The Prince Experience
1/3/2024
As Gabriel Sanchez struts on the stage, dressed in a purple crushed velvet outfit, he confidently picks up his guitar and approaches the microphone.
Glancing at the sold-out crowd, organ music plays in the background while he begins singing, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life.” As the crowd intently listens to the lyrics and gets to the chorus “let’s go crazy,” the crowd is simply that. Crazy for Prince music.
That’s just one song performed by Gabriel Sanchez and his band, the Prince Experience. Concertgoers can sing along with all of Prince’s favorites at Wooly’s on Jan. 26.
Sanchez, a long-time musician, began playing the role of Prince 20 years ago. In his hometown of Milwaukee, he was asked to do a Prince play where he’d sing and act. At first Sanchez said no, arguing he’d never acted. Then he was told it wasn’t just acting. He could also sing, play guitar and dance. Once he agreed, he immediately regretted his decision.
“What did I get myself into?” he asked.
He went home and listened to a Prince CD. He played rhythm guitar, but not the lead. He knew his vocals could hit the high notes. However, he returned and told the director, “I’m not sure I can pull it off.” She said, “You can always air guitar.”
Playing air guitar was out of the question. So he went home, “practiced hard” and pulled it off. After a successful run, he put a band together playing Prince music.
As a professional musician in various bands, he wanted to make sure he chose the right band members.
“I’m picky,” he admits. “I don’t drink before or during a show, and I don’t want the other members to either. Sure, I’ll have a drink, but it’s after the show.”
Prince Experience played locally in Wisconsin and, over the years, performed in larger venues. To look and play the part of Prince, it had to become ingrained into his personality. He saw Prince three times in concert. He watched videos of him and then of himself to tweak certain characteristics. It didn’t come easy at first.
“I’m a shy person. For me to walk on stage a certain way and walk with a sexy walk, it’s not me normally,” he explains. “Then eventually I told myself I’m just playing a part. I pulled it off.”
The band is so successful, their enthusiastic fans often get emotional when they perform certain Prince songs.
“There is so much joy for his music. Some people are crying. I even cry. I’ve asked, ‘Why am I feeling so emotional?’ Sometimes I have to stop looking at the audience or I will cry, too,” he admits.
Sanchez is a full-time musician and is in a few different bands, playing music by Queen, Tom Petty, The Beatles and more. He’s proud of his trained vocal range.
“Singing Prince has made me a better singer. He had so many vocal styles.”
Every element at the concert is performed live.
“There’s no backtracking. We don’t push a button, like so many other bands do. It’s all live.”
His favorite Prince song to perform is “Purple Rain.”
“It sounds cliche, but I still like singing it,” he says. “I’m not sick of it. ‘Beautiful Ones’ is another song I love to do.”
When asked what he would say to Prince if he were alive today, Sanchez says he’d thank him.
“I wish I could thank him for helping me to be a better artist. I could never try to copy him. Nobody will be as good as him,” he says. “You can try. It’s made me a better performer because I tried.” ♦
