Pepe Willie, Mentor Who Helped Launch Prince’s Career, Dies at 76
via Mr. Nelson On The North Side / YouTube
A Key Figure in Minneapolis Music
It was confirmed that Pepe Willie, an early mentor and supporter of Prince, passed away on May 31 at the age of 76 following a battle with cancer. Known for helping shape the path of one of music’s most unique performers, Willie had been part of the Minneapolis music world since the 1970s after moving from New York. Over the years, many local musicians turned to him for advice and guidance.
He got the nickname “Pepe” from the pep talks he often gave. One of his biggest moves came when he brought Prince into his band, 94 East. After that, he worked to help Prince step into his solo career. When Prince’s record label demanded to see him play live, it was Willie who set up three important shows at the Capri Theater in Minneapolis in January 1979.
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A Support System When It Was Needed Most
Bobby Z, Prince’s longtime drummer, told the Star Tribune, “The Capri was do or die. After that first album, it was pretty scary what was going to happen. Pepé was fluent in the language of the business. That was big for all of us. He had a huge influence on us for a while. He was the glue.”
He added, “The Prince story would not have happened the way it did without Pepé. He was there for us all along. He was like a godfather to us.” André Cymone, another close bandmate of Prince’s, agreed. “We were flying blind for a while because Prince didn’t have management. Pepé was the bridge of getting Prince from Point A to Point B. … If you ran into brick walls you could always reach out to Pepé.”
Helping Others Along the Way
Singer Morris Day, who worked with Prince and later became a solo artist, said Willie helped him too. “He was there to lend his knowledge,” Day said. “He didn’t demand or even ask about money. It was definitely for the love of it all. … He was a very savvy industry guy.”
Willie continued supporting young talent even after his direct work with Prince ended. In a 2020 interview, he reflected on the early days. “In the studio, he soaked it all in. … I tried to keep up with his work ethic, and I’m a hard worker. I could not keep up. … This was a guy who really wanted to make it. I always admired his talent in music. He was a true genius in music.”
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A Friendship That Quietly Faded
Although they worked closely at the start, Willie said they hadn’t spoken since 2002. “He got star-itis. He just stayed away from people. We used to call him ‘the lonely guy.’” Willie remembered their final call. Prince asked for help fixing a problem. Willie said yes, then invited him to hang out. “Let’s go hang out; let’s go play hoops or something.” But Prince answered, “I don’t talk to people.”
Willie admitted he didn’t know how to respond. “How do you answer that? The weirdness was out there.” Even though he earned some money from early 94 East recordings, Willie was clear: “I never took a dime from Prince.”
