What a year, so many legendary celebrities and icons have died, and just this week we’ve heard about the death of not just Victoria Wood but the legend that is Prince.  It’s all quite upsetting, but at least it helps us reflect on the joy that they brought us and the brilliant memories they left us with. 

It’s hard to think of any modern musicians that can do what Prince did, and what a legacy he has.  But that’s a piece better served by a Sunday newspaper which will undoubtedly go into glorious detail about his life. 

As a young boy I didn’t really get Prince – his flamboyant style and persona was all a bit much.  But fast forward to my early 20s and his best of album was mind-blowingly good.  Maybe my wife Leti loving him had something to do with it, but I got to know more about him and why he deserves to be recognised a musical genius. 

I’d like to think when my kids grow a little older they’ll want to enquire about the music that was being played over the years.  With Prince they are bound to ask who is this artist my parents love jamming to so much?! 

So with another legend lost to the only certainty of life, how can we make him accessible to our kids.  What do they need to know? 

1.  His music is a blend of rock, soul, funk, R&B, disco, hip-hop, jazz, and psychedelia.  He defied genre and created music that was truly original.  Prince recorded the great majority of his music entirely on his own, playing every instrument and singing every vocal line.