Back in 1985, at our weekly facilities staff meeting one day, we learned that there would be a special program that afternoon and they were bringing in busloads of disabled children from all over Houston to our University Auditorium for the event. The physical staff had to be ready to accommodate. Texas Southern University didn't have the only auditorium in town, but we were located in a poor neighborhood where most of the children resided.
At 2 pm, all the children were in place awaiting the arrival of the program that they were not told what it would be. To their surprise, Prince came on the stage and ran through his entire performance that he would make later that night at a major venue to high-priced ticket payers.
The word flew through the physical staff like wildfire. Many got to watch the show along with the children, and some even got to meet Prince. But he lavished his affection on the children and his performance was, "on the house." If only over the years other performers who came to campus would have been as generous. Some were, some weren't.
Always a blessing to read of the goodness of anyone, especially a celebrity that the youth emulate. We are treated? to such trash these days of many of the celebrities so this was my day's 'breath of fresh air." Thanks for posting, Ron Gypsy
Hi Ron. I am following you now. This is a heartwarming story. If only more celebrities had been, or were, as generous as this man. Thanks for writing an uplifting 'moment in time' that left a trail of delight for the children watching him.
Elizabeth Towles
I'm chagrined to admit that while my cynical mind couldn't (or wouldn't) understand what people saw in Prince as a man or as a musician, my gut always did. I wish I'd listened sooner.
You've written a wonderful tribute to the memory of a very special human being.
It's sad, but I never really came to appreciate his talent, his creativity, nor his generosity until after his death, simply because I was never exposed to them. It is a wonderful thing he did for the disabled children there in Houston. So that in itself makes me appreciate him as a person all the more. Apparently he was instrumental toward invoking a great deal of happiness during his lifetime.
He's responsible for most of the photo-voltaic panels on low income Oakland rooftops, and many other unsung gifts, too. A practical man, as well as imaginative.
So Ya' Wanna' Be A Teacher is a humorous revolutionary book that tells exactly what goes on in a typical American public school. E-book version is available at Kindle, at Nook and at Smashwords.
Film critic Betty Jo Tucker analyzes Susan Sarandon's extraordinary movie career. Why did the passionate and outspoken Sarandon choose acting as a career? How does she select her roles? What is her acting philosophy?
Film critic Betty Jo Tucker analyzes Susan Sarandon's extraordinary movie career. Why did the passionate and outspoken Sarandon choose acting as a career? How does she select her roles? What is her acting philosophy?
