI halftime show |
Career History
| Year | Album | Label/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | For You | Warner Bros. - debut, written and produced by Prince |
| 1982 | 1999 | Warner Bros. - US No. 9, 4x Platinum |
| 1984 | Purple Rain | Warner Bros. - US No. 1 for 24 weeks, 13x Platinum |
| 1985 | Around the World in a Day | Paisley Park/Warner Bros. - US No. 1 |
| 1987 | Sign o' the Times | Paisley Park/Warner Bros. - UK No. 4 |
| 1989 | Batman | Warner Bros. - US and UK No. 1 |
| 2004 | Musicology | Columbia - US and UK No. 3 |
| 2006 | 3121 | Universal - US No. 1 debut |
| 2015 | HITnRUN Phase Two | NPG - final studio album |
This is a selection of highlights from Prince's 39 studio albums (including four soundtracks). Chart positions are Billboard 200 (US) and Official Charts (UK) peaks, and certifications are from the RIAA. Posthumous vault releases such as Timeless are not included.
Early Years in Minneapolis
Prince was born in Minneapolis to jazz singer Mattie Della Shaw and pianist and songwriter John Lewis Nelson, and he wrote his first song at seven. He signed to Warner Bros. in 1977. His debut, For You, followed in April 1978 - and remarkably, he wrote, produced and played almost every note himself.
Celebrate those Minneapolis roots with our Prince Music Icon Frame Men's Hoodie.
The Breakthrough: Dirty Mind to 1999
Dirty Mind (1980) and Controversy (1981) won over the critics, but 1999 (1982) made him a household name, selling over four million copies. It was also where his backing band became known as the Revolution.
Wear the era with our Prince Men's T-Shirt.
Purple Rain and the Defining Moments
Then came Purple Rain. The 1984 soundtrack spent 24 straight weeks at number one on the Billboard 200. When Doves Cry and Let's Go Crazy both topped the Hot 100, and the album won Prince an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. Kiss, Batdance and Cream later took his tally of US number ones to five.
In 1993, during a dispute with Warner Bros., he swapped his name for an unpronounceable symbol, returning to Prince in 2000. And on 4 February 2007 he delivered one of the greatest Super Bowl halftime shows ever in Miami, closing with Purple Rain in an actual downpour.
Mark the moment with our Prince Men's Hoodie.
Later Career and Legacy
Prince never slowed down. 3121 gave him his first number one debut on the Billboard 200 in 2006, and he kept releasing music right up to HITnRUN Phase Two in 2015. He died at Paisley Park on 21 April 2016, aged 57. He has sold more than 100 million records.
Awards and Honours
Major Awards
- 7 Grammy Awards from 37 nominations
- Academy Award for Best Original Song Score - Purple Rain (1985)
- Golden Globe for Best Original Song - The Song of the Heart (2007)
Halls of Fame and Rankings
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2004)
- Grammy Hall of Fame - 1999 (2008) and Purple Rain (2011)
- Purple Rain ranked eighth on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
Away From the Spotlight
Paisley Park, the studio complex in Chanhassen, Minnesota, was Prince's creative home for decades. Today it welcomes fans for tours and the annual Prince Celebration.
FAQs
How old was Prince when he died?
Prince was born on 7 June 1958 and died on 21 April 2016, aged 57.
What was Prince's real name?
His full name was Prince Rogers Nelson. Between 1993 and 2000 he performed under a symbol and was often called The Artist Formerly Known as Prince.
Where was Prince born?
He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
How many albums did Prince release?
Prince released 39 studio albums, including four soundtracks, from For You (1978) to HITnRUN Phase Two (2015).
Is there new Prince music in 2026?
Yes. The estate released Timeless on 28 August 2026, a collection of ten rare and unreleased recordings from 1977 to 2016.
Shop the Prince Collection
Pick your favourite fan tribute design from our Prince range below.
Prince Men's T-Shirt
£29.99
Prince Men's Hoodie
£39.99
Explore more in our music collection and R&B music collection, or put your own name on a custom name hoodie.
Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Michael Jackson: The King of Pop, His Albums and His Legacy and Whitney Houston: The Voice, Her Albums, Story and Legacy.
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