Rockwood Music Hall to Host Prince Tribute PURPLE REIGN This Week

Prince's unexpected death has shocked music communities and fans all over the world.

Tribute concerts are appearing all over NYC to pay homage to the man the New York Times refers to as "the prolific, meticulous master of infectious pop."

Rockwood Music Hall is hosting an all-star tribute this Thursday, May 12th at 10:30PM. All proceeds will go to Urban Ventures: a faith-based nonprofit using the power of community to build a city without urban poverty supporting Minneapolis.

Featured performers: Abby Ahmad, Angela Birchett, Freedon Bremner, Chevy Chevis, Brian Collazo, Niki Darling, Josh Dion, Bryan Dunn, Caleb Hawley, Justin Johnston, Zach Jones, Toby Lightman, Jeff Litman, Chrissi Poland, Dean Scala, STOLAR, Brandi Thompson, Jeff Tuohy, Joel Walker, Kelly Wolfgramm... and many more.

Urban Ventures' founder Art Erickson was a youth pastor and mentor to Prince, who grew up in South Minneapolis just a few blocks from their campus. Erickson saw Prince every other week throughout his teens. They shared meals, and the artist played on Erickson's sports teams. Erickson got to see a side of Prince that others didn't get to see. "He was on a work crew with us up at a camp near Siren, Wisconsin, in seventh grade," Erickson said. "We were driving into town to pick up food for the camp. I said, 'Prince, What's your story?' He said, 'My mom divorced my dad, and the guy who is living with us now, locked me in my room for 6 weeks this summer.' I said, 'What did you do?' He said, 'I could go out to go to the bathroom, then the food was in there, and he'd lock the door, and I was in there for 6 weeks.' I said, 'What did you do?' He said, "There was a piano in there. I learned to play the piano."

Thursday, May 12th @ 10:30PM: Rockwood Music Hall, New York City. Hosted by Brian Collazo, Janine Lee Papio, & Jeff Tuohy. Musical Direction by Ryan Vaughn.