HOUSTON - H-TOWN, the platinum recording act from Houston, has performed all over the world.
But it's an impromptu performance in their hometown few people ever heard of that keeps band members smiling nearly a decade and a half later.
"That's one of my fondest memories,” said Solomon “Shazam” Conner as he recalled the special night in the late 90’s when he meant a music icon.
Prince was in town.
He had given a concert and members of H-TOWN had been invited to attend the after party at a small club that's no longer in existence.
Prince took the stage and then did something unexpected. He asked members of the local band to join him.
"I was hesitant,” said Darryl G.I. Jackson. “No, he ain't for real."
"But we knew it was real when he had his security to move everybody out the way,” said Conner. "He brought us up on stage and we sang 'It's your thing' by the Isley Brothers and then we just went in to 'Knocking the Boots.'"
The song was one of the group’s biggest hits but it had never been performed the way it was that night.
"He did the longest extended version of 'Knocking the Boots' ever because every time we sang it and would try to get off the stage, he was like no come on back,” said Conner.
They shared their memories while local nightclubs like Numbers played Prince’s movies and music nonstop.
"He was an icon,” said club owner Rudi Bunch. “Great music. We played his music here. He is a genius."
Prince was known for having an eye for talent, and he appreciated the talent of H-TOWN.
"For a personal icon like that to know who you are, that just shows you that you made it,” said Jackson.
"And for him to say he was a fan of our music, it was like wow.” said Conner.