By Robyn Collins
Not only was Prince a master performer, songwriter, singer, guitar player and rocker, he also shared himself with all genres, including country. He often worked under a pseudonym, among them “Jamie Starr”, “Camille”, “Alexander Nevermind” and, of course, the infamous symbol once entirely substituted for his name. And Prince worked as “Joey Coco.”
In 1986 Coco wrote the song “You’re My Love,” which was recorded by Kenny Rogers for his album They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To. The Gambler was stopping in Minneapolis, Prince’s hometown, before most artists were even including it on tours.
Rogers admitted years after the release of “You’re My Love” that Prince was one of two artists he’d yet to see live but wanted to (Garth Brooks was the other).
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Prince wrote songs for everyone from Paula Abdul to Sheena Easton — sometimes under his own name, sometimes not, using pseudonyms to play with his own identity and our cultural associations and expectations.
He didn’t box himself into what he was “supposed” to sound like or create. As Joey Coco, he had two tracks recorded by country artists: “Telepathy,” by Deborah Allen, and “You’re My Love” by Rogers.
The song features vocals from El DeBarge, which, according to Prince mythology, are the only thing that remained from his personal recording of the track.
