Friday?s Essence Music show at the Superdome in New Orleans was a celebration of old and new. Prince opened the show dressed in a wig of straight hair, hat and sporting a beard; playing his guitar whilst riding inline skates. He was surrounded by unknown musicians and dancers doing their thing. At this point not one soul knew it was him.

He then introduced Sheila E. and the crowd cheered as she performed her 1984 hit ?The Glamorous Life?. Later, Morris Day and the Time opened for Prince signing their hits ?The Bird? and ?Cool?. They had appeared in the movie ?Purple Rain? alongside Prince.

Prince came onstage at around 11pm to a roar of excitement from fans of all ages. Middle aged women screamed liked 12 year olds and men who where barely born by the beginning of Prince?s career sang together to hits like ?Little Red Corvette? and ?Adore? as well as from his newest contribution, ?Musicology?.

Sheila E. came back onstage to sing with her mentor. They sang ?Love Bizarre? and other songs, while the two women known only as Wendy and Lisa joined in on keyboards and sat in with the old Revolution band. Other surprise guests were Chaka Khan, who sang ?I Feel For You? (a cover hit that was originally a song by Prince); and 80?s rapper Doug E. Fresh.

Prince?s show kicked off a three day annual concert in New Orleans. This particular concert lasted five hours and had the largest attendance in its 10 yr. history.

The show ended emotionally however with a tribute to drummer John Blackwell and his family, who lost their 2 yr. old daughter in an accidental drowning two days before. Prince performed ?Purple Rain? as his last song of the night.






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