Senate Honors Prince
And there's no objection
Prodded by the senators from his home state of Minnesota, the Senate found bipartisan agreement Wednesday on honoring the life of the legendary music artist Prince.
“While the Senate may disagree on a lot of issues, today we agreed on one: Prince was a one-of-a-kind artist, fiercely independent and uniquely talented,” said Minnesota Democrat, Amy Klobuchar.
The resolution, which officially recognizes the musician by his full name, Prince Rogers Nelson, was adopted by unanimous consent shortly before the end of Senate business Wednesday. The star’s death last week generated plenty of reaction on Capitol Hill when it was first reported.
“Since his untimely death, the outpouring of appreciation for Prince speaks volumes to his influence on modern culture and also to the importance of the arts to so many people,” said Sen. Al Franken, Minnesota’s other senator. “I’m glad we were able to do something in the Senate to honor this true Minnesota icon.”
The full resolution, which was provided to Heard on the Hill in purple type in honor of the “Purple Rain” artist, appears below:
Whereas Prince Rogers Nelson (referred to in this preamble as “Prince”) was born on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minnesota;
Whereas Prince developed an interest in music at an early age and wrote his first song at the age of 7 years;
Whereas Prince pioneered the Minneapolis sound, which is a mixture of funk, rock, and pop that emerged in the late 1970s and 1980s and influenced music for decades;
Whereas Prince and his band, the Revolution, shot many scenes of the classic film “Purple Rain” at First Avenue, making the downtown Minneapolis music venue a landmark;
Whereas Prince was a superstar composer, an amazing performer, and a music innovator with a fierce belief in the independence of his art;
Whereas Prince—
(1) sold more than 100,000,000 records worldwide;
(2) released 39 studio albums;
(3) had 5 number 1 Billboard hits; and
(4) had 40 singles in the top 100 songs;
Whereas Prince won 7 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award;
Whereas Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the first year in which Prince was eligible for induction;
Whereas in 2010, Prince accepted a Black Entertainment Television Lifetime Achievement Award;
Whereas Prince wrote songs about Minnesota sports teams, including “Purple and Gold” during the Minnesota Viking’s run to the 2010 National Football Conference championship game, and held a concert for the Minnesota Lynx after the Minnesota Lynx won their third Women’s National Basketball Association championship;
Whereas even after all of his success, Prince still called the State of Minnesota home and never lost the sense that he was a beloved son, a neighbor, and the superstar next door;
Whereas Prince reminded the people of the United States that “there’s a world waiting for us after this life, a world of never ending happiness, where you can always see the sun, day or night”; and
Whereas on April 21, 2016, Prince passed away at his Paisley Park Estate in Chanhassen, Minnesota, leaving behind millions of fans and a legacy of music that touched hearts, opened minds, and made the people of the United States want to dance: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate honors the life of Prince Rogers Nelson and his achievements as a musician, composer, innovator, and cultural icon.
Contact Lesniewski at nielslesniewski@cqrollcall.com and follow him on Twitter @nielslesniewski.
Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone or your Android.