American musician Prince Rogers Nelson, better known as Prince, was BOTD in 1958. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he signed his first record deal at 19, writing, producing, arranging and performing his own songs and playing every musical instrument himself. His became a global star with his 1984 album Purple Rain, followed by a successful film of the same name. His hits When Doves Cry, Let’s Go Crazy and Raspberry Beret showcased a stunning blend of musical styles including funk, R&B, rock, new wave, soul, jazz and hip-hop. He cultivated a flamboyant, androgynous public persona, inspired by Elvis Presley, Little Richard, James Brown and David Bowie, with elaborate Glam Rock costumes, dramatic eye make-up and an impressive pompadour, injecting excess, decadence and sexual ambiguity into the sanitised world of 1980s pop. He returned in 1987 with Sign o’ the Times, a stripped-down version of his eclectic sound, with lyrics tackling social issues including AIDS, drug addiction and racism. An astonishingly prolific composer and recording artist, he produced 39 albums in his lifetime and wrote over 1,000 songs, collaborating with Stevie Nicks, Chaka Khan, Madonna, Alicia Keys, Kate Bush and Beyoncé. Many of his songs became hits for other singers, notably Nothing Compares 2 U which launched Sinéad O’Connor to global stardom, and Manic Monday which he wrote for The Bangles. In 1993, following a contractual dispute with his record label, he changed his stage name to a symbol, becoming known as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, reverting to Prince in 2000. Married and divorced twice, he was a Jehovah’s Witness, occasionally undertaking door-to-door visits with neighbours to discuss his faith. He died in 2016 of an accidental opioid overdose aged 57. Acknowledged as one of the greatest musical stars of the 20th century, his work and queer-coloured persona have inspired generations of musicians including Lady Gaga, Janelle Monáe, Lenny Kravitz, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, Bruno Mars and Rihanna.