Prince’s Mentor Pepé Willie Passed Away At 76

Pepé Willie, one of the most influential figures behind Prince’s rise to stardom, passed away on May 31 at age 76 after a battle with cancer. Known for his deep ties to the Minneapolis music scene, Willie was often the first person aspiring artists turned to for advice or support—and for good reason.

After moving from New York in the 1970s, Willie quickly built a reputation as the music mentor everyone wanted in their corner. He earned the nickname “Pepé” thanks to the inspiring pep talks he was always giving. One of the many people he supported was a young, determined artist named Prince.

The Mentor Behind Prince’s Big Break

Before Prince ever became a global icon, Pepé Willie brought him into his band, 94 East. Recognizing the teen’s raw talent, Willie then helped him prepare to launch a solo career. When the record label wanted to see Prince live before committing, Pepé made it happen—organizing three key shows at Minneapolis’ Capri Theater in January 1979.

“The Capri was do or die,” Prince’s drummer Bobby Z told the Star Tribune. “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.”

Z 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.”

A Guiding Light for Many

Willie wasn’t just there for Prince. André Cymone, another early Prince collaborator, said, “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.”

Singer Morris Day also praised him: “He was there to lend his knowledge. 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.”

A Bittersweet Ending

In a 2020 interview after publishing his memoir, Pepé reflected on Prince’s ambition: “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.”

Sadly, their friendship faded. 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 said. When he tried to reconnect, Prince replied, “I don’t talk to people.” Pepé simply said, “How do you answer that? The weirdness was out there.”

Despite everything, he insisted, “I never took a dime from Prince.”