Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley

Music historian J. David Silva joins Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley to share rare Prince stories, memories of iconic concerts, and insights into the Minneapolis Sound. From personal encounters and memorabilia collecting to reflections on Prince’s genre-defying artistry, this episode explores the cultural impact, history, and friendships shaped by one of music’s most influential legacies.

Renowned music historian J. David Silva joins Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley for an intimate, story-filled exploration of Prince’s legacy and the Minneapolis Sound. Silva shares rare personal encounters with Prince, memories of iconic concerts, and decades of collecting treasured memorabilia. The conversation dives into how Prince’s genre-defying artistry reshaped pop, funk, and R&B, while also reflecting on the friendships, cultural shifts, and historical context that made the Minneapolis music scene so influential. With heartfelt nostalgia and deep musical insight, this episode offers fans and newcomers alike a richer understanding of one of music’s most enduring cultural movements.

📘 What You’ll Hear in This Episode

– Personal stories from J. David Silva’s encounters with Prince

– The cultural and historical impact of the Minneapolis Sound

– How Prince’s music transcended genres and influenced generations

– Behind-the-scenes memories from concerts and memorabilia collecting

– Reflections on decades of friendship through shared musical passion

– Thoughts on recent posthumous releases from the Prince estate

⏱️ Chapters

00:16 – Introducing J. David Silva

05:02 – Meeting Prince & Early Encounters

10:45 – Minneapolis Sound: Origins & Influence

18:12 – Concert Memories & Iconic Performances

26:58 – Collecting Prince Memorabilia

33:27 – The Ongoing Legacy: Posthumous Releases

39:15 – Preserving Music History for Future Generations

🔗 Links & Mentions

– Visit MusiciansReveal.com

– YouTube – Musicians Reveal

– Live365 – Musicians Reveal Radio

📝 Key Takeaways

– Prince’s artistry broke genre boundaries, influencing multiple generations

– The Minneapolis Sound was a cultural revolution with global reach

– Personal encounters with Prince reveal his creativity, work ethic, and humanity

– Memorabilia collecting offers a tangible connection to music history

– Friendships forged through music create lifelong bonds and shared memories

– Recent estate releases showcase Prince’s prolific creativity and lasting influence

Carl Burnett is an example of a great guitarist who thrives without the fuel of ego. Carl is able to appear on every A-list without having the negative attitude that often comes with that position. He is a guitarist with a long list of credits. He has recorded and played with many artists, including David Sanborn and Branford Marsalis. Carl’s resume is a “Who’s Who”, but you won’t find him boasting about it. Carl Burnett is one of the few guitarists who can be described as both “Zen-like”, and “Hendrixian” all in the same sentence. But that’s precisely the complexity that makes him unique. Burnett transcends the instrument and into a realm where pure worship is what defines the moment. Burnett is a musician who can jump from a fiery jazz/rock solo to a unfettered rhythm groove in funk; he’s able to play leapfrog musical styles. Burnett’s greatest advantage is his ability to listen. Because he is able to listen and know when to speak, the silences are tangible. This is a rare example of musicianship. One guitarist said admiringly about Burnett’s music, “Carl’s play is like a Japanese haiku. It can paint a beautiful picture with just a few notes.” Burnett not only respects the instrument that he depends on, but thrives in those moments that are free from limitations. His musical career reached its peak when he was a member of Buckshot LeFonque, a band that featured Bradford Marsalis. “Because there were no musical borders,” he said. It would seem that this would be easy. But, you need to really know yourself and your instrument. His quest to learn his instrument has led him to share the stage with many different musicians around the globe. Carl continues to build on the songwriting and production credits he has hosted by award-winning artists like Boney James and Larry Carlton. His music can be heard on “Extra” as well as “Celebrity Justice”. This musician will help him continue his quest to learn from his instrument and those around him. He will continue to be guided by the divining rod of his guitar towards his core drive to add “sensibility” and “groove”. Carl is in the house, that means the groove is just beginning. Text contributed by users is available under Creative Commons By–SA License. It may also be available under GNU FDL.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Prince featured the "Upper Room with Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault" on his official website www.npgmusicclub.com. This is the first radio show to have ever received that honor. "Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley" has been on the radio airwaves since 1982. Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault co-host the show and are well-respected in the music business as creative air personalities and supporters of independent musicians . Our web site is located at www.musiciansreveal.com .

The show features creative music in funk, R&B, jazz, blues, rock, hip-hop, latin, and gospel. In addition, Joe Kelley has interviewed renowned musicians such as Victor Wooten, Sheila E. , Foley, Robin Duhe, Jef Lee Johnson, Jellybean Johnson, Monte Moir, Rhonda Smith, Bernie Worrell, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Bland, Larry Graham, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, Steve Smith, St. Paul Peterson, JD Blair, Tori Ruffin, Kat Dyson, Eric Person, actor Jeff Daniels, Junior Giscombe, John Scofield, EC Scott, John Blackwell, Mystic Bowie, and many others.

Bassist Reggie Washington was a key participant in the Modern Jazz revolution of the ’80s and ’90s. He became known touring, recording, and performing with Steve Coleman, Branford Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Chico Hamilton, Oliver Lake, Cassandra Wilson, Don Byron, Jean-Paul Bourelly, Lester Bowie, and Ronald Shannon Jackson.

In 2005, Reggie began successfully touring with his own bands. They were a mix of American & European musicians such as Ravi Coltrane, Gene Lake, Stéphane Galland, Jef Lee Johnson, Erwin Vann, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, E.J Strickland, Jozef Dumoulin, Skoota Warner, Matthew Garrison, Marcus Strickland, Jason Lindner, Poogie Bell, and Ronny Drayton.

A versatile, 360-degree musician, Reggie plays Jazz, Funk, R&B, Blues, World, and Experimental music with a natural and contagious energy. His bass lines are both sophisticated and explicit. He is diligent in his work and enjoys mixing people of different cultures as a way to enhance music by learning from others and sharing ideas.

Reggie leads the Black Lives Band who has released two stellar albums "Generation to Generation" and "People Of Earth". He also has recorded two albums of songs of his friend, the late great Jef Lee Johnson.

Reggie has toured with Archie Shepp, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, The Headhunters, Alex Tassel, Dana Leong, Hervé Samb, Brian Jackson’s New Midnight Band “Tribute to Gil Scott Heron”, Rokia Traoré, Randy Brecker, Stanley Jordan, and gospel diva Liz McComb.

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Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Prince featured the "Upper Room with Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault" on his official website www.npgmusicclub.com. This is the first radio show to have ever received that honor. "Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley" has been on the radio airwaves since 1982. Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault co-host the show and are well-respected in the music business as creative air personalities and supporters of independent musicians . Our web site is located at www.musiciansreveal.com .

The show features creative music in funk, R&B, jazz, blues, rock, hip-hop, latin, and gospel. In addition, Joe Kelley has interviewed renowned musicians such as Victor Wooten, Sheila E. , Foley, Robin Duhe, Jef Lee Johnson, Jellybean Johnson, Monte Moir, Rhonda Smith, Bernie Worrell, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Bland, Larry Graham, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, Steve Smith, St. Paul Peterson, JD Blair, Tori Ruffin, Kat Dyson, Eric Person, actor Jeff Daniels, Junior Giscombe, John Scofield, EC Scott, John Blackwell, Mystic Bowie, and many others.

Tours with Prince: The Gold Experience/The Ultimate Live Experience (1995/96), 

The Interactive Tour (1994), Act II (1993), Act I (1993), Diamonds & Pearls (1992), Nude Tour (1990) 

Albums with Prince: Diamonds & Pearls, Symbol, Come, The Gold Experience, Chaos & Disorder, The Vault: Old Friends For Sale, New Power Soul, Gold Nigga, Exodus, Emancipation, and Crystal Ball / The Truth 

Well known to those in Prince’s world is the fact that Sonny taught Prince how to play bass. When Prince first put the NPG together, he personally drafted a press release for his new publicist that stated, “Also new in the band is Prince’s musical idol, Sonny T. Sonny served as a role model for Prince growing up in North Minneapolis. Self-taught – Sonny can play or sing anything he hears – soul, jazz, classical – anything! Sonny plays bass in the N.P.G. although he doubles on every other instrument.” 

Sonny was the featured vocalist on New Power Generation releases, Exodus, and Gold Nigga. 

Following his time in the NPG, he became a member of Nick Jonas and the Administration (a project created BY Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers) along with other former members of the New Power Generation, drummer Michael Bland and keyboardist Tommy Barbarella. Sonnny had played with the Family, the house band at a community center called “The Way” that was one of Prince’ favorite haunts in his youth. In fact, both Sonny and Prince performed together on the Lewis Brothers’ 1979 track, “Got to be Something Here.” But ironically, Sonny sang lead vocals while Prince sang background vocals and played rhythm guitar.

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Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Prince featured the "Upper Room with Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault" on his official website www.npgmusicclub.com. This is the first radio show to have ever received that honor. "Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley" has been on the radio airwaves since 1982. Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault co-host the show and are well-respected in the music business as creative air personalities and supporters of independent musicians . Our web site is located at www.musiciansreveal.com .

The show features creative music in funk, R&B, jazz, blues, rock, hip-hop, latin, and gospel. In addition, Joe Kelley has interviewed renowned musicians such as Victor Wooten, Sheila E. , Foley, Robin Duhe, Jef Lee Johnson, Jellybean Johnson, Monte Moir, Rhonda Smith, Bernie Worrell, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Bland, Larry Graham, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, Steve Smith, St. Paul Peterson, JD Blair, Tori Ruffin, Kat Dyson, Eric Person, actor Jeff Daniels, Junior Giscombe, John Scofield, EC Scott, John Blackwell, Mystic Bowie, and many others.

Funk pioneer Larry Graham joins Joe Kelley in this classic 2001 conversation from the Upper Room archives on WVOF 88.5 FM.

The original Sly and the Family Stone bassist and leader of Graham Central Station tells the story behind one of the most influential bass techniques in popular music. Graham explains how playing without a drummer led him to develop his distinctive thumping and plucking approach—and how that sound eventually reached millions through Sly and the Family Stone. transcript-1790937137618

Larry also discusses his unconventional approach to practicing, experimenting with effects on the bass, and performing with musicians including Stanley Clarke, Carlos Santana and the Crusaders. transcript-1790937137618

The conversation also explores his move to Minnesota and Rhino Records' The Jam: The Larry Graham & Graham Central Station Anthology. Larry reveals how closely he participated in the song selection, sequencing, photographs and booklet for the collection. transcript-1790937137618

Originally recorded in 2001 for the Upper Room with Joe Kelley on WVOF 88.5 FM.

From the Musicians Revealarchives.

Hosted by Joe Kelley.

Minneapolis music pioneer André Cymone joins Joe Kelley in this 2012 Upper Room archive from WVOF 88.5 FM.

André shares remarkable firsthand stories of growing up with Prince, living together as teenagers, woodshedding and developing their music in Minneapolis. He recalls “The Dance Electric,” touring with Prince, the night John Lennon was killed, and the musical influences that helped shape the Minneapolis Sound.

Cymone also discusses his acclaimed production work with Jody Watley, Tina Turner, Adam Ant and Tom Jones, along with his return to recording his own music with “America” and the project that became The Stone.

Originally recorded in 2012 for the Upper Room with Joe Kelley on WVOF 88.5 FM. From the Musicians Reveal archives.

Foley was born in Columbus, Ohio. Growing up he listened to Sly and the Family Stone, and after his mother bought him a bass (at age 12) he started playing with local bands. In 1987, he had a phone conversation with Marcus Miller, then Miles Davis's bass player, and afterward sent him a tape of his music. Weeks later he got a call from Davis, who'd heard the tape and asked Foley to send him a copy: Miles Davis was looking for a guitarist, but at that time Foley had been working on getting his bass to sound like a guitar. By May 1987 Foley was touring with Davis, and played with him until the fall of 1991.

In 1993 he played a lead bass solo on Mint Condition's R&B Top 40 hit "So Fine" and the interlude track "Gumbo" from their album From the Mint Factory.

In 1993, during his time at Motown, Foley released 7 Years Ago...Directions in Smart-Alec Music. The album included "If It's Positive".

The Cité de la Musique showed a Miles Davis exhibition from October 16, 2009, to January 17, 2010, that included Foley's "lead bass".

Foley has also toured and recorded with funk legend George Clinton and engineered for Prince.

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Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Prince featured the "Upper Room with Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault" on his official website www.npgmusicclub.com. This is the first radio show to have ever received that honor. "Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley" has been on the radio airwaves since 1982. Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault co-host the show and are well-respected in the music business as creative air personalities and supporters of independent musicians . Our web site is located at www.musiciansreveal.com .

The show features creative music in funk, R&B, jazz, blues, rock, hip-hop, latin, and gospel. In addition, Joe Kelley has interviewed renowned musicians such as Victor Wooten, Sheila E. , Foley, Robin Duhe, Jef Lee Johnson, Jellybean Johnson, Monte Moir, Rhonda Smith, Bernie Worrell, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Bland, Larry Graham, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, Steve Smith, St. Paul Peterson, JD Blair, Tori Ruffin, Kat Dyson, Eric Person, actor Jeff Daniels, Junior Giscombe, John Scofield, EC Scott, John Blackwell, Mystic Bowie, and many others.

Legendary Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell joins Joe Kelley in this 2000 radio archive. The “Wizard of Woo” talks about the Woo Warriors, George Clinton and P-Funk, working with Bootsy Collins, Fred Wesley and Garry Shider, plus touring with Jack Bruce and Vernon Reid.

Originally recorded for Upper Room with Joe Kelley on WVOF 88.5 FM.

Terraplane Blues is a powerful blues, soul and rock band from New Jersey led by Gary Wright and the dynamic vocals of Jennifer Wright. They visited "Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley" and played a live set with a great interview.

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Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Prince featured the "Upper Room with Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault" on his official website www.npgmusicclub.com. This is the first radio show to have ever received that honor. "Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley" has been on the radio airwaves since 1982. Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault co-host the show and are well-respected in the music business as creative air personalities and supporters of independent musicians . Our web site is located at www.musiciansreveal.com .

The show features creative music in funk, R&B, jazz, blues, rock, hip-hop, latin, and gospel. In addition, Joe Kelley has interviewed renowned musicians such as Victor Wooten, Sheila E. , Foley, Robin Duhe, Jef Lee Johnson, Jellybean Johnson, Monte Moir, Rhonda Smith, Bernie Worrell, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Bland, Larry Graham, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, Steve Smith, St. Paul Peterson, JD Blair, Tori Ruffin, Kat Dyson, Eric Person, actor Jeff Daniels, Junior Giscombe, John Scofield, EC Scott, John Blackwell, Mystic Bowie, and many others.

Curt Jones has had a successful career beginning in the Mid to Late ‘70s as a Lead member, Vocalist, Songwriter Guitarist of Atlantic/Cotillion Records legendary group, Slave. "Just a Touch of Love and "Stone Jam" albums.

In the 1980s - Curt Co-founded with Steve Washington and Collaborated on the funky and diversified R&B grooves led by Salsoul Records’ group - Aurra, with the powerful and dynamic vocalist, Starleana Young and a host of talented musicians from the Slave family, producing Hits "Are You Single & Make Up Your Mind" and many more.

Late 1980s - Aurra became Deja, delivering the #1 Billboard® R&B/Top 10 British Pop chart hit, “You & Me Tonight”. In addition, the album also reached the Top 20 plateau on Billboard®’s R&B album charts. Deja’s final album was Made To Be Together.  Starleana went solo and was replaced by Mysti Day, of Houston, TX. This album was produced by Teddy Riley, and also scored tremendously in the Top 20 on Billboard®’s R&B charts. Remarkably, Deja registered eight Top 20 R&B singles from 1985-1990, with significant international success.

Fast forward through the 90s, Curt had a successful touring schedule internationally and domestically as well as a successful writer and producer, Co-Producing the album "Back to the Island" for the Baha Men on Atlantic Records. From early 2000 to current, Curt has released 3 solo CD's and produced and released his wife Ceci Jones' first solo project entitled "Levels of Love". She currently performs with the "Curt Jones and Aurra" show as his lead female vocalist.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Prince featured the "Upper Room with Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault" on his official website www.npgmusicclub.com. This is the first radio show to have ever received that honor. "Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley" has been on the radio airwaves since 1982. Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault co-host the show and are well-respected in the music business as creative air personalities and supporters of independent musicians . Our web site is located at www.musiciansreveal.com .

The show features creative music in funk, R&B, jazz, blues, rock, hip-hop, latin, and gospel. In addition, Joe Kelley has interviewed renowned musicians such as Victor Wooten, Sheila E. , Foley, Robin Duhe, Jef Lee Johnson, Jellybean Johnson, Monte Moir, Rhonda Smith, Bernie Worrell, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Bland, Larry Graham, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, Steve Smith, St. Paul Peterson, JD Blair, Tori Ruffin, Kat Dyson, Eric Person, actor Jeff Daniels, Junior Giscombe, John Scofield, EC Scott, John Blackwell, Mystic Bowie, and many others.