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Many Prince stories are circulating of those who had various brief encounters. He had a one-of-a-kind
magnetism that immediately captured you. When I worked with him, it was easy. He knew exactly what he
wanted. But very few saw the other side, as that was not shared with the public or many in his circle. Most
of these stories will remain private. I am sharing to balance some of “don’t look at him in the eyes” myths.
Over the years – dinners, movies, parties, events, conversations – I was fortunate enough to get to know
him. I don’t play a musical instrument or sing, so our relationship was based on old-fashioned conversation.
The way someone treats me and those most important to me, sets the tone of my relationships. He
welcomed not only me, but my whole family into his fold. When I mentioned my mom was in town, he
immediately asked, “Does she want to see Barbra Streisand with us?” My mom ended up sitting next to
him all night and chatting. From that point on, my mom was a regular guest at his house. He would also
invite my husband, Tom, to join for us for dinner. At Tom’s first “dinner,” he and Prince were so engrossed
in talking about intellectual property and ownership (Tom is an attorney) that they forgot to order and the
restaurant closed. A few years later, I was lamenting about how I needed a big backyard for my daughter’s
birthday bouncer. He graciously offered his house in Los Angeles. My daughter, Natasha, was always
welcome at all his events and shows. When I told Natasha that Prince had passed away, she reflected for
a moment and said, “Mama, I think he was one of your nicest artists. He let me eat all of his Oreos from
the dressing room.” That is the Prince we knew.
Sujata Murthy, Prince’s longtime friend and music industry executive
Lawless Entertainment Magazine – www.llemag.com