prince

Oakland native Sheila E remembers former fiancé Prince

Byby Tiffany Wilson KGO logo

Friday, April 22, 2016

Oakland native Sheila E remembers former fiancé Prince

One of Prince's closest collaborators and his one-time fiancee, Oakland native Sheila E, is speaking out about the music legend's sudden death.

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- One of Prince's closest collaborators and his one-time fiancee is speaking out about the music legend's sudden death.

Oakland native Sheila E flew from California to Minneapolis as soon as she heard the news on Thursday. She, like many others, is devastated.

Prince defied musical genres and defined the soundtrack of generations. "His life was music and he gave everything his all," Sheila said.

His ultimate rise was sparked by early success in the Bay Area.

PHOTOS: Prince through the years

Sheila met him at one of his first performances ever. "During his very first record, and he played in the Bay Area, in Oakland, California. When I went backstage to introduce myself to him, he said the and his bass player were fighting to which one was going to marry me first," she said.

Prince quickly became her Prince Charming. A real proposal followed several years later when they performed together on stage.

"It was during 'Purple Rain.' I was playing drums at the time, and he turned around and looked at me and asked me to marry him and I said yes," Sheila remembered.

Although they never wed, the singers remained close. Prince penned Sheila's hit "Glamorous Life" in 1984.

While she has little insight into his recent health, Sheila says he sacrificed his body on stage.

"We know that he's had issues with his hips. If you look back in the days of 'Purple Rain,' when he was on rises and jumping down off risers in those heels, you know, it damaged parts of his body. I know we're always injured when we play on stage," she said.

Sheila wants fans to know that as much as they love Prince, he loved them even more in return.

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For full coverage on Prince, click here.