Prince Rogers Nelson in History of Rock & Roll
Prince Rogers Nelson (1958–2016), better known by his stage name, Prince, was a rock virtuoso—a singer, songwriter, musician, and actor.
Prince first blazed up the pop charts in the early 1980s with his ferocious guitar playing and his salacious—some would even say X-rated—lyrics. Inspired by rock great Jimi Hendrix, Prince aspired to be an outstanding entertainer, second to none, and he strove to titillate—and shock—listeners with each new album.
He inspired many artists—not only rock singers, but also R&B artists like Jon Legend, hip hop performers like Outkast, and pop singers like Justin Timberlake—to push the envelope. Posthumously, a shade of purple, Love Symbol #2, was named after him.