4/21/16: Barney’s New York paid tribute to Prince by reminiscing about the time he “appeared” in a Simon Doonan-created Barney’s Christmas window in 1992: 

One of the most creative musical minds of our times—to say nothing of a lifelong style risk-taker—Prince passed away at the age of 57, leaving the world shortchanged of potentially decades more of his music. Today, we remember him fondly and mourn the loss by turning a nostalgic eye to when he appeared life-sized in a Simon Doonan-created Barneys Christmas window in 1992.

“Prince loaned us tons of his clothes and minute disco boots for his window,” Doonan recounts in his book, Confessions of a Window Dresser. “He was made from a petite female mannequin.”

Upon hearing of his passing, Doonan further recounting the experience of working with the legendary performer. “Everyone told us it was so hard to get to Prince, and that he was very private.,” he recalled. “I found the complete opposite—he and his people were enthusiastic collaborators on our project. They sent boxes of clothes and various ideas. Our Prince window was by far most popular holiday window of 1992.Of course, we had to send back all the clothes, which was a drag because he and I were the same size. What a magnificent talent. Very sad.”

Prince’s eccentric sense of style will be missed nearly as much as his music, but we join the world today in remembering this brilliant creatively talent and in mourning his passing.

The world would never be the same - from 1976:

Read Prince’s first interview, in his high school newspaper

What follows is a transcript of Prince’s very first interview. It appeared in his high school newspaper on February 16, 1976, accompanied by a picture of a young afro-clad Prince sitting at a piano.

Nelson Finds It “Hard To Become Known”

“I play with Grand Central Corporation. I’ve been playing with them for two years,” Prince Nelson, senior at Central, said. Prince started playing piano at age seven and guitar when he got out of eighth grade.

Prince was born in Minneapolis. When asked, he said, “I was born here, unfortunately.” Why? “I think it is very hard for a band to make it in this state, even if they’re good. Mainly because there aren’t any big record companies or studios in this state. I really feel that if we would have lived in Los Angeles or New York or some other big city, we would have gotten over by now.”

He likes Central a great deal, because his music teachers let him work on his own. He now is working with Mr. Bickham, a music teacher at Central, but has been working with Mrs. Doepkes.

He plays several instruments, such as guitar, bass, all keyboards, and drums. He also sings sometimes, which he picked up recently. He played saxophone in seventh grade but gave it up. He regrets he did. He quit playing sax when school ended one summer. He never had time to practice sax anymore when he went back to school. He does not play in the school band. Why? “I really don’t have time to make the concerts.”

Prince has a brother that goes to Central whose name is Duane Nelson, who is more athletically enthusiastic. He plays on the basketball team and played on the football team. Duane is also a senior.

Prince plays by ear. “I’ve had about two lessons, but they didn’t help much. I think you’ll always be able to do what your ear tells you, so just think how great you’d be with lessons also,” he said.

“I advise anyone who wants to learn guitar to get a teacher unless they are very musically inclined. One should learn all their scales too. That is very important,” he continued.

Prince would also like to say that his band is in the process of recording an album containing songs they have composed. It should be released during the early part of the summer.

“Eventually I would like to go to college and start lessons again when I’m much older.”

And when this man passed 40 years later, the whole world stopped to grieve and pay homage.

Now THAT is a legacy.