Prince (June 14, 2025) “J.D. Steele of the Steeles” Star Tribune – Article

The June 14, 2025 edition of the Star Tribune features a heartfelt recollection by J.D. Steele of the Steeles about taking his 7-year-old son Jason to see Prince perform at the Mill City Music Festival in downtown Minneapolis in 1998.

Publication: Star Tribune

Date: June 14, 2025

Country: United States Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Section: Feature / Local Music Memory

THE STORY

J.D. Steele shares the story of bringing his son Jason backstage during Prince’s performance at the Mill City Music Festival. Prince brought several kids onstage to dance, and young Jason ran out and began doing splits, amazing everyone. Jason later recalled the moment as a formative experience that helped him understand his father’s life as a musician and inspired his own love for performing.

CONTEXT AND NOTES

In 1998 Prince was in a highly creative independent phase and frequently performed in his hometown of Minneapolis. The Steeles, a prominent Minneapolis gospel and R&B family group, had collaborated with Prince. This touching father-and-son memory highlights Prince’s generosity with young fans and his deep connection to the local music community.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Event: Personal recollection of Prince concert

Era: 1998 (Post-Emancipation / Independent era)

Tone: Warm, nostalgic, personal Photography: None shown in the provided clipping

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

• Headline “J.D. Steele of the Steeles”

• Detailed first-person account by J.D. Steele about the 1998 Mill City Music Festival

• Jason Steele’s own memories of the backstage and onstage experience with Prince

• Reflection on the impact of the concert on Jason as a child

RELATED MATERIAL

This 2025 Star Tribune article offers a beautiful personal story from Prince’s 1998 Minneapolis performance and fits well with other Prince-related memories and clippings in the scrapbook. For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page.

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