Local musician pays homage to Prince's legacy

When Jason Damico makes music, it comes from the heart and soul, much like one of his musical idols--Prince.

Posted 2:29 a.m. Apr 22, 2016 — Updated 12:49 p.m. Apr 22, 2016

RALEIGH, N.C. — When Jason Damico makes music, it comes from the heart and soul, much like one of his musical idols—Prince.

Damico, along with many Triangle residents are remembering Prince and how his music influenced their lives.

Prince was found dead Thursday afternoon in his home in suburban Minneapolis. He was 57.

“The joy comes in knowing the legacy that was left,” Damico said.

Damico said Prince’s legacy is not just about the music, but the way he commanded a stage and his style. The 22-year-old said he followed Prince’s lead, attempting to learn own his craft, while also learning multiple instruments like his musical idol.

“My first two albums I have out right now, I did everything myself,” Damico said. “I played all the instruments. I engineered it, produced [it] myself.”

North Carolina Central professor Brett Chambers—a musician in his own right—says Prince paved the way for many artists to own their works and was one of the first musicians to stream an album on his own website.

“He wanted to make sure the artist got their royalties, they got their participation in the profit process,” Chambers said. “And he was getting his too, but he wanted to make sure it was a different kind of split.”

Damico has a lot of music to make, but said he’ll continue using the musical blueprint Prince leaves behind.

“He’s had such longevity of his career, doing it that way,” Damico said. “The fact that it can be done, that’s very prolific and it’s inspiring to me.”

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