EPISODE · Jan 21, 2026 · 41 MIN
Prince & The Revolution: St. Paul Peterson’s “Tribute Band” EXPOSED! EP: 017
from Tribute Band Sessions · host Mike Gendler
Why the Original Funk King WON’T Call It a Tribute Prince, The Family, and the Undeniable Funk of the Minneapolis Sound — A Celebration with St. Paul Peterson We’re going deep into Minneapolis Funk history this week! Get ready to groove as we sit down with the one and only Saint Paul Peterson — Mr. Minneapolis Funk himself — for a no-holds-barred conversation about life, legacy, and the sound that changed pop music forever. At just 17, St. Paul was discovered by Prince, joining the Purple Rain–era band and becoming part of the original The Family project — now celebrating its 40th anniversary. A proud member of the legendary “Peterson Musical Mafia,” his story is pure funk royalty. He opens up about: Being handpicked by Prince overnight What really went down with The Family Why his group St. Paul & The Minneapolis Funk Allstars is not a tribute act but a living celebration of the Minneapolis Sound And how five original members from Prince’s band help keep the funk alive You’ll hear about his friendships with Sheila E. and Ricky Peterson, how “Funk Fridays” kept musicians sane during the pandemic, and his brutally honest advice for aspiring artists trying to break into the business. This is a must-listen for every funk, pop, and Prince fan out there. 🎸 Listen & Follow Tribute Band Sessions: 🌐 Website 🎧 Spotify 🍎 Apple Podcasts 📘 Facebook 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 🐦 X (Twitter) 💬 Threads 👉 Watch Tribute Band Sessions on YouTube ⏱️ Clickable Chapters 01:50 – The Peterson Musical Mafia & Session Roots Growing up in a family of session players from the ’40s–’50s & gigging with his mom at 15. 04:40 – Discovered by Prince at 17 The wild overnight audition that landed him in the Purple Rain band. 07:30 – 40 Years of The Family Honoring the anniversary while balancing the Prince / Time / Funk legacy. 08:50 – The Enduring Prince Camp Bond Why the extended Prince musical family remains tight decades later. 09:50 – Celebration, Not Tribute Why the Minneapolis Funk Allstars reject the “tribute” label — and why their lineup is the real deal. 13:10 – Putting on a Real Show Prince’s influence on performance standards, lighting, precision & their “no drama” rule. 14:30 – The Birth of Funk Fridays How a 1-minute video project became a viral pandemic lifeline. 16:50 – The Business of Booking Why St. Paul partnered with an agent & his take on the tribute scene boom. 18:40 – The Setlist & The Daryl Hall Story Choosing pre-’90s Prince era songs & producing Daryl Hall after a wild sampling twist. 21:30 – Take It Seriously: Advice for Musicians His golden rule: master your craft, run it like a business, show up like a pro. 23:30 – What’s Next (2024 & Beyond) New music from The Family, Funk Allstars touring & his “untribute” act — The Classic American Rockers. 🎤 Connect with Saint Paul Peterson 🌐 Official Website 🎸 St. Paul & The Minneapolis Funk Allstars Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Why the Original Funk King WON’T Call It a Tribute Prince, The Family, and the Undeniable Funk of the Minneapolis Sound — A Celebration with St. Paul Peterson We’re going deep into Minneapolis Funk history this week! Get ready to groove as we sit down with the one and only Saint Paul Peterson — Mr. Minneapolis Funk himself — for a no-holds-barred conversation about life, legacy, and the sound that changed pop music forever. At just 17, St. Paul was discovered by Prince, joining the Purple Rain–era band and becoming part of the original The Family project — now celebrating its 40th anniversary. A proud member of the legendary “Peterson Musical Mafia,” his story is pure funk royalty. He opens up about: Being handpicked by Prince overnight What really went down with The Family Why his group St. Paul & The Minneapolis Funk Allstars is not a tribute act but a living celebration of the Minneapolis Sound And how five original members from Prince’s band help keep the funk alive You’ll hear about his friendships with Sheila E. and Ricky Peterson, how “Funk Fridays” kept musicians sane during the pandemic, and his brutally honest advice for aspiring artists trying to break into the business. This is a must-listen for every funk, pop, and Prince fan out there. 🎸 Listen & Follow Tribute Band Sessions: 🌐 Website 🎧 Spotify 🍎 Apple Podcasts 📘 Facebook 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 🐦 X (Twitter) 💬 Threads 👉 Watch Tribute Band Sessions on YouTube ⏱️ Clickable Chapters 01:50 – The Peterson Musical Mafia & Session Roots Growing up in a family of session players from the ’40s–’50s & gigging with his mom at 15. 04:40 – Discovered by Prince at 17 The wild overnight audition that landed him in the Purple Rain band. 07:30 – 40 Years of The Family Honoring the anniversary while balancing the Prince / Time / Funk legacy. 08:50 – The Enduring Prince Camp Bond Why the extended Prince musical family remains tight decades later. 09:50 – Celebration, Not Tribute Why the Minneapolis Funk Allstars reject the “tribute” label — and why their lineup is the real deal. 13:10 – Putting on a Real Show Prince’s influence on performance standards, lighting, precision & their “no drama” rule. 14:30 – The Birth of Funk Fridays How a 1-minute video project became a viral pandemic lifeline. 16:50 – The Business of Booking Why St. Paul partnered with an agent & his take on the tribute scene boom. 18:40 – The Setlist & The Daryl Hall Story Choosing pre-’90s Prince era songs & producing Daryl Hall after a wild sampling twist. 21:30 – Take It Seriously: Advice for Musicians His golden rule: master your craft, run it like a business, show up like a pro. 23:30 – What’s Next (2024 & Beyond) New music from The Family, Funk Allstars touring & his “untribute” act — The Classic American Rockers. 🎤 Connect with Saint Paul Peterson 🌐 Official Website 🎸 St. Paul & The Minneapolis Funk Allstars Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Prince & The Revolution: St. Paul Peterson’s “Tribute Band” EXPOSED! EP: 017
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