Watch CBS News

Death Shocks Man Who Helped Promote Prince's First Concert In Denver

By Kelly Werthmann

DENVER (CBS4)- Word of Prince's death has come as a shock to the music industry, especially for the man who helped promote the pop icon's first concert in Denver.

"This really came out of nowhere," Chuck Morris, President and CEO of AEG Rocky Mountains, told CBS4's Kelly Werthmann. "It's a huge, huge loss."

Morris recalled Prince's first performance at the Rainbow Music Hall in 1979 as one he will never forget.

Prince
Prince performs at SXSW on March 16, 2013 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by John Sciulli/Getty Images for Samsung)

"He was 19 maybe 20 years old," Morris said. "His first album had come out, there was big buzz and he sold it out. He was this young kid, the record was exploding and I was blown away. I had never seen him live before and it was incredible. What really blew me away was what a great guitar player he was."

In a span of more than 30 years, Prince brought his unique music to Colorado with nine different tours. That included four shows at the Ogden Theater in 2013. Don Strasburg, booking agent with AEG Rocky Mountains, helped book those concerts.

"It was one of the highlights of my career," Strasburg said. "The man, all 5'1" of him, plugged that Ogden into the super generator and I'm surprised the roof is still on the place. It was incredible. One of the greatest shows I've ever seen."

CHUCK MORRIS & PRINCE
(credit: CBS)

Patrick Brown, general manager of Twist & Shout Records in Denver, also attended one of Prince's concerts at the Ogden.

"It was a loud, rocking show," Brown said.

Photo Gallery: Prince (1958-2016)

Brown recalled watching Prince at many concerts, including at Fiddler's Green Amphitheater in 1997, but on Thursday, Brown watched Prince albums fly off his store shelves.

"A lot of people just want to get in touch with that experience that they had with the music when they first came to it," he said.

Prince fan Jon Shaw said he went to Twist & Shout to pick up the music that was a big part of his childhood.

CHUCK MORRIS & PRINCE  (1)
(credit: CBS)

"Growing up in the 80's, Prince is just the staple of that music rotation that I've always loved and listened to," Shaw said. "Unfortunately I think the world is a little less funky without him, but he left a great legacy for us."

And it's a legacy that will forever be known as Prince.

"The great artists are unique and can't be copied," Morris said. "He's one of them.

There will never be another Prince."

Kelly Werthmann joined the CBS4 team in 2012 as the morning reporter, covering national stories like the Aurora Theater Shooting and devastating Colorado wildfires. She now reports for CBS4 News at 10 and is always open to story ideas. Connect with her on Facebook or Twitter @KellyCBS4.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.