Wagga music lovers have joined the world in farewelling musician Prince.
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Among those feeling the loss is Wagga’s Karene Eggleton.
The pop icon released his first record in 1978 and rarely skipped a beat, eventually releasing 39 albums with the last released in 2015.
Ms Eggleton first heard Prince’s music during the Purple Rain era – she was just 10 years old.
“I absolutely fell in love with this music. He was way ahead of his time,” she said.
“It’s so hard to put into words.
“They change your life so much, through your ups and downs you take them with you.”
Just eight years later Ms Eggleton was in the crowd during one of Prince’s performances in Australia.
She followed him around the country five years ago, attending concerts in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
His music will live on - he’s so loved, so adored and we’ll keep it going for him.
- Karene Eggleton
“His music will live on, he’s so loved, so adored and we’ll keep it going for him,” she said.
Ms Eggleton’s heartfelt words were echoed around the globe yesterday.
Comparing Prince’s talent to greats like Elvis, Freddie Mercury and David Bowie, Ms Eggleton said he was ahead of his time.
Prince took protecting his music to an extreme, adopting a different name to protest the challenges imposed by record companies - something which endeared him to many.
“I’ve so much love and respect for him as an artist, I don’t think we’ll see anyone like him ever again,” Ms Eggleton said.
“Music is a different game now. Prince fought hard to keep music grass roots.
“Love him or hate him, you can’t deny the genius that he was.”
Wagga’s Darren Coggan said Prince was a dynamic performer whose drive to create could provide lessons for aspiring musicians in staying true to their art.
“There’s few pop acts which have not been influenced by what he contributed - to the pop world there was no finer performer,” Mr Coggan said.
“The music of course will go on. But it’s very final, there’s no more contributions but Prince’s contribution will live on.”