Nick DeRiso is UCR's assistant managing editor. He was named columnist of the year five times by the Associated Press, Louisiana Press Association and Louisiana Sports Writers Association during a lengthy career in the newspaper industry, and previously oversaw a daily section that was named Top 10 in the nation by the AP.
Nick DeRiso
How Prince Finally Broke Free With the Sprawling ‘Emancipation’
This album was ultimately about freedom – freedom from expectations, freedom from rules, freedom from his old label.
20 Years Ago: Prince Tries For Santana-Like Success With ‘Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic’
'Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic' was shaping up like a throwback – then Arista Records' Clive Davis had an idea.
How Prince Began to Put Everything in Place With ‘Controversy’
He started to transform into a world-beating '80s phenom on this transitional fourth album.
When Prince Broke Up the Revolution Over Dinner
Their short but strikingly productive tenure coincided with his meteoric rise to fame.
How Prince Returned to the Mainstream With ‘Diamonds and Pearls’
After a critical stumble on 'Graffiti Bridge,' he was in need of a hit.
5 Years Ago: How Prince Stormed Back With ‘Art Official Age’
This comeback coincided with another career plot twist: A new contract with his old nemesis, Warner Bros.
30 Years Ago: Prince Returns to ‘Saturday Night Live’ for an ‘Electric’ Performance
He was an old pro by then. The same couldn't be said for Prince's young drummer.
When Prince Took a Begrudging Look Back on ‘The Hits/The B-Sides’
This well-received compilation represented another round in his seemingly never-ending tangle with Warner Bros.
Why Prince Let Josh Welton Take Over on ‘HITnRUN Phase One’
This album stands as a testament to an artist who was still trying new things.
How Prince Found a Way to Channel Mavis Staples on ‘The Voice’
At one point, the former Staple Singers star called this the best album she'd ever made.