Before he was a Love Symbol, and even before he dropped that whole “Roger Nelson” part of his name, Prince was a scrappy teen piping his funky falsetto on the mean streets of Minneapolis.
We’ve got the pics to prove it.
Starting February 21st, you can view rare, eye-popping photos of Prince just as he was launching his first album, For You, at that Mecca of music art, Mr. Musichead Gallery.
The exhibit, Robert Whitman Photographs: Prince, Minneapolis, 1977, is a collection of 20 silver gelatin stills taken by Whitman. Prince was only 17 at the time.
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Whitman, now a well-established portrait photographer, was hired by Prince’s producers Owen Husney and Gary Levenson after they recorded For You.
These black-and-whites were taken at Prince’s studio (also Husney’s home) and on the streets of downtown Minneapolis. After making the press-kit rounds, they sat in Whitman’s storage.
Until now. Here’s a little gallery to get you primed.
The exhibit runs through March 7th.
Don’t miss it. After all – it’s for you.
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