Mazarati (The First Paisley Park Band)

Minneapolis funk-rock band and the very first act signed to Prince’s Paisley Park Records label, mentored and supported by Prince and produced by his bassist BrownMark.

Mazarati was an R&B/funk band formed in Minneapolis in the early-to-mid 1980s. They blended funk, rock, and soul with a high-energy Minneapolis Sound style. Their self-titled debut album remains their most notable release and a key early example of the expanded Paisley Park family.

EARLY LIFE & MUSICAL BEGINNINGS

The group was assembled by BrownMark (Mark Brown), bassist for Prince and The Revolution. Several members, including Sir Casey Terry and others, were Minneapolis musicians. BrownMark brought them together and served as their primary producer and songwriter.

PRINCE CONNECTION

Prince gave strong behind-the-scenes support to the project. He wrote and largely performed on the track “100 MPH”, which became their biggest hit. Prince also contributed to or rewrote lyrics for other songs and allowed the band to record early versions of “Kiss” (which he later reclaimed for Parade) and “Jerk Out”. Mazarati was officially the first artist signed to the newly formed Paisley Park Records.

KEY RELEASES

Mazarati (self-titled debut) Released: March 4, 1986 Label: Paisley Park / Warner Bros. Notable tracks: “100 MPH” (Prince-penned lead single), “Strawberry Lover,” “I Guess It’s All Over.” The album mixed BrownMark’s compositions with Prince’s direct input.

They released a handful of singles afterward and had some activity into the late 1980s before disbanding around 1989. Some members later worked with artists like Paula Abdul.

SSTAGE WORK & LATER CAREER

Mazarati performed live in the Minneapolis scene and supported the promotion of their album. In more recent years, surviving original members (including Marr Starr/OneGunn, Craig “Screamer” Powell, and Tony Christian) have reunited for occasional performances and tributes, sometimes joined by BrownMark.

WHY THEY MATTER TO THE PRINCE UNIVERSE 

Mazarati holds a historic place as Paisley Park Records’ first signing. They exemplified Prince’s vision of nurturing local Minneapolis talent and expanding the “family” sound. Their album captures the raw, funky energy of the mid-1980s Paisley Park era, and the Prince-penned “100 MPH” stands as a fun, high-octane example of his songwriting for other artists.

SOURCES Prince Vault, Wikipedia, Discogs, OneGunn Entertainment, interviews with BrownMark and band members.

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