In 1984, Prince crafted a song titled “Paisley Park” that depicted a personal utopia. Little did he know that this vision would materialize a few years later, and he would never leave this special place. The renowned pop superstar, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 57, is the subject of a captivating new photo book titled “Prince: Icon.” This book takes us on a journey through his decades-long career, as captured by 17 photographers, from his early days in Minneapolis to his global tours.

Unraveling Prince's Connection to Paisley Park

Early Days and the Birth of Paisley Park

In 1987, Prince constructed a magnificent 65,000-square-foot, $10 million recording complex in Chanhassen, Minnesota, which he named Paisley Park. It was initially intended to be a commercial facility, but by the end of the 1990s, it had ceased accepting outside clients. The exact time when Prince began living there remains unclear, but it was clear that he wanted to create a “self-contained dominion” where he could exercise “total control” as an artist.During the early days, Paisley Park was open to anyone as a recording studio. MC Hammer and his crew were once seen walking in, rehearsing there. Over time, Prince gradually took over the entire complex, booking all the studios, rehearsal spaces, and sound stages. It became a place that was no longer accessible to just anyone.

Prince's Comfort in Minnesota

Steve Parke, Prince's art director, explained that Prince was comfortable in Minnesota. He believed that staying in one place allowed him to focus on his creative juices instead of being pulled in different directions by cities like New York or LA. “He could afford to invest in himself by building and maintaining Paisley Park. A lot of people would spend their money on new cars or other things, but Prince chose to invest in his art,” Parke said.Finding privacy outside the spotlight was also easy in Minnesota. Prince would rent out a whole movie theater late at night or a bowling alley. At Paisley Park, he had a comfort level with everyone there. When they weren't rehearsing, they would crack jokes back and forth, creating a family-like atmosphere.

Prince's Impact on Music

The singer, songwriter, arranger, and instrumentalist drew inspiration from a wide range of musicians, from James Brown to Jimi Hendrix to the Beatles, creating a unique blend of rock, funk, and soul that defied gender and genre boundaries. His hits like “Little Red Corvette,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” and “When Doves Cry” are still widely loved today.Prince was one of the most inventive and influential musicians of modern times. He was fiercely private but slowly opened up to Steve Parke. Parke recalled seeing Prince play basketball in 1988 with some of his friends from the city. He also remembered working with Prince in a soundproof room, where Prince would play music he was working on and share it with him.

Personal Life and Tragedy

On Valentine’s Day 1996, Prince married dancer Mayte Garcia. They were excited to become parents and named their child Amiir. However, their son was born with Pfeiffer syndrome type 2 and lived only six days. Two years later, Garcia had a miscarriage. The couple divorced in 2000.In 2016, Prince was found alone and unresponsive in an elevator at his Paisley Park studio compound. An autopsy revealed that he died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl. It is likely that he didn't know he was taking the dangerous drug, which was laced in counterfeit pills.Prince's records sold more than 100 million copies, and he won seven Grammys and an Academy Award in 1985 for his music from “Purple Rain.” His influence on the music industry is undeniable.