Prince: “Pre-Fame”. Rare Photography Shots on Display at Chelseas Black & White Gallery in NYC.

Prince Rogers Nelson.
Age 20.
Gemini.
Full of passion and promise.
Minneapolis, MN.
On the VERGE of fame (you know, the defining moments before famous and almost famous).
I bet he didn’t even see it coming: the legions of fans, the Superbowl, the Rock& Roll Hall of Fame, etc.)

Yeah.

1978 was the year. I was just 5 years old (still pickin’ boogers). And dig the frames on those automobiles! But you know what sets this picture out the MOSTEST? No, not the righteous afro & turtle neck sweater. . . rather the Musical Notes swirlin’ around in the background. The “Music Note” wall is a Minneapolis classic within in it’s own rights. And honestly, I aint never seen that wall looking as crisp as it does the pic. Word up. I love Prince and that wall. Makes me want to go there and take a picture of myself in front of it. Maybe it will bring me fortune and fame too.

“Those notes aren’t painted on the wall, they’re floating in the air around me as I dream up a purple symphony in my mind…” - PRINCE

See more photos, HERE

Taken by his close friend Robert Whitman, the candid black & white images were captured on the streets of downtown Minneapolis and in his parent’s home (just blocks away from the house I grew up in), where the up and coming star was still ‘posted up’ in all his pre-Paisley Park glory. The show will remain on exhibit for a month, with extremely limited-edition copies of the prints up for grabs. How cool is that?

Rock on Prince, rock on . . . you sexy mf’r.