Handwritten memo by Jill Willis to Prince, two pages, 8.5 x 11, Paisley Park Enterprises letterhead, May 28, 1992, annotated in pencil by Prince with his brief responses to a series of questions. Replying to "Was Strollin approved for home video compilation?," Prince writes: "Never saw it, cafe shots aren't in yet"—evidently referring to the scene with Diamond serving food at a diner in the Strollin' video directed by Scott McCullough that would be included on the Diamonds and Pearls Video Collection VHS tape. Replying to "Do you have the CD of 6-7 finished songs for playing to press yet?," Prince writes: "3 songs & ask the night of party." Asked if Tevin Campbell can join him on stage in London to perform his new single 'Round and Round,' Prince responds: "Very tentative. But we'll see." Lastly, Prince replies to a lengthy inquiry about partnering with Joe Bloggs to release a high-end line of streetwear and clubwear in the UK: "Have 2 see clothes first." In fine condition. An interesting piece related to Prince's music and merchandising, showing his attention to detail and desire to control all aspects of Paisley Park's product lines.
Prince's former co-manager Jill Willis recalls: "If we were not talking 'in person,' the usual manner of communication was through typed memos due to the fact that there was no email back then. Prince always responded with handwritten comments or on his iconic 'From the Desk of Prince' cards. For me, having written documentation was always the preferred method in order to avoid miscommunications/misunderstandings. Of the hundreds (maybe over a thousand?) handwritten notes/memos from Prince during those five-plus years of working with him, I probably saved a dozen—either because they were written while on the road and I kept them for reference or didn't want to throw away in the wastebasket of my hotel room or a few were just funny enough to keep."
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From the personal collection of Jill Willis (former Executive Vice-president of Paisley Park).
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