Prince is known for his seductive and sexy songs including Cream and Get Off from the album Diamonds and Pearls, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
During his career, he had hit records including Sign O the Times and Purple Rain, as well as a string of high profile relationships, which including dating upcoming actresses and musicians.
Along with dating stars including fellow band member Sheila E and singer Madonna, he was also married twice.
Daily Star looks at some of Prince’s relationships – from co-star romances, to a-list actresses and a dancer who inspired one of his songs.
Carmen Electra
(Image: Getty Images for Marcel Remus)
Tara Leigh Patrick met Prince in the early nineties, and it was him that gave the actress the new name of Carmen Electra.
Not only did she credit Prince with kick starting her career, the two also dated for a period of time.
After Prince’s death in 2016, Carmen paid tribute to him in The Hollywood Reporters, saying: “He gave me my name, he believed in me, and he has inspired an entire generation. I will always love him.”
Carmen Electra has since been married twice – first to Dennis Rodman from 1998-1999 and then to Dave Navarro from 2003-2007.
Apollonia Kotero
(Image: Getty Images)
1984’s Purple Rain was full of steamy moments between Prince and his on-screen love interest, played by Patricia Apollonia Kotero, whether that was at Prince’s home or by the river during the film.
However, their romance also extended beyond the silver screen too and the couple dated for one year between 1984-1985.
The actress’ real name even inspired the name of the group her character performed with in Purple Rain, becoming known as Apollonia 6.
Following their break-up, Apollonia dated another famous singer, Van Halen’s David Lee Roth, before marrying writer Kevin Bernhardt from 1987 to 1996.
Sherilynn Fenn
(Image: Getty Images)
Prince dated many high profile actresses, including Twin Peaks’ actress Sherilynn Fenn, who played Audrey Horne, during the late eighties.
Although they only dated for a short period of time, she and Prince remained friends after they broke up, and after Prince died, she told Hollywood Life: “Prince inspired me. He changed my life.”
“I will miss him greatly. There will only ever be one Prince.”
Sherilynn Fenn is currently in a relationship with Dylan Stewart, after being married to Toulouse Holliday from 1994-1997.
Kim Basinger
(Image: Getty Images)
Long before she appeared as a femme fatale in LA Confidential and married Hollywood A-Lister Alec Baldwin who she met on set, Kim Basinger dated Prince.
The two stars met in 1989 when Kim appeared in Tim Burton’s Batman movie as Vicki Vale, with Prince providing the soundtrack to the film, including songs such as Bat Dance.
After dating Prince, she was married to Alec Baldwin from 1993-2002, having previously been married to Ron Snyder from 1980-1989.
Mayte Garcia
(Image: Redferns)
After a series of high profile relationships, Prince married his first wife Mayte Garcia in 1996, who he had met when she was a 16 year old dancer.
It is also widely reported that he wrote his hit song Most Beautiful Girl in the World, about her.
Following their marriage, the couple had a son called Gregory. However he died a few weeks after he was born.
Three years later in 1999, the couple’s marriage was annulled, but Mayte said that she will always love him.
Talking to People magazine following Prince’s death, Mayte said: “This man was my everything, we had a family. I am beyond deeply saddened and devastated.
“I loved him then, I love him now and will love him eternally. He’s with our son now.”
Manuela Testolini
(Image: Getty Images)
Prince married for a second time in 2001, to charity worker Manuela Testolini.
The couple met when Prince’s organisation Love 4 one another reached out to Manuela, when she was sourcing funding for organisations including a women’s shelter that was in risk of closing, with Manuela telling Rolling Stone that “they saved the day.”
In 2000, she accepted a full time role at Love 4 one another and said that he asked for his name not to be mentioned in any of his charity work, adding: “It made it about cause, rather than about Prince.”
From there, Prince encouraged her to set up her own charitable organisation, called In a Perfect World.
Their marriage ended in 2005, but the couple parted on amicable terms, and in 2016, Manuela’s organisation made a donation in Prince’s name to the Musicare’s charity following his death.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
