Stevie Wonder on Prince: 'He could play anything he wanted'

Stevie Wonder regarded Prince as one of the most gifted musicians of his era, possessing the ability to play classical music, jazz, country, rock, blues, and pop with equal mastery. The two artists shared a mutual inclination for experimentation, leading to several collaborations during their careers.

Wonder, who displayed exceptional talent from a young age, initially faced creative limitations at Motown. Upon gaining greater artistic autonomy in 1971, he began exploring new technologies and genres, crafting a remarkably diverse body of work. His music, in turn, inspired a new generation of groundbreaking singer-songwriters, including Prince.

Prince embarked on his musical journey in the mid-1970s, coinciding with Wonder's creative peak with albums like "Fulfillingness' First Finale" and "Songs in the Key of Life." Prince adopted a similar approach, constantly evolving his sound and resisting confinement to a single genre. Wonder became a great admirer of the Minneapolis musician, and they collaborated on multiple occasions.

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He brought all the different cultures together. He could play classical music if he wanted to, he could play jazz, country, rock, blues, and pop. You know, everything.

Prince provided backing vocals on Wonder's 2005 song "So What the Fuss," which remains the Motown star's last song to chart on the U.S. pop list. Reflecting on Prince's undeniable artistic strength, Wonder once told CNN, "He brought all the different cultures together. He could play classical music if he wanted to, he could play jazz, country, rock, blues, and pop. You know, everything." Wonder added that Prince "was simply a great musician."

While casual listeners might reduce Prince's extensive catalog to his biggest hits like "Purple Rain," "1999," or "I Feel for You," Wonder emphasized that his musical range far surpassed that of nearly all his contemporaries. With the ability to tackle virtually any genre and a wealth of instrumental skills honed over decades, Prince was a truly complete artist whom Stevie Wonder deeply respected.

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was simply a great musician.