Susannah Melvoin: Starting a Band with Prince

Susannah Melvoin talks about her experience starting "The Family" with Prince.

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[adc]

Thanks for this. Met Jellybean and Paul after a show. I appreciate how gracious they were.

[HEOL]

Jellybean is a great drummer!

And I love the truth she speaks about Prince and being very careful not to twist anything she experienced with him.

Unlike others who has said some strange things about Prince.

Thank you Susannah💜

[carlbradshaw]

The women that inspired prince to write Adore... one of the greatest R&B record ever made...

[sherloncloud]

I was in high school when The Family came about in 86! My dad played "Screams of Passion" constantly. Susannah in "Under The Cherry Moon too. Brilliance with Jellybean mean on the drums and guitar on "Innocent" as well!♾

[Atclav]

Just bought The Family and Madhouse on vinyl. Glad I found this.

[pocket]

Susannah is the truth. She had a cool unique tone to her voice, which prince utilized along w Wendy and Lisa

[big-jungleman]

Oh my GOD. I was watching this for about a minute before I realised this wasn't Wendy Melvoin. Jesus, they look so alike, even their mannerism and hand gestures are the same. She sounds exactly like Wendy.

[rexxgarvin]

Love this stories from Real Artist! Thank you!

[DanielLee-yjdf]

Big fan here! I wish you guys could find way to release a special edition of THE FAMILY. Great podcast!

Also, it was great to see Susannah onstage at the Jackson Rancheria casino with The Revolution a couple years back!

[Activation]

I absolutely loved The Family. I Loved every song on that album. I played every song on that album over and over again. As a singer I would practice “nothing compares” to you every day back then. Which in my opinion remains to be the best version of that song. The most emotionally honest, raw and sincere interpretation of that song as well. & I got a serious leg cramp trying to keep up with the kick drum on a ‘River Run Dry’ lol and to me a much underrated song. I was very unhappy hearing that the band broke up. But I truly enjoyed Saint Pauls solo album just after the break up of the family. And I truly enjoyed all of Wendy & Lisa’s albums featuring moments of Suzanne’s vocals (at least I think that’s Suzanne singing). But I think at the time prince was overwhelmed and could not maintain The family, making films and his own career. I mean no disrespect, , I’m just an outsider and a great admirer looking in, , but it would seem from the outside that Prince may have been uncomfortable creating another Godzilla band, , Like The Time. Who knows. But it’s good to see everyone in this video alive and well. And still doing music. Much love A l l : l l

[jsmith]

You can see twins Wendy and Savannah together in the Girls and Boys video. They walk in together holding hands and they're on stage together with Wendy playing guitar and Susannah standing next to her.

[leocanaparo]

Te Family Forever gave a new sense and a new sound to the Prince' s music...

[petermurray]

This is interesting. For a brief period of time the Melvoin sisters attended Kennett High School in Conway New Hampshire. I was in high school chorus with them. I didn't know them well, but they sat behind him during that class.

[rexxgarvin]

Watch that Cat in the Back. It's the Spirit of He has a Lion in his Pocket, and baby he is Ready To Roar!!!

[NOWtheband]

There was a band in the 70's from Minneapolis called The Family and Prince was aware of them, so I reckon He nicked the name from them but Susannah's take on why He used that name is cute and makes it sound nicer, he he hee....
;-)

[jerrellnelson]

I love them twins they're the best😘

[beatz]

I'm not sure Jellybean even played on the Family album ? For sure Jerome didn't lol (except for maybe some chants or an alibi tambourine). I think Prince used an extended version of the principle he applied with The Time before, which was he wrote, composed, played and recorded most of the music, replaced his lead vocals with Paul's and partially Susannah's and added Eric's sax lines where appropriate. Clare Fischer added string arrangements and that was it. I really like the album, also thought that the one time gig they had was very promising; but just like The Time it wasn't a "band project" in the usual sense where band members would have the same input. It basically was another Prince record with a bit more input from others than was the case with the The Time project.

[wendellwiggins]

I so wish The Family had become more successful and your version of Nothing Compares to You had become the big hit. I thinks its far more superior and the album is a force of funk & groove that I still love playing.

[able]

That's the biggest cat I've ever seen

[elizabethmcleod]

This fine musician was married to Doyle Bramhall 11. I hope she has fond memories.