Minneapolis TV Station Accidentally Uncovers Footage of 11-Year-Old Prince

Still Image: WCCO-TV/Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (KDLM) – While searching through archived footage of the 1970 Minneapolis Public Schools educators’ strike, their production team unearthed a priceless Minnesota treasure.

CBS affiliate WCCO-TV production manager Matt Liddy was searching through archived footage, when he recognized a familiar smirk that has been beloved, not just by Minnesotans, but by the world since the late 1970s.

Being interviewed about the educator’s strike was an 11-year-old boy with a striking resemblance to a young Prince “Skipper” Nelson, who is affectionately known to music lovers just his first name: Prince.

“I immediately just went out to the newsroom and started showing people and saying, ‘I’m not gonna tell you who I think this is, but who do you think this is?’ And every single person [said] ‘Prince,’” Liddy said.

“I think they should get a better education too cause, um, and I think they should get some more money cause they work,” said the boy in the film. “They be working extra hours for us and all that stuff.”

WCCO got in touch with one of Prince’s old classmates and early bandmates Terrance Jackson.

“That is Prince! That’s Skipper!” Jackson exclaimed upon seeing the video. “He was already playing guitar and keys by then, phenomenally. Music became our sport. Because he was athletic, I was athletic, but we wanted to compete musically.”