the mt v vmas to the oscars. he helped mike sheila e a star.s of she na easton. >> he was the physical imbodiment of pure music. so he couldn't stop. >> i don't know what artist wouldn't want to work with him. if he wanted to work with you, you couldn't turn that down. >> reporter: his compositions were smashes for other artists. manic monday he wrote for the bangles. and then "nothing compares". >> he has the ability to then make other people great. >> reporter: if his hits grew less frequent, his musician and stage craft remained impeccable and respected by contemporary stars. every award show appearance earning an immediate standing ovation. >> albums still matter. like books and black lives, albums still matter. tonight and always. ♪ don't need experience >> reporter: contemporary stars playing some imagine. that sound of justin similar of adam levine and justin timberlake eerily similar. >> there's something about a falseto that women go crazy for. if you hit that high note, they go crazy. so thanks, prince. >> reporter: to prince, it was