 Never-before seen shots of a 17-year-old Prince are to be exhibited for the first time as part of a touring display that will launch in Los Angeles later this month (Feb14).
Photographer Robert Whitman's shots from his three 1977 sessions with Prince, which really capture the artist as a young man on the verge of superstardom, have been locked away - until now. Whitman, now in his 60s, was just starting out as a commercial photographer in his native Minneapolis, Minnesota when he got the call to shoot music producer Owen Husney's new local discovery for a pitch to record companies. He tells Wenn, "I didn't know anything about him and he was shy and I was nervous. I knew he was going to do something big when they played me his track Soft & Wet and he performed at his studio. I got goosebumps. "The shots were for Prince's first press kit. We only used a few of the shots and created just 15 kits." Prince and the photographer teamed up for their first session at Whitman's studio in a Minneapolis ice-cream factory. He recalls, "I had no idea what I was doing - I had Prince kneeling by this awful furniture and blowing bubbles. I was trying everything I could think of." But Prince never forgot his first photographer: "About 10 years later I was on the phone at LaGuardia Airport (in New York) and Prince walked by and said, 'Whitman, how are you?'" The snapper became an in-demand fine art photographer and he filed away his Prince shots, only occasionally showing them off to friends who showed an interest in the star. He adds, "I had not even thought of them and then I started to think about what to do with my archive and I discovered this young agent, called Jesse Blatt, who came to the studio, took one look at these Prince shots and started talking about a touring exhibition. It's very exciting." The collection will debut at Hollywood's Mr. Musichead gallery on 20 February (14). The exhibition will run for a month. © Robert Whitman
47 Comments
Camill
2/11/2014 09:35:09 pm
Love it!!
lonnie bradford
2/11/2014 11:23:30 pm
This is my favorite artists!
Richard Odom jr
2/13/2014 12:23:41 am
Mandy
2/12/2014 12:34:45 am
If the pictures was taken in 1977 Prince was 19 years old! 2/12/2014 04:21:29 am
True. When Prince was first signed, Warner Bros. wanted to present him as the next Stevie Wonder (because he too was a musical genius that could play every instrument) so they shaved off 2 years from his age to make him even younger. Princes "For You" album actually came out when he was 20....and not 18 like everyone believed.
Lorna Bryant
2/12/2014 07:11:59 am
Eric - what's up!!! I saw the name and knew it could only be you! You just school be - and I considered myself a diehard fan (I even have a symbol tatt). Nice to see you're still in the music game!
ViolaL
2/12/2014 04:45:49 pm
Absolutely correct - many people over look that tiny fact. Just as they assume the album "Prince" was the first album. For You was an extraordinary landmark album. First time an artist had full artistic and production control. Still probably my favorite album. Last track "I'm Yours" blows me away every time!!
DeeDubbCee
2/12/2014 08:05:42 am
No dear early 78 he released his first album , he was 17.
Jamie Starr's a Thief
2/12/2014 09:55:46 am
Prince was born June 7, 1958. For You was released in April 1978. Therefore Prince was just a few months shy of turning 20 when For You came out.
Funkee Dumpling
3/14/2014 08:34:49 am
Prince was born June 7, 1958. In 1978, he would be 20, unless the album release was before his birthday, (sounds like it was, if it was early in the year) in which case he'd be 19, not 17.
Suzy
8/26/2016 11:09:30 pm
He was born in 1958 so in 1978 he was........20!
ROKO
2/13/2014 01:05:28 am
Mandy He could also been 16 in the photo shooting. The photograph was one among three sessions.. 1977 it was published..
HW
2/12/2014 02:06:14 am
These pictures came out years ago. Just sayin.
VNikol
2/12/2014 07:26:16 am
Yep, that's what I was thinking. I've seen these before & apparently so has most of Pinterest.
Kimberly Jones
2/12/2014 03:23:32 am
I have been loving You since Day One!!!!!
Desiree Simmons
2/12/2014 04:47:52 am
I love Prince I've seen him 8n concert 4 times absolutely love him so talented
Cynthia
2/12/2014 05:47:36 am
What the I Love it wherever be the studio I'm in.
Mitchy
2/12/2014 06:44:30 am
Never before seen? I've seen them before! They have been displayed here in Minneapolis, or I've seen them somewhere. He is in front of the old Schmitt Music building in downtown Minneapolis. I'm sad to say it's been torn down.
Amber MN girl
2/12/2014 09:34:07 am
Born in June of 58 he was most likely to still be 18. His clothes are spring for Minnesota! Every June I've ever experienced was humid. I love him as much as most music lovers! He's a Genius!
Therese
2/12/2014 10:31:41 am
To Robert Whitman:
Izzo
2/13/2014 04:04:05 am
When is this exhibit starting? I'm coming to town & would very much like to view.
Izzo
2/13/2014 04:06:52 am
Therese thank you so much for sharing your story.
Annette
2/12/2014 11:49:05 am
He is Beautiful and always be. I have loved Him since the Loverboy Album. Can't wait for another full creation !!!
Pam
2/12/2014 12:32:17 pm
The first time I saw Prince was @ a small club in Biston THE METRO The Time opened for Prince Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Albert Carlos
2/12/2014 02:26:17 pm
Its about time. Great.
CrazyNLuV
2/12/2014 02:32:26 pm
Can we just get him 2do da Jimi Hendrix movie...looks jus like him.
Kimberly
2/12/2014 02:58:20 pm
I would love to see this exhibit I LOVE Prince's music... I hope the exhibit makes it to Detroit.
RACHEL
2/12/2014 03:07:32 pm
AWESOMENESS !!!! :)))
Shelley mason
2/12/2014 04:09:17 pm
I love prince so much and his music he's a gifted talented man
kate
2/12/2014 08:32:22 pm
please come to Miami!
Jill M Hunt
2/12/2014 09:36:25 pm
An exceptional young man!
Jocelyn
2/12/2014 11:59:49 pm
The man barely aged lol :-D
Andi2x2
2/13/2014 12:19:54 am
I STILL LOVE PRINCE.... even after all these years!! Supremely talented.
mama_duke02
2/13/2014 01:22:03 am
It goes to show you that my manPrince always been SEXY !!
Nakia
2/13/2014 02:01:30 am
Never take for granted who you have in your presence. ......i love this article as well as the pic. ......thanks to my bestie for the forward.
Siobhan
2/13/2014 04:01:02 am
Prince is far and away my favorite artist. So, when I saw this I freak out.
Jane Summerell
2/13/2014 06:52:47 am
I was corrected recently that for u was not the first album....there was an instrumental I was told...FYI
Lynn
2/13/2014 09:36:31 am
"Never Before Seen"? I saw this exhibit in NYC at Black and White Gallery in 2009.
ajerseyguy
2/13/2014 12:11:37 pm
He was born in '58 & these pics are supposedly from '77, so as he would say, "do the math" (i.e., he's not 17 y.o. as it says in the caption beneath the photo.. either that, or they've got the year wrong)... just sayin'.
Tamarra Brown
2/13/2014 07:45:45 pm
I've seen this picture some time ago. This man is my Ultimate favorite artists. I have too many fingers to count how many times I've seen him in concert. I was blessed in 1998 to be called on stage by this talented being. We danced what seemed like forever. Security came get us after a while, and Prince told security to leave us alone and we continued to dance. I tell you, I was dancing like my life depended on it. I even sang in the mic. LOL
Deirdre prirst
2/13/2014 09:59:09 pm
I'll be there. first time in Cali and Prince will be my first stop 2/13/2014 11:22:19 pm
I saw him last Sunday in London - simply amazing - here's my report on the build up to that gig http://humandynamics.wordpress.com/2014/02/10/one-nite-alone-with-george-clinton-and-prince/
Niki
2/17/2014 10:13:05 pm
Can't wait to see this exhibit! Love Prince!
Deb
3/29/2014 01:10:03 am
Isn't it funny that the three biggest names in pop from the 1980s were all born in the same year 1958- Michael Jackson, Prince and Madonna Leave a Reply. |
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