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Barry Brecheisen/WireImageThursday’s shocking death of Prince has left many artists recounting the legendary music icon’s impact on the world.
Even the Leader of the free world.
President Barack Obama talked about the late chart-topping singer during a press conference in the U.K. Friday morning; Obama said he and the first lady jammed out to Prince songs this morning.
“It so happens our ambassador has a turntable so this morning we played “Purple Rain” and “Delirious” just to get warmed up before we left the house for important bilateral meetings like this,” he said.
Obama also recalled his last encounter with Prince, who died at the age of 57 at his Paisley Park compound in Minnesota.
“He came to perform at the White House last year and was extraordinary and creative and original and full of energy,” he shared.
On Good Morning America, Prince’s longtime friend Sheila E extolled his legacy.
“He’s done so much for, for music,” she said. “He’s created music that no one has ever done before. He had his own sound, and he did it for the people. He did it for the fans. He’s done everything for them.”
Prince worked closely with the California-reared musician – born Sheila Escovedo – during the 1980s on chart-topping songs “Glamorous Life,” “Love Bazaar” and songs from his Purple Rain.
A former fiancée of his, Sheila E rushed to Paisley Park upon hearing the news of his sudden death.
When probed about unconfirmed reports that Prince may have been taking painkillers for his hip problems, she said she wouldn’t have been surprised due to his athleticism.
“He’s like an athlete and you know, athletes train and they get injured and you know, we know that he’s had issues with his hips,” she confided. “If you look back in the days of ‘Purple Rain,’ when he was on top of risers and jumping down off risers in those heels, it damaged even parts of his body.”
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