4ever after

It's a hometown wedding for the purple couple

The Purple Rain man tied the knot yesterday – not in Paris, as he hinted earlier, but in his hometown of Minneapolis – and he and his wife will honeymoon in Hawaii.

But it will be a working trip, as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince and his backup sinnger and wife, Mayte, will give three concerts Saturday thruogh Monday at the Neal Blaisdell Center Arena (see box)

A throng of onlookers and reporters gathered outside Park Avenue United Methodist Church in south Minneapolis yesterday, watching the wedding party arrive in limos while helicopters hovered overhead. The fact that Americans are required to live in France f​o​r a​t ​least 45 days before obtaining a marriage license there seemed to prompt the domestic wedding instead of the highly publicized Parisian caper. The license was issued in Hennepin County to Prince Rogers Nelson, his given name before he opted to take on an unpronounceable symbol, and Mayte Jannell Garcia.

The ex-Prince had been coy about the whole business​. He doesn't grant live interviews, agreeing only to field a few questions by fax earlier this week. However, queries about the marriage (a private ceremony for family and close friends) went unanswered.

As a gift to his bride, ex-Prince had commissioned the NPG (New Power Generation) Orchestra to create a symphony titled "Kamasutra," which was to be performed at the Paris ceremony. There was no indication that it made the wedding program.

The ex-Prince who is addressed as "The Artist," by his co-workers, remains one of the most enigmatic performers of his time, with a name that is that unpronounceable symbol, fusing the icons of male and female, the meaning of which he has never made clear.

So how have changes in the music business affected his ability to remain a major attraction?

"Other than the emergence of hip hop as a viable art form, in my view, there hasn't been major changes in the music world." he said. "If anything, this has inspired me 2 stick 2 my instincts. In other words, it has shown me what not 2 do."

(2 no one's surprise Thea Artist tends 2 favor numberspeak – 4 certain words.)

About his name change to that symbol:

"I did it on the advice of my spirit, Prince died a slave. He didn't own his masters. His masters owned him. My new name is who I was before I came 2 Earth and who I'll be when I leave."

As Prince, The Artist's creativity shaped the 80's with such landmarks as "When Doves Cry," "Let's Go Crazy," "Purple Rain" and "I Would Die 4 U." His autobiographical film, "Purple Rain," chronicled the struggles of a music-maker inm Minneapolis.

In the '90d, he has kept up with technology via a recent CD-ROM, "Interactive," which synthesizes his music videos with 3-D computer animation, enabling a listener-viewer 2 immerse himself in2 The Artist's high-tech world. The CD-ROM boasts 52 classic Prince favorites, plus three full-length videos; "Diamonds & Pearls," Gett Off" and "Endorphinmacihne."

The Artist found a niche in the dance world, when the respected Joffrey Ballet three years ago fused 124 Prince tunes in2 a 4-part ballet titled "Billboards," which not only expanded the audience mix for the ballet company but also The Artist into a new realm of show business.

So what's 2 come for The Artist in the future?

"My dream is 2 perform my latest work , 'Kamasutra,' with the NPG Orchestra. Because of its inspiration – it's very dear 2 my heart and 4 people who really understand the meaning of life and love in my humble opinion – it's the perfect soundtrack."

After his three concerts – isolated shows obviously timed to the honeymoon and ot part of a world tour – The Artist will be able to take some time off and do normal-people things.

"I'm dying 2 find a secluded beach and have a picnic with Mayte," he said.

The Artist is 37; Mayte (pronounced My-tay) is 22 and a native of Puerto Rico, who at 8, appeared on TV's "That's Incredible!" where she did a belly dance, rolled quarters on her stomach and balanced a sword on her head.

Four years ago, she became a protege of the New Power Generation, the ex-Prince's band.

According to the marriage license, she said her name will be Mayte Garcia-Nelson/ He, of course, will maintain his symbolism.

Jeff Baemen of the Associated Press contributed to this report