Prince Rogers Nelson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1958. By the time he was a teenager, he had already taught himself to play the piano, guitar, bass, and drums. He was a true prodigy. At just nineteen years old, he signed a record deal. Most young artists worked with experienced producers. Prince insisted on writing, playing, and producing everything himself. His 1984 album Purple Rain made him a superstar. The album sold over twenty-five million copies worldwide. The movie of the same name won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. Prince was known for his wild stage performances. He danced in high-heeled boots, played guitar solos while doing the splits, and wore glittering purple outfits. His music mixed rock, funk, pop, and rhythm and blues into a sound nobody had heard before. Over his career, Prince released thirty-nine studio albums and won seven Grammy Awards. He could play over twenty-seven instruments. When he passed away on April 21, 2016, fans around the world mourned. Buildings were lit up in purple. Radio stations played his songs all day. He had become one of the most talented musicians in history.