In 2021, three landmark albums in the catalog of Prince Rogers Nelson celebrated milestone anniversaries: Controversy (1981) for 40 years, Diamonds & Pearls (1991) for 30 years, and The Rainbow Children (2001) for 20 years. In observance of this triple occasion, De Angela L. Duff of New York University convened a three-day symposium about these albums as polished solid. Held virtually in March 2021, the #1plus1plus1is3 virtual symposium included 20 presentations, four roundtable discussions, and three keynotes featuring people who worked with Prince.
This gathering was the ninth Prince symposium or event organized by Duff in the past five years. At NYU, Spelman College, and virtually, she has gathered scholars, writers, and industry professionals to celebrate album anniversaries and posthumous releases. She also co-produced a virtual event with the PRN Alumni Foundation, #PRNAlumni5 (2021), celebrating the foundation’s five-year anniversary and the 2021 Record Store Day release of Prince’s The Truth...