Kip Blackshire (Prince & The New Power Generation) joins Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley to discuss his time working with Prince, recording at Paisley Park, and the lessons he learned from one of music’s greatest artists.

Blackshire shares insight into Prince’s approach to musicianship, discipline, and live performance — including the importance of playing with purpose and understanding the role of each part within the music.

He also reflects on his own journey as an independent artist, balancing creativity with the realities of the music business, and staying true to his message and passion.

From Minneapolis to international stages, this is a thoughtful conversation about music, purpose, and artistic growth.

From Mr. Kip Blackshire, who's been a special guest of ours in the past.

And that's called as It Falls.

And we're really happy to have here on the Upper Room with Joe Kelly and G dissolve on WVOF 88.5 in Fairfield, Connecticut, Mr. Kip Blackshire.

He's got a new album out, the 11th Hour, and we're here to talk about it and also the upcoming CD release party.

How you doing, Kip?

Pretty good.

The Eleventh Hour.

Tell us about first the title and then putting this together and these upcoming days before the performance.

Well, the title, the Eleventh Hour, comes from a spiritual standpoint.

I mean, a lot of us 11th hour in some point or some perspective in our life.

And if you look at some of the titles of the new album, Dying of Old Age is, for example, one of the new songs you'll be hearing a lot of people, you know, say, for us as artists, you know, in our careers, you know, we all look for that one big break, you know, to some degree.

And a lot of us feel like we're getting a little too old to actually break through that door, you know, or cross that threshold, you know, to actually, you know, make some kind of an achievement in life, you know, what we're trying to do.

And so I called the song Dying of Old age in the 11th hour, you know, and the rest of the album is kind of tailored the same way, you know, to basically let people know that there is some kind of a resolution.

You just got to kind of stick to your dreams.

Well, I know you grew up in the church and everything, and that's been really important with your family as well.

But, you know, you're still a young cat, and a lot of people in the music business, I'm sure, haven't reached that point of spiritual awareness.

How do you deal with, you know, getting to.

It seems like you've been enlightened for a while and everything, but is it tough to be around when the music business is a little bit different than that?

Yes and no.

I mean, I have a great support system.

And I think, you know, a lot of that, again, stems from, you know, having been brought up in a spiritual family.

I mean, and if you don't really.

I mean, let me put it like this.

I mean, if you don't have faith in what you're doing, then, you know, you may as well try and find something else to do, you know, different.

You know, a lot of people say, you know, we live the life of the intangible.

I mean, but to me, you know, I believe that with God all things are possible.

So, you know, I really don't trip that much.

You know, I can't see it right now.

I mean, but it's just a road.

I mean, you know, I mean, you know that you're going to get there.

I mean, it's just a matter of time and no matter when it's going to actually happen.

So, you know, I believe if anybody's going to do this, and, you know, you say that you have something to give to somebody, you know, you got something that you think that people should hear, you got a message, you know that you want to deliver.

You.

You know your purpose and you believe in your passion, then you should stick to it.

Kip Blackshire is our special guest, still out in Minneapolis and been there for quite a While.

His latest CD, The Eleventh Hour.

You can go to his website, kipblackshire.com and please come out to the Quest this Friday night, August 5th, and tell us the location for people who might be coming into town.

Because I saw online people are talking about making road trips out to come see you.

So where's the Quest located, the actual address?

That's a good question.

I mean, I think it's located off of Fifth street, if I'm not mistaken.

But you can't miss it.

It's right downtown.

You go ask anybody where the Quest is, they'll point you directly to it.

Like I said, as far as the physical address of it, I'm not sure.

And they could probably do a search online.

It comes right up.

So Quest in Minneapolis, you've got, of course, a great band.

You're a talented musician in your own right.

Who's gonna be playing on stage that night.

I heard the Funky Bald Heads gonna be making a triumphant return.

Yeah, yeah, I got the Funky Bald Heads.

This actually happened during the course of the recording of this new record.

We were in the studio and Kirk Johnson was playing drums, which he's playing on the new record also.

And his thing is, you know, we're just kind of in the parking lot talking before we actually even loaded in.

And I was like, kirk, you know, man, why don't you have these bald heads come back and, you know, let's do the release party together, man.

Let's just all do it.

And first, you know, I guess it was kind of like a joke until he said, yeah, okay, well, cool.

It sounds cool.

We should do it.

I was like, ah, Kirk, you're not gonna do this.

And he's like, okay, well, let's just do it then.

Let's just put it together and make it work.

So, yeah, we got the bald heads coming in and should be a pretty good show.

I don't know if we're gonna have quite every original member because it's kind of late to get all the guys together, but still gonna be a good show.

My band, a lot of the same guys that I've used for over the last year or so, you know, so it's going to be a lot of fun.

So who's in your band?

Who will be on stage that night?

We got Kyle Wood on guitars.

We got Chad Elliott on drums, Sergio Ku on bass.

And this will be, I guess, one of the first shows in Minneapolis that I've ever play guitars and sang on.

I mean, I'm normally just singing, you know, but this will be one of the first shows, you know, that I actually play guitars and sing on, so.

So you're going to be doing everything?

Yeah, I'm going to be trying to do everything, man.

Right.

That's cool.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So.

So we should get into another track, which is on 11th hour.

Touching and agreeing, and tell us about the recording for this one.

This one was recorded live at Paisley Park.

Did a live DVD shoot up there and went over pretty well.

All right, we'll give it funky kind.

Of lick to it with a nice power chord rock edge to it.

Yeah, this is great.

Great music coming out of the Twin Cities.

Kip Blackshire is our special guest here this morning on the Upper Room.

And we'll be listening to this live from Paisley Park.

Touching and agreeing.

We'll come back and speak more.

Once again, Mr. Kip Blackshire.

They rock things out in Minnesota.

Chanhassen, Minnesota, live at Paisley park from Kip Blackshire and his stellar band.

Kip Blackshire is our special guest.

Always welcome friend here to the Upper Room in wvof.

And, you know, we were talking off air about Paisley park and that had some great live shows out there, which were.

You were a great participant in Prince's band.

You missed a day's jamming at the park.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah, man.

It was a lot of fun, a lot of learning.

You know, it's kind of something you want to call like the good old days, you know, Right.

But you jammed at one of the 3,121 parties, which sounded real cool.

Stevie Wonder, right?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

Great experience.

Yeah.

What's it like jamming with some of the people that I'm sure, you know, you were able to listen to growing Up.

And you.

You're right.

Sitting there in the living room playing with Stevie and Alicia.

Well, Alicia, I mean, I'm talking Stevie having that longevity.

Well, I mean, I gotta say, it was a great experience.

I mean, but I mean, however, you know, I grew up in a pretty strict, structured kind of a household.

You know, I come from four generations of gospel singers, and my parents weren't allowing me to listen to anyone like Stevie.

So.

So what's the punishment if you're found with a Stevie Wonder record under your bed?

Oh, you don't want to know.

Right?

Yeah, it was pretty severe, you know.

So, you know, I guess it was the whole thing with them just saying, okay, well, this is how we're gonna do it, and we're gonna, you know, instill in you the fear of God, you know.

So, I mean, you know, it's a great learning experience from that also.

So, I mean, when I got here, I mean, a lot of the people that most of us have grown up with, I was just exposed to through prints, you know.

So a lot of the Stevie Wonder tunes.

I mean, I did a recent Stevie Wonder tribute show, and I had to really learn.

I sang about.

I think it was about five or six of his songs, and I had to learn most of them because.

Because I'd never heard him before.

So it was kind of crazy, you know, but, you know, we pulled it off nice.

And a lot of people say, well, man, you got a hen of Stevie in you, man.

You know, I know you probably grew up listening to that.

Like.

No, I didn't.

You know, it was just something recent.

So, you know, it's still a great experience, though, to kind of be able to put two and two together to say, well, wow, you know, this is who people kind of compare me to.

And I never really listened to the guy growing up.

I think one of the songs I really dug that.

That you've.

You've been on is.

Is something off of Brown Mark's album, man.

You had a great ballad off of that record.

Which one is that one?

I'm not sure the title, but.

But it's a ballad on there.

You featured lead vocals.

Yeah.

Cryptic.

Yeah.

Now, hey, let me ask you.

I mean, you played in Prince's band, of course, as a keyboardist and vocalist.

And, you know, we're learning his music and how we wanted you to be in a band.

How about on the flip side now, as a band leader yourself, bringing your music and teaching your band.

How does that go?

And do you allow freedom for your band members to experiment on stage?

It depends.

I mean, I learned to be really particular in what I want.

Because, you know, I guess the one thing I can say is that, you know, I did learn from Prince is that when you go in there, it's not a democracy, you know, you go in and he gives you the part, and you play the part.

If he gives you a solo, that's your room to breathe a little bit, you know, I mean, if we're just jamming on something.

And then I learned to stay in the pocket.

And I kind of try to teach my guys the same thing.

Because if you can play a show and you play it exactly the way that you hear it and the way that you're feeling it, to me, that's the way that it's supposed to be.

I mean, yes, all of us have talent.

But there's this one thing I heard Prince say about Miles Davis is about appreciating the space.

And a lot of guys want to kind of jump in a hole and want to play with their feeling.

And all the time, what you're feeling is not the best thing.

And for me, I just want to make sure that I give the music what it needs.

Because if I feel like that's the case, then it'll really carry a lot more.

So, yes and no.

I do like my guys to have fun.

And I try to make music that's fun.

And I try to make music that's actually challenging.

But not so far as to the common listener can't understand, you know.

Well, a special guest right now.

If you just tuned in, Mr. Kip Blackshire.

Kip Blackshire's latest album, 11th Hour, which will be featuring music on our program here, the upper room in WVOF.

The CD release party is this Friday, August 5th, in the Twin Cities.

And that will be over at the Quest.

You're playing the Ascot Room, right?

Yep.

Okay, so what kind of rooms?

I've never been in the Quest, but tell us about the club over there.

What do you like so much to choose it as your, you know, the premier place for your CD release party?

Well, this setting is a nice little intimate setting.

I think it houses about 4 to 500 people.

Central location downtown.

I mean, pretty much where everything is kind of happening at.

It's just got a nice.

I don't even know how to explain the feel of the room, but it's a really cool spot.

I mean, you have to come and check it out.

It has a nice water fountain in there.

A lot of people have played there.

So it's A really well known spot.

So I think it's going to be a pretty cool place for attracting people to come to.

And you've got your own studios now, basement studios, right?

Yes.

Yeah.

You produce another act.

So just working on your own music in the cd?

I've just been working on my own stuff right now.

Working on my own stuff.

That's enough as is, you know, So I used to do other projects, I mean, but nothing any.

That's really major, you know, But I really just buckled down and focused on my own thing, you know, because I used to put my own self on the back burner.

And right now I found out that it takes so much more energy and time, you know, to put into myself in order to make it go.

Independent recording artist.

So that, you know, you're taking a lot on young shoulders.

But I'm sure it's definitely more enjoyable.

It is, it is.

It's much more fulfilling for me right now.

Now, Kip has been getting a lot.

Of course, he's worldwide, recognized and performing overseas.

Recently you performed in Pittsburgh, Paris, France and a few other places in Europe.

What exactly did you do over there?

And upcoming plans, what are they?

I toured at the Palo Palo with this band called Soul Power in Hanover, Germany.

That was my first show.

Little small, intimate place.

Never been there before, but it was really nice, nice funky band.

We also went to the LA Reservoir in Paris, France, which was a show hooked up by Raffi.

Which, yeah, we do plan to go back in November.

Last time I was there, I was actually under management with.

Sure.

You know, some of us know Stephanie Elmer, which she's not managing me anymore currently.

No one is.

I mean, it's kind of an experience to try to, you know, do this and.

And just do it with this kind of freedom like this.

I mean, you know, having learned, you know, what I have learned and you know, I mean, it's actually going to be a cool experience.

I mean, like I said, I mean, I got a lot of advisors.

I mean, like Mr. Morris Hayes, I'm sure a lot of.

You know, I think he's out in Europe right now, right?

Yes, I think he's out there with Macy O. Barker right now.

And he was actually responsible for me hooking up with this Soul Power band and going out to Europe.

So.

And it's like planted the seed when we went there the first time.

So this time we hope to go back and do a longer tour.

So.

And that's scheduled for like mid to late November.

Hopefully I'll be back before the Holiday season.

And you can.

Yeah.

And your mom's still down south?

Yes, she is.

Arkansas.

Right?

Yeah.

So, Kip Blackshire.

All the information you can get for Kip CD and dates and go to his website, kipblackshire.com and please check out the show this Friday night, August 5th, in Minneapolis at the Quest, the Ascot Room.

And bring some extra money, pick up the new CD and Kip, I'm sure we'll be happy and talk with the people.

Come out to the show.

Come on down.

That Minneapolis funk and gospel RB is going to be kicking pretty strong.

Now.

You're talking about being an independent artist and everything.

How about as far as radio?

I mean, it's a lot of work getting it out there, I'm sure, right?

That's pretty expensive.

I mean, with the Juggernaut holding, you know, all the cards on Clear Channel, I'm sure everyone.

You know, that can be pretty expensive.

But, you know, I mean, it's a process.

It's a process.

We do what we can do right now.

And I like the song Willing to Do the Work.

So, you know, I mean, it's just fun.

I mean, it's fun to actually have the power in your hands and say, well, you know what?

I'm considered the underdog, and this is what I have to do in order to make it work.

Man, you know, I'm glad to actually have, you know, the rights to my own masters and be able to control that, you know, I mean, for a while, I mean, I really didn't understand it.

You know, I wanted the big deal.

And, you know, I mean, a lot of people say, well, you know what?

Even today, the major record system is the only way you can really be exposed to the masses, you know, and that's the only way that you're gonna really break through and do what you want to do.

I mean, but I'm talking about people like Ana DeFranco, which has always been an independent artist, and she sells hundreds of thousands of units, you know, does.

A lot of concerts.

Yeah, that's a lot.

And now.

Now, pretty interesting discussion you talk about now because, you know, of course, you work with one of the best.

Prince, who had a different route, went to the major and independent now, you know, calls his own shots, but still deals with.

With major companies on his own terms, I guess.

But as an independent artist yourself, starting that way, are there any.

I'm sure there are a lot of differences.

The Ralph Prince went.

But what are you.

What were you using that he taught you on your own music and getting it out there.

Well, I mean, now we're talking about someone that knows both sides, you know, both having to deal and both being on your own.

I mean, now a lot of people could say, well, it's easy for him to say.

I mean, he's been there and done it, and now he can do what he wants to do because he's set.

Well, that doesn't necessarily fly.

I mean, because you have a name is.

Yeah, you do have some privileges that some of us don't have.

But, you know, I think there's a way to present yourself in a way to, you know, in the scheme of things, you know, to.

I don't want to say manipulate, but there's a way to actually, you know, the Bible says that your gift will make room for you.

So that's where I'll go with this.

And to me, it's like, I have a pretty strong gift.

I mean, I'm not one to really toot my own whistle or anything like that, but I will say that I know what I'm doing, and God has blessed me with a voice, you know, so when I sing, you know, that I'm heard, you know, and I'm really thankful for that.

So I just follow that, follow my passion and.

And you do good things, good things will come to you.

That's the way I see it.

Is there an artist out there?

If they were playing in concert and you had a concert ticket that you would travel cross country to go see?

Anybody come to mind?

Wow.

I mean, now we have to go old school again, I guess, you know?

Right.

You know, I mean, a lot of the new acts, I mean, I hear what I hear, you know, and I'm cool.

I mean, but nothing that's going to really inspire me to say, wow, I mean, man, that's some new stuff, or that's something that I haven't heard before, or that's going to, like, just grab me and make me remember.

I did a recent show with Al Green at the State Theater a few months back, and I just listened to one of his songs, and I was sitting at the back, you know, the place was packed, and I got through opening for him, and I went to the back and sat down and I had this song in my head, and I still have it in my head, let's Stay Together.

And I'm just like, wow, that's amazing.

I mean, but nowadays, when do you hear something that stays in your head like that that actually has a message in it, you know?

You know, I want to hear Somebody talk about something again.

You know, something that, you know, penetrates my heart, that actually grabs me.

I mean, I remember people talking about music that actually meant something like Earth, Wind and fire, we need devotion.

I mean, I hate to go old school, but it is what it is.

It is what it is.

And for me, I like to hear music that actually has a message.

I mean, nowadays it's about the beat and the aesthetics of the sound of it, you know, money.

You can hear it all in the music now.

I mean, and I'm trying to do stuff that it's actually got, you know, some potential of when people leave the room that they actually got something to talk about now.

You know, something that deals with people and they can actually connect with on an everyday basis.

You know, so real humble and talented cat.

Kip Blackshire has been our special guest here on the Upper Room with Joe Kelly and G Desot and WVOF here in Connecticut.

He be able to see Kip at the Quest, the Ascot Room this Friday night.

And that is in Minneapolis, August 5th.

What time?

Showtime.

Seven o', clock.

When doors open.

Funky Ball Heads are scheduled to go on at 7:30.

So you be playing with them or just.

Yeah, so.

So Double Bill, Funky Ball Heads kick Kirk Johnson coming out of the Kitchen Record Studios to do some stage time.

And of course, Kip Blackshire will tear it up on stage and play.

Please bring extra money.

Support Kip with his latest CD, 11th Hour.

And we hope to see you, you know, throughout touring on this record.

It should be cool, man.

Sounds good.

Hey, and Kip will be playing guitar as well as keys and singing and grooving, dancing.

So should be an outstanding show.

Hey, you know what, Kip?

We're gonna go out with one more from Paisley Park.

This is another great one, which it's called Don't Leave.

And thanks once again.

Thank you.