I think for our - people who are now in their 20s/early 30s - generation it has become harder to learn of older artists.  Somebody in the family has to have introduced them to us or we have to make a conscious effort to find out.  Else, the media mainly pushes contemporary artists on us.  Not a bad thing at all, the show must go on.  But say in my case, I didn't know about Prince when I was in school and listened to his music much later because he didn't really make a dent in the 90s.  I mean, those early 90s albums may have charted well but I am talking like MJ's Dangerous, Whitney Houston's appearance and songs on Bodyguard, Celine Dion with that cringe will go on song, etc.  He wasn't THAT successful.  If I had already been in college by the 90s, I would have been aware of his work because I would have got beyond the most popular hits.  But in all likelihood I may have got into rock in that case and still been oblivious to Prince.  

I really like the Purple Rain album but never got around to checking out his other albums.  I should have, but somehow it just slipped my mind. RIP.

An extremely talented multi-instrumentalist and Auteur.

Not a huge fan but had huge respect. A bit embarrassing in some respects but also, maybe the greatest compliment, my daughter (now 26) was conceived after watching 'Purple rain'!!!