Fun 107’s J.R. Remembers Pop Music Icon Prince

Pop music icon Prince was found dead at his home in Minneapolis. A publicist said he was found unresponsive Thursday morning.

Fun 107's J.R. has been playing the hits of prince for some 35 years. He says Prince's death is a big blow to the music industry. "It's just a terrible loss. It's like the loss of Michael Jackson or Whitney Houston. Somebody who means so much to the industry, not knowing what he had yet to contribute as far as music or producing, it's just a terrible loss," says J.R.

When "Purple Rain" and other big hits were first played on the Fun 107 airwaves, the phone lines would light up. J.R. says it was a special thing whenever the artist released a new song. "If a new Prince song was on the way, you got it on the air as soon as it came in. Whether it was on a 45rpm single or a compact disc, the Prince songs would get on the air immediately. And there would be great reaction like 'Can you play it again? Where can I get it?"

He says Prince's legacy will live on through his music, and hopes his unique style will continue to influence new artists.

Prince was 57 years old.