Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I come to the Senate floor today to remember a Minnesota icon, and that would be Prince, whom we lost 2 years ago. Prince was a one-of-a-kind artist, fiercely independent, and uniquely talented. I grew up with his music. For Minnesotans, Prince was our superstar next door. He made ``Purple Rain'' a household name, First Avenue a landmark, and brought international fame to Minnesota's music scene. Minnesota loves Prince, and Prince loved Minnesota. He was born in Minneapolis in 1958 and developed an interest in music at an early age. He wrote his first song at just 7 years old and recorded his early demo tapes at Sound 80 Studios in Minneapolis. With seven Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award, he pioneered that ``Minneapolis sound,'' that mix of funk, rock, and pop that emerged in the late 1970s and 1980s and influenced music for decades to come. From Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to Janet Jackson and Bruno Mars--even Beyonce--so many artists have been influenced by Prince's music and his heart. Over his career, Prince sold more than 100 million records worldwide, released 39 studio albums, had 5 No. 1 billboard hits, and 40 singles in the top 100 songs. In 2004, Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the very first year he was eligible. And 6 years later, he received a Black Entertainment Television Lifetime Achievement Award. Despite all of his success, Prince never stopped calling the State of Minnesota home.…”