Marshall Charloff’s vocals are a tribute to the music of Prince

You know a tribute band is good when the artist himself approves of it, as in the case of the Prince tribute band, The Purple Experience.

Prince fans seem to agree.

The five-piece group led by Marshall Charloff’s vocals has sold out in cities across the United States and while tickets are still available for Saturday’s show at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts they are hoping to sell out once word gets out they’re here.

“We love Detroit,” said Marshall Charloff, during a phone interview from his studio in Austin, Texas. “The reception is always amazing.”

Charloff grew up in Minneapolis, the same town that Prince called home. As a teenager not only did he develop a passion for singing but taught himself how to play guitar, and later keyboards, bass and drums. Being in the pool of talent that existed in the Minneapolis area and having played in a band with Prince’s cousin, it’s no surprise he would capture the attention of Pepe Willie, who has also been credited with helping to launch Prince’s career.

Over the years, Charloff has become a celebrated producer and musician, sharing the stage with numerous recording artists and some of the country’s most renowned orchestras including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He also wrote the song, “Don’t Rock It,” which is on the Commodores XX album released in 1993 and continues to produce his own music along with that of upcoming bands.

Joining Charloff in The Purple Experience are Ron Caron on drums, Ron Long on bass, Tracey Blake on guitar and Cory Eischon on keys.

The idea for a tribute band came about after Charloff and Matt “Doctor” Fink from Prince and the Revolution performed the music of Prince for a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame benefit concert in 2009. On the same bill were Cheap Trick, Atlanta Rhythm Section and the Georgia Satellites.

“We’ve worked together in the studio but that was the first time we performed together on a stage,” Charloff said. “It was amazing. We had so much fun. We started thinking ‘what if?’ Is there any way we could do this again? Would Prince be OK with it?”

Fink being a close friend and band member asked Prince what he thought and he gave his approval. But only on the condition that they keep it on a high level (only the best musicians involved) and be respectful and mindful of the legacy.

In 2011, they took the show on the road and have been touring ever since. Those who have seen the show say Charloff’s performance is truly a tribute to Prince, who died five years later in 2016 at the age of 57.

“I don’t think of myself as an impersonator,” Charloff said.

The music, costumes and the mannerisms that have become second nature, that is all Prince but it is his vocals and guitar playing that enable him to produce the caliber of music Prince insisted on.

“I’m emulating the music of a master but bringing in my interpretation of it,” he said, adding he feels very fortunate to be able to do that. “For me it’s not an act.”

FYI

The Macomb Center for the Performing Arts will present The Purple Experience Saturday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for the show range from $38.50 to $54.50.

The Macomb Center for the Performing Arts is at 44575 Garfield Rd., Clinton Township.

For tickets and more information visit macombcenter.com/