My Love is Forever (Part II): Linda Steele

  


   Dyes Got the Answers 2 Ur ?s is celebrating 35 years since the release of Prince's first studio album “For You,” with a series where we interview readers who have been fans from the very beginning.

  It all began when Warner Brothers Records released “For You,” on April 7, 1978, with the album's first single, “Soft and Wet” being released approximately two months later.

  Linda Steele, of Augusta, Georgia became a fan in 1978 when she was 16-years old. She did a telephone interview in January with our blog where she discussed her Prince-related artwork, meeting several protegees and close encounters of the Prince kind:

  "We had no idea that he would be become such a megastar like The Rolling Stones, like The Beatles, like Michael Jackson..."

  
  ?: Tell me a little bit about yourself.

  LS: I'm a hair stylist and I've been married for 12 years. I'm originally from South Carolina and I have a cat named Silver Bells. I am an artist and I do oils, graphite, watercolors and acrylics.

  ?: How did you discover Prince? Tell me about the first time you heard him sing or saw him. How did it make you feel?

  LS: The first time I heard Prince was in 1978 (and) I was 16 years old. My sister purchased the For You album, which had some beautiful songs on it. The first time (I) laid eyes on him, (I) thought he was one of the members of The Sylvers; he looked just like Edmond Sylvers. But, Prince was a new guy just coming out. He was just phenomenal. He was just a good-looking guy.

  When he sang "Soft and Wet" and "In Love," it was beautiful...We had no idea that he would be become such a megastar like The Rolling Stones, like The Beatles, like Michael Jackson...He was wild, he a wild child (and) he was getting it...

  ?: Do you have any Prince-related stories that you would like to share?

  LS: Rick James was going to be coming to South Carolina (for the "The Fire It Up" Tour, where Prince was the opening act). That was the first time that I ever laid eyes on him (in person) and (when) he came out he had on bikini underwear. He had nothing but his drawers on, baby! I mean, boy, he rocked that concert. The heels were not as high then as I saw him wearing in the future.

  (In 1981, during the first leg of the Controversy Tour) I remember doing a painting of Prince.... At that time, it wasn't hard to get to celebrities. He was big, but, he wasn't gigantic. By the time I took the oil (paintings) backstage, the security guard told me I had already missed him... I went to the hotel (where the band was staying). I met Jimmy Jam (who was then a member of The Time) and people were asking for his autograph. I saw Brown Mark coming through (the lobby) and I stopped him and I asked him if he would give (a painting) to Prince. He complimented me on my paintings and pointed to one and said "this one looks just like Prince."

Terry Lewis, courtesy of Linda Steele

   (In 1982, during the second leg of the Controversy Tour) I said "I'm gonna go to the hotel lobby and wait this time." Before the concert (I saw) Terry Lewis (who was then a member of The Time) going to the hotel restaurant. He stopped and said "Why are you sitting here? I am going to get something to eat, would you like to join me?" But, I was too embarrassed to say that I was sitting there waiting to see Prince. He asked me more than once and I just said I was fine. I could kick myself now! I can sing a few bars... (and) I could have been in the mix!

  (Later), before the concert, I saw Prince. He had on leopard boots, and I want to say he had on a leopard jacket, with this girl I had never seen before. It was cold weather, but, the girl didn't have any shoes on her feet... I was sitting there with a magazine and when I saw them up close, walking and talking, I couldn't say anything. I noticed that Prince was very, very snow white. He had very porcelain skin and thick black hair. Dez (Dickerson) was behind them. I didn't say anything, it just happened so quickly. I'll tell you who I did get an autograph from and a picture with: Roger Troutman (of Zapp), who was also on that tour.

  I went back to the hotel (after the concert) and I saw Prince again. This time, I went up and (lightly) grabbed his arm and said "can I get a picture?" He stepped to the side like he was going to take the picture. Then, this lady (who was with him), that may have been part of the road tour, said "no, no, you go on. That was cute what you did." I think she may have saw me sitting in the lobby.

  In 1983, (during the Triple Threat Tour), I went to sit in the hotel lobby where Prince was staying. When I sat down, Jill Jones sat down beside me. I asked her if she was going to the concert... I already knew who she was, but, I just pretended like I didn't (know). She saw my pictures. She said she would see him that night and would give him (one of the) pictures. I asked her how she liked them and she said "they're okay." But,  she was very nice.

  Later, my brother was talking to a woman who said she was Prince's hairstylist in the lobby. She said she would see him and she would also give him one of the pictures. They were getting ready to load up on the tour bus.

Bobby Z, courtesy of Linda Steele

  We (also) went upstairs to the floor (where The Time was staying). I saw Morris Day and I gave him (another) one of my pictures -- which was a drawing of The Time's first album cover-- and he said "we're gonna hang it on the bus, Linda." I also saw Dr. Fink. We got into the elevator (to go back to the lobby) with The Time. They went outside to get on the (tour) bus. That's when I saw Bobby Z and I took a picture of him leaving to get on the bus.

  Today, he (Prince) wouldn't really come to this area anymore. (Back then) he was starting to be a big star, but, some people still hadn't heard of him. When "Purple Rain" came out, it was too late to try and talk to him. By then, he (had) exploded. I would write him letters and then I would send drawings and I would get postcards back.

  Then,  (years later) in an issue of NPG Magazine, I saw my photograph and you could see my drawing in the background with was other stuff printed on top of it.

  ?: How many times have you seen Prince in concert? Where was the last concert you attended?

  LS: The last time I saw Prince was the year before last (2011) in Columbia, SC. I saw one lady that was about 70 years old-- with a walker-- there. There were older people, little children and (people of) all nationalities. Just thinking back to 1978, (it's hard to believe) that he became that person. It's hard to stay on top... He is a legend, you hear me? He doesn't have to make any more songs, because he has so many hits.

Linda Steele's photo published in NPG Magazine.

?: What is your favorite Prince song and album? What is your least favorite?

  LS: "For You" is my favorite song. My least favorite song is "Sister." My least favorite album is Controversy. I liked the songs on the album, (it) had a lot of nice dance hits. (But), Controversy was more about him wanting to speak about himself. He didn't want to do interviews, so, he did it through songs; he did it through Controversy.

  ?: Why do you think you're still a Prince fan after nearly 35 years?

  LS: Prince was always sexy. Prince always had this swag about him and the ladies love him. I would still love to meet him, shake his hand and ask him "where are those drawings?" When he first came out, he was so quiet. He was just different. You really didn't know much about Prince and you'll really never know... Prince is also known to play all the instruments. He can do it all ... He'll always be great.

?: Who is your favorite Prince protegee or associated act? Why?

Cover of NPG Magazine featuring Linda Steele's photo

  LS: I would say Vanity, she had some good movies and she was pretty talented. (It was) a good race between her and Sheila E. I liked her voice and she was a pretty good actress, (but), I'm not saying Grammy or Oscar (award winning). She has been through a lot and she gave her life to God...I really like Vanity. I think Vanity has a lot of heart.

  ?: What's your favorite Prince music video?

  LS: I like "Thieves in The Temple." I like to see him see him sing and dance in that. It brought me back to his old days.

  ?: Are there things that Prince has done that, as a fan, you did not understand?

  LS: I never liked the fact that he never really gave his fans much time. He was always very secretive.

  I would say that some women complained that he only liked light-skinned women. I don't think that was true, I think everybody has a right to (like) who they like. I think he liked women that looked like Apollonia, Vanity and Mayte. That was his style. I remember one woman that wrote an article saying that her daughter had even noticed that. But, that's not my business...

  Prince has changed, he has come around somewhat. There comes a time where you have to relate to people, (when you're) in the spotlight...He just wouldn't give enough to the fans. I heard (in the past) there was one lady who went to get his autograph and he wouldn't even look up at her. I'm not trying to bash him. I love Prince (and) people are always going to put (him) in a box. It can't stop his talent and he is blessed...

  . I believe he is a very kind person. I believe he is very loving, but, very misunderstood. There are several kings, but, only one Prince.

  ?: How would you say that being a Prince fan has influenced your everyday life?

Courtesy of Linda Steele

  LS: It made me be a "go-getter" for my art. He played a big part in my artwork, because it was something (I could) show him. For a while I had stopped, but, then I went back. (NPG Magazine) putting my picture in the magazine made me feel good about my art. It made be a "go-getter" in life.

  ?: How do your family and friends feel about your love for Prince?

  LS: They respect it. (My brother) knows how long I have been a Prince fan. (The last time I saw Prince) he brought my (concert) ticket, drove from Atlanta to Augusta, Georgia and drove us to Columbia, SC. We went there and had a great time.

  ?: What are you looking forward to as a Prince fan in 2013?

  LS:  I hear that he is coming up with something different in 2013. I would like to see him come back to Columbia, SC or Augusta, Georgia and maybe make a painting of him and give it to him myself. I doubt that, but, there's always hope.

 ?: What would you say to fans who may have recently discovered Prince?

  LS: That his music still has a better message (than most music today). They can expect good music from him...you can get so much from his music. I think young people could learn how to stick with instruments, produce better music and stay in the game like Prince... (They can learn to) do right by music, keep music alive and not just throw music out...

Stay beautiful, Kristi

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Lead photo: Linda Steele.

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My Love is Forever: Natasha White-Smallwood

 Dyes Got the Answers 2 Ur ?s is celebrating 35 years since the release of Prince's first studio album “For You,” with a series of stories featuring readers who have been fans from the very beginning.

Courtesy of Natasha White-Smallwood

  It all started when Warner Brothers Records released “For You,”on April 7, 1978, with the album's first single, “Soft and Wet” being released approximately two months later. The album was not a runaway success, reaching only #163 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Charts and #21 on the U.S. Billboard Soul Charts.     Yet, Prince wrote, produced and recorded the entire album, (except “Soft and Wet,” where Chris Moon received credit for co-writing the lyrics,) and laid the groundwork for his legendary career, according to the Web site princevault.com.

  Natasha White-Smallwood, 49, of San Francisco, became a Prince fan in the summer of 1978, when she was 14 years old. She has an Associate's Degree in Fashion Merchandising and worked in retail and fashion for 16 years. She recently did a telephone interview with K Nicola Dyes where she reflected on being a Prince fan for nearly 35 years, including how his music has impacted her life, her favorite concert moments and meeting her favorite artist at the "wreka stow" at the very beginning of his career:

"I was a Prince fan before Prince was really Prince! When he was trying to get it going..."

  ?: Can you remember the first time you ever heard Prince sing? Tell me how it made you feel?

  NW: I am a loyal, old, patient, back-in-the-day “wrecka stow” fan... How it all started was hearing "Soft and Wet" on the radio (in June 1978), not knowing who was singing that song and being intrigued...Truly intrigued because it something different, new, fresh; (it) didn't sound like everything else. It was (the) falsetto, a hell of a falsetto. And whose name is Prince? Who names their son Prince?

  Then, (I heard) the "tell me that you that love me girl" (part of the song) and his (natural speaking) voice was so deep. He wasn't your average run-of-the-mill brother in the record industry. It wasn't like Cameo or George Clinton and all those folks on stage (at the time) who I always loved. It like somebody from the old school like David Bowie, Little Richard and who was that who he said influenced him... “Narcotic,” you know who I'm talking about...Ike Turner!

  He was like a one-man show. He couldn't do that on stage, of course,...but, knowing him, he would have tried. You had all these groups: The Jacksons; The Sylvers; The Commodores; The Bar-Kays. There were so many groups at that time it was ridiculous.

  When you heard “Soft and Wet” that was the jam, that was the summer jam. He was old school, just like his dad was from the old school. (I was) just joyed that I could hear something new and different. I didn't catch the name for a long time. But, finally I heard them say Prince, (I thought) "Who the hell is that?" I had never heard that name before...

  ?: Have you ever met Prince? If so, tell me a little bit about it.

  NW: [W]hen I heard he was going to be at that record store, (the now closed Evan's House of Music in San Francisco), I broke my neck trying to get there-- so much so I forgot my camera! I was like “I am going down there to see him.” (I) had gone to see George Clinton and Cameo (at that record store). I finally found out (the record signing) was on a Saturday (and I) didn't have to be down there worrying about running into a whole bunch of people because nobody knew who he was ...

  I cleaned my room really fast, ate my breakfast and couldn't keep my breakfast down. I don't know why I was nervous, I didn't even know this man. It was like a first date. That was almost what it felt like. I was only 14. My cousin was late and I was afraid he was going to leave...and I forgot my camera...and she didn't even remind me. She was taking all long to get there...I wish I would have brought my mother...

Courtesy of Princevault.com

  (When we got there) I saw this man with this corduroy jacket and the hugest Afro you think you've ever seen. He had his back to us, so we still had to walk around (the table) to see what he looks like...Then I saw his face and I was like “damn, he is fine!” You have to remember that I only 14. That's almost hot mama time. It's as true as I am telling you. I (was) standing in awe.

  He had the crease in the corduroys, you know you banging when you got the crease in the corduroys! He was looking nice and succulent, like fine wine, fine champagne, you know, like the finer things.

  He was signing autographs. He was putting his name on the ("Soft and Wet") 45s. He was giving those away and he was giving away the (For You) album cover with nothing in it. He's sitting, doing his thing, sitting there smiling. I was standing there salivating...I'm almost salivating at the mouth just talking about it.

   He hands me the record and I'm holding his hand, touching his hand. And I said “can I have a kiss?” and he just looked at me like “girl what is wrong with you?” But, he just smiled. He put his hand down to finish signing something and I just gave him a peck on the cheek. (After leaving the table), my cousin was like "what is wrong with you?" I was like "I didn't kiss him on the mouth!"  I had to go for know for what I know. I was just mad at her that I didn't bring my camera. He didn't say yes, he didn't say no. I knew I had to do it, because I knew that I would never have the opportunity again. I knew he was going to blow up. I just knew it. It took a minute, it took a couple minutes...

  Rick James might have snuck a couple songs in that summer, but, I couldn't tell you what songs. (I said) “whatever Rick James, I have to go see what this dude (Prince) is doing.” It's funny that they toured together...

  ?: How many times have you seen Prince in concert? When was the first time? The last time?

  NW: I would say at least 25 times. First concert was at (Bill Graham's) Civic Auditorium (in San Francisco) in February 1982 with The Time...that was thirty years ago. (I was) ecstatic because we were up front, we were drunk, we were high, we were groovin'. (We got the tickets from) some off -brand radio station. The man was asking the silliest questions: where was (Prince) from, when was (Prince) born? But, I was like that's okay, we're gonna get all your tickets.

  We went (to the concert) on two nights. It was hell of a lot of us and we (were) all the in front. We all kind of bumrushed the front of that stage. It was general admission, we had (those) tickets and you couldn't tell us nothing. Prince fans from way back...(there) were seven of us. We only got two tickets for the first night. Then we told (friends and family) to call. He was only supposed to be there one night (but, a second night was added). People were buying his tickets fast back then.

  (The last time I saw him in concert was) 2004 in San Jose (at the HP Pavillion). [H]e looked like an ant, because I had jacked-up seats. I remember him dancing saying he didn't have no booty. I remember that. That was hilarious to me.

  ?: What is your favorite Prince song and album? What is your least favorite?

  NW: I have to pick one album and one song? Can we (say) old Prince album and song and newer Prince album and song?

  (The album) 1999... I want to say For You...because that had a lot of good of songs on it, too. This is difficult. Damn...you know how many songs that man has? 

  Okay can I have five? Can I have five on it? (starts singing "I Got 5 on It" by The Luniz): "For You," "It's Gonna Be Lonely," "Automatic," "Do U Lie?," "The Dance," man that song...I know I'm forgetting some, but, I'm just gonna go with (those songs).

  You know, I don't I like (the songs) "Cream" and "Diamonds and Pearls," but, I really don't like "Sometimes it Snows in April"...it (sounds like) an old dude in the woods in Minnesota with the bears.

  My least favorite album? You know what album I don't like? Planet Earth. I only bought it just to have it. I tried--I really, really tried--but, I just couldn't get into it.

Courtesy of digitalbusstop.com

  ?: What's your favorite Prince movie?

  NW: Under the Cherry Moon. Why? Because it's different. It's not the greatest movie, of course. I liked Purple Rain, who didn't? (But), everybody was trying to jump on Prince's you-know-what. I think he did a pretty good job (in Under the Cherry Moon), not knowing what the hell he was doing. I see movies today that are not better than that and they ragged on him so bad. And that music was impeccable...except that one song ("Sometimes it Snows in April").

  ?: Who is your favorite protegee/ associated artist? Why?

  NW: Sheila E... She's one of the most talented ones. She never wanted to sing and she did pretty good to get out there and do that.

  ?: Was there anything that Prince has done that, as a fan, you did not understand?

  NW: He's a strange being...But, when he signed that contract (with Warner Brothers Records) and kind of reneged on it...Then he changed his name to his symbol and I thought that was kind of crazy. But, then I thought about it and that was smart. He was still able to do his music and not be obligated to them (Warner Brothers Records).

  The main thing I didn't understand that was why he was getting all these non-talented females (to record albums)...but, then I realized he was trying to get the booty. He was trying to get some tail. He has done some strange things that we don't understand...

  ?: How is being a Prince fan is important to your everyday life? How has it influenced your everyday activities?

  NW: (Prince's work) makes me skeptical about some of these (artists) that are out today... (it's) not real music. I have always been into music. My mother was a musician, and my brother was a musician. My son is (also) into music.

  (Prince's) music has brought me into my whole entire youth through today... He had a song for everything...he had a song to lift you up or let you “boo hoo”. My personal opinion is that he helped me through a lot with his music and his music has always been impeccable to me. He has enlightened my life with his music. His music has always been a great soundtrack to me.

  ?: What is the most unique piece of memorabilia you own or have owned in the past?

  NW: My damn 45 (record) that (Prince) signed! I don't think, I know for a fact, that someone lifted it from me, someone took it from my home, (sometime) between 1980 and 1983. I still have all my buttons that I had when Purple Rain came out and a (7-inch) purple vinyl of ("When Doves Cry" backed with) "17 Days". And one picture I actually took (of Prince onstage) myself when he was in concert in 1982.

  ?: How have your family and friends responded to your love for Prince?

 NW: My mother was always supportive of everything. I even dragged my poor mother to a Prince concert in 1993. We had a ball...We were ushers, got paid and we got to see Prince. My brother worked for Bill Graham Presents and we did security for the Lovesexy concert at the Oakland Coliseum. I met Stevie Wonder, Pete Escovedo and Narada Michael Walden... That show was awesome.

Courtesy of Billboard.com

  ?: Why do you think you're still a Prince fan after nearly 35 years?

  NW: The love of him and his music, from the first time to right now today. I don't think his (current) albums are as good as they could be. (But), the point I'm making, is he's is a phenomenal musician. Point blank. Period.

  ?: What are you hoping for as a Prince fan in 2013?

  NW: To see him get groove his on and that I can I get my groove on with him... (with) a great seat. I want to see him this year and this my 5-0 (50^th birthday)... I need to see him righteously...You know, that old school feeling. You know that song...(singing "You've Lost that Loving Feeling," by The Righteous Brothers)... that old Prince feeling...I need that in my life...

  ?: What message do you have for new fans who might have just discovered Prince?

  NW: You have tuned in to one of the greatest artists of all time. Be patient and love him for who he is. 

Stay beautiful, Kristi

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Lead photo: Natasha White-Smallwood.

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