Carl Heastie, on Prince, in his own words

Carl Heastie is one of New York’s 20 most influential politicians of the past 20 years. See the full list.

Over a decade has passed since Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie took over leading his chamber. In that time, the former Bronx Democratic Party chair and Rainbow Rebel has served as a steady hand guiding his large and increasingly diverse class of members. Though Heastie is known to keep his personal life guarded, there are a few things he still isn't shy about: his love of “Star Trek,” rooting for the Dallas Cowboys and above all else, an admiration for Prince, an artist who has influenced multiple facets of his life.

– Rebecca C. Lewis

I know I surprise absolutely no one when I say that Prince is my all-time favorite artist. His music is the soundtrack of my life. He was a musical genius, pure and simple, but he was also so much more than that.

Prince was a renaissance artist, constantly on the cutting edge of the industry – playing 27 instruments and writing and producing his own work – and he created sounds that no one could duplicate. His songs were timely, speaking to life growing up in a changing world. 

My favorite Prince song has to be “Take Me with U,” but it was “Controversy” that was the first song to really move me. It was the quintessential ’80s song, combining funk and the emerging synth sounds that were such a hallmark of the time.

What people don’t often speak to is his consciousness and commentary on Black life and American life. He spoke truth to power and masterfully wove those themes and those messages through with funk and partying. He was a maverick of sorts, but he never forgot that he was a Black man. 

He was such a prolific songwriter, and he didn’t just keep his genius for himself. He wrote and produced for friends and other bands too, working with Morris Day and the Time, Mazarati and so many more.

Prince’s impact on the music industry went far beyond writing and producing music. He was a pioneer, becoming the first artist to use the internet to release his music and to connect directly with his fans. He also fought for and encouraged other artists to fight for the ownership of their masters and to be fairly compensated for their art.

It wasn’t just his music that was life-changing. His charitable spirit is something that continues to move me. He touched so many lives through his philanthropy – much of it anonymously. He featured educator Marva Collins in his “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” video and donated $500,000 to the Westside Preparatory School Teacher Training Institute, which taught her educational methods. He also teamed up with Van Jones on Rebuild the Dream movement, as well as #YesWeCode, whose goal was to teach kids from low-income backgrounds to code.

Prince’s music, movies and legacy live on through so many artists. I truly believe that his impact cannot be measured.

No one will ever touch his creativity, his independence or his genius – or his ability to make me party up!