Prince: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Nov. 12, 2026

News •

‘Purple Rain’ Musical: Jordan Fisher Is New Prince Of Broadway • Nov. 10, 2026, 9:24 AM ET (Deadline)

Facts

Also Known As	Prince Rogers Nelson • the Artist • the Artist Formerly Known as Prince
Born	June 7, 1958 • Minneapolis • Minnesota
Died	April 21, 2016 (aged 57) • Minnesota
Awards And Honors	Grammy Award (2007) • Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (2004) • Grammy Award (2004) • Grammy Award (1986) • Academy Award (1985) • Grammy Award (1984)

Photos

Prince stands on stage in a turquoise suit, holding a purple, symbol-shaped guitar above his head, during his Super Bowl XLI halftime performance.

Prince stands at a microphone in a ruffled white shirt and dark jacket, pointing dramatically, with purple stage lighting in a scene from the movie Purple Rain.

Prince poses beside Warner Records chair Mo Ostin.

Prince performs passionately onstage, leaning back and playing an electric guitar under dramatic purple lighting at the Warner Theatre.

See All Images →

Isaac Hayes wearing sunglasses and a vest made of chains sings into a microphone onstage in a scene from the 1972 film Wattstax.

Isaac Hayes

American singer-songwriter, musician, and actor

Curtis Mayfield

Curtis Mayfield

American musician

Stevie Wonder smiling and wearing sunglasses and a dark jacket while performing outdoors.

Stevie Wonder

American singer, composer, and musician

Harry Connick Jr. wearing a black suit and tie, posing in front of a gray event backdrop at the 23rd Annual Critics' Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California.

Harry Connick, Jr.

American musician and actor

Dolly Parton smiles while holding a microphone, wearing a green outfit with sparkling details, in front of a red background.

Dolly Parton

American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actress

Bruce Springsteen plays an acoustic guitar and sings into a microphone on stage at the New York Film Festival Spotlight Gala.

Bruce Springsteen

American singer, songwriter, and bandleader

Randy Newman in a suit holding his Academy Award Oscar and raising his fist in celebration, standing in front of a gold Oscar statue.

Randy Newman

American musician

Lionel Richie performs on stage holding a microphone and pointing upward, with blue stage lights and a blurred band in the background.

Lionel Richie

American singer, songwriter, and producer

John Legend sits at a black Yamaha grand piano singing into a microphone, surrounded by flag bearers and choir members, performing at the Superbowl XLIX in Glendale, Arizona.

John Legend

American singer-songwriter and pianist

The Genius

Ray Charles

American musician

Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones

American producer, performer, and composer

Harry Belafonte

Harry Belafonte

American singer, actor, and activist

Paul Williams

Paul Williams

American singer, songwriter, composer, and actor

Lady Gaga performing onstage in a sparkling blue outfit with dramatic shoulders, long platinum blonde hair, pink glitter mask, and holding a gold microphone.

Lady Gaga

American singer-songwriter and actress

Paul Simon

Paul Simon

American musician

Tom Waits

Tom Waits

American singer-songwriter

James Taylor

James Taylor

American musician

A man with gray hair and a beard wearing glasses, a black leather jacket, dark shirt, and jeans stands on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards.

Bob Seger

American singer, songwriter, and guitarist

Beyonce smiling on the red carpet at the 2013 Grammy Awards, wearing a black and white dress with her hair pulled back.

Beyoncé

American singer

Pharrell Williams smiles on stage holding a microphone, wearing a white Mickey Mouse 1928 t-shirt and a cap, with red stage lights in the background.

Pharrell Williams

American musician and producer

British musical group Culture Club on the set of the "Karma Chameleon" video, 1983; (left to right) Roy Hay, Jon Moss, Boy George and Mikey Craig.

80s Music Quiz

USA 2006 - 78th Annual Academy Awards. Closeup of giant Oscar statue at the entrance of the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Hompepage blog 2009, arts and entertainment, film movie hollywood

Pop Culture Quiz

Empty movie theater and blank screen (theatre, motion pictures, cinema).

Oscar-Worthy Movie Trivia