Prince (March 22, 1981) The Ritz “Prince is Partying Up to the gold & platinum” – Feature Article – Daily News (New York)

In-depth profile in New York’s Daily News celebrating Prince’s rapid rise, multi-platinum success, and explosive live performances during the Dirty Mind era.

PUBLICATION:

Date: Sunday, March 29, 1981 Country: United States

Section / Pages: Feature

Title: Prince is Partying Up to the gold & platinum

By: Clint Roswell

THE STORY

The article portrays the 20-year-old Prince as a groundbreaking, self-contained artist on the verge of major stardom. It details his mixed Italian and African-American heritage, his prolific talent (writing, arranging, producing, and playing all instruments on his albums), and his provocative stage persona. The piece highlights the success of his first three albums — For You, Prince, and especially Dirty Mind — which were achieving gold and platinum status. It also praises his electrifying live shows, referencing a recent high-energy performance at The Ritz in New York.

CONTEXT AND NOTES

Published just two months before Prince’s first European tour, this feature captures the growing mainstream excitement around him in New York. It emphasizes his refusal to be pigeonholed, his fusion of funk, rock, and disco, and his ability to attract diverse audiences — a key theme in early Prince coverage.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Era: Dirty Mind (1981)

Tone: Admiring, celebratory, slightly sensational

Photography: Striking portrait of Prince with his signature look and chain

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

Full newspaper article with large headline, detailed text by Clint Roswell, a prominent photo of Prince, and surrounding advertisements.

RELATED MATERIAL

• Prince (May 28–June 3/4 1981) “Dirty Mind European Mini-Tour” – First European Dates

• Prince (May 19, 1981) “With his high-heel boots, thigh-high stockings and black knickers…” – Evening Standard (UK)

• Prince (May 29, 1981) Gotta Stop (Messin' About) / I Wanna Be Your Lover – Single 7" / 12" UK

Also see tabs at the foot of this post.

“Prince is a cross-over artist musically who has broken the racial barriers.”

All newspaper scans, photographs and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.