Geoff Wonfor Obituary, death – Award-winning filmmaker paid tribute to his friend and recalled the moment he sang with superstar Prince. Prince, whose real name was Prince Rogers Nelson, was discovered dead at his Paisley Park home in Minnesota early on Thursday. Geoff Wonfor, 67, who directed The Beatles Anthology, was personally invited by the pop icon to create his millenium production Rave un2 The Year 2000. They first met on Channel 4’s The White Room in 1995, then they reconnected on The Tube Revival in 2000. The Purple Rain Singer was so impressed with Geoff’s skills on the Tube that he asked for his phone number after the performance.
Geoff, who was born and raised in Newcastle’s West End, said that after the event, he asked to see what I had created and that he loved it. I remember him asking for my business card, but I didn’t have one. Fortunately, he was given one by a friend who had already scratched my name and phone number off of it and added it. I said, “Of course not,” when he inquired if he may call. Geoff never imagined that he would end up spending Christmas at the celebrity’s Paisley Park estate and even working with him to record background vocals for Raspberry Beret. It was the most amazing thing that could have happened, he said. I was asked to lead his show in America when he contacted. I replied “yes” right away.
“When I originally arrived, I definitely remember speaking with two of his goons. They told me to avoid eye contact, refrain from touching him, and use the title “sir” when speaking to him. “I told them that they needed to realize that I wouldn’t be acting in that way. He was a genius, and he was seated there on a glass throne. As I walked in to see him, I was trembling. “One morning in the edit suite, I was there when Prince walked in and asked who was singing and invited me to go with him,” the singer recalled. I was shocked when he asked me to provide background vocals on Raspberry Beret at the recording studio.
The US broadcast of the Rave un2 The Year 2000 concert that year was seen by millions of Americans. Geoff continued by saying that his participation in the event is remains one of his proudest achievements. “I was extremely devastated when I heard the news today; it felt like a friend had died. He said, “It was a dagger to the heart. He will sincerely be missed. Chris Cowey, who is from Ryhope near Sunderland and worked with Prince on the Love Sexy 88 Tour, also paid tribute to the famous person. He said it was a huge shock. He was, in essence, as shy as his outward appearance would have you believe; however, on the few occasions you did have the opportunity to speak with him, it became apparent that he was incredibly intelligent.
He was extremely knowledgeable about television, including the camera positions, viewer expectations, and the requirements for producing a program. Even though he was so timid, he had a hilarious, wicked sense of humor. But his incredible musical talent is what I will remember him for the most. Even though he didn’t have a long life and it was tragic to see him die so young, he sure did cram a lot into it.
