This year has been a rough one. I held it together when Bowie left us, but Prince was part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up with his music and several of his songs still get regular play.

I doubt if we’ll ever fully understand the influence he had on music on culture. He was an R&B star that played guitar like a rocker. A super freak that could talk about lust, seduction, romance and loss with equal eloquence. For 40 years, he jumped genres, filled stadiums, and didn’t compromise on his art.

I remember living in Minnesota and fantasizing about making it into one of his parties. Making Minneapolis cool was another thing he did: First Ave was a place to know in part because Prince believed in it. Paisley Park gave Minneapolis cred no matter how few stars came out of there.

AND he was damn good basketball player.

I’m listening to Current (MN Public Radio) as they do an all-day homage to The Artist. Check it out

Below are some responses to our loss from the Twittersphere:

In a world where so much public stupidity lives, it is hard to see genius die #PrinceRIP

— Raquel S. Lettsome (@RevRaquel1) April 22, 2016

Choose Love. Always. #PrinceRIP pic.twitter.com/pnJdu9mS8u

— Wendy Steele (@WendySteele) April 22, 2016

.@prince donated $44K from the sale of his '92 hit, "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" to #UNCF – #PrinceRIP pic.twitter.com/pLBW1Rj2x2

— UNCF (@UNCF) April 22, 2016

#Worcester #Shrewsbury tonight: #BurnsBridge. #PrinceRIP pic.twitter.com/KklJJFhKvJ

— Mass. Transportation (@MassDOT) April 22, 2016

And here are a few articles covering his life (too soon for me to read the Times Obit):

• The Guardian: Prince broke all the rules about what black American men should be
• NYT: How Prince Rebelled Against the Music Industry
• Wired: We’ll Never Understand Prince, and That’s Why We Love Him
• Washington Post: Mourning Prince and David Bowie, who showed there’s no one right way to be a man

I’ll remember him for his music, his sexiness, and his authenticity. #PrinceRip