On the recordApril 21, 2016
I come to the Senate floor today to speak of the loss of the one of Minnesota's own, and that is Prince. Like all Minnesotans, today we were shocked and saddened. I grew up with Prince's music, starting with ``Little Red Corvette'' in the seventies and eighties. We won't forget ``Purple Rain'' in Minnesota. We were so proud of that movie, and everyone would point at every spot in the movie they knew from growing up. He was a superstar, composer, amazing performer, and a music innovator with a fierce belief in the independence of his art. He lived his art. He believed his words were his own, his name was his own, and he wasn't going to let anyone own him. There was absolutely nobody like him, and there never will be. Prince sold more than 100 million records worldwide. He released 39 studio albums. He had five No. 1 Billboard hits and 40 in the top 100. He won seven Grammys, an Oscar, and a Golden Globe. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the first year he was eligible. But even with all that success, even with all that fame, Minnesota never lost that sense that he was a beloved son--our neighbor, the superstar next door. I was always so proud to say: ``Prince--you know he's from Minnesota.'' He was born there, and he still lives there. The fact that Prince was a proud native of my State came through in all of his music.…
