I am the founder, original drummer, and lead vocalist of Grand Central, the band that spawned Morris Day, Andre Cymone, and Prince Rogers Nelson. My cousin and I attended Lincoln Junior High School together. We decided it was time to expand our sound and start looking for a bass player. Prince said he knew someone who played the saxophone in the school band then shortly after Andre joined the band.
Grand Central consisted of Linda Anderson, Andre Anderson, Terrance Jackson, William “Hollywood” Doughty, Prince Nelson and me. Together we collaborated and formed the roots of what Prince would later define as the “Minneapolis Sound.” William initially played rhythm guitar and Terrance & William both played percussion. Grand Central was one of the only black groups in Minneapolis that fused both rock and funk together. The name was inspired by the band, Grand Funk Railroad because of their sound. Frank Jackson was our manager. Spike Moss (who referred to our band as Electric Kool-Aid) had the connections. We performed yearly at summer outdoor festivals, school dances, talent shows, pageants, etc. Grand Central, Cohesion, Flyte Tyme, Haze and The Family were some of the most electrifying rival bands in Minneapolis and consisted of all self-taught musicians.
I met Morris Day at North High School in Minneapolis when I was in a 9th grade photography class. Our band was amazing which is why Morris wanted my spot. There are a lot of stories and rumors on why I left Grand Central. I played sports my whole life starting with Minneapolis Park board balancing both sports and music. Shortly after my departure their band Champagne (not Grand Central) disbanded altogether.
Owen Husney rented out a rehearsal space inside a Minneapolis warehouse called Del’s Tire Mart. Prince was holding auditions for his first U.S. tour and I brought Gayle Chapman a keyboardist over to his home in Edina, a suburb of Minneapolis. Gayle auditioned and was selected to go on his first tour in the U.S. I was slated to be the drummer, but my cousin was told he needed more of a “multi-racial band.”
In 1986, I collaborated with writer Steven Ivory on the first ever published biography about Prince. Later that same year, I signed a solo record contract with A&M Records in Los Angeles. Since then, I’ve worked on various projects, live sessions and have assisted writers and journalists on the roots of the music, and our family. Today I reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota together with my wife, our four children and two Yorkshire Terriers.
Prince Rogers Nelson credited me for influencing him with three things in his young life– drums, basketball, and girls. These sentiments were shared during the late music icon’s eulogy on August 13, 2016 at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
Thank you for all your love and support.
– Charles and Victoria –