When it came to music, David Prince was a polymath.

From standard and new operas to cutting-edge contemporary classical music, from straight-ahead jazz to experimental, from world music to rock, Prince knew and loved virtually every corner of the art form. He never was shy about sharing his insights and opinions, either, whether as a writer, a radio personality or a raconteur.

Prince, 66, died Thursday at his home. His partner, Rosalinda Kolb, was near him, as she had been during his years-long struggle with emphysema and chemical sensitivity syndrome. Under hospice care, he finally slept away a life full of incident, excitement and explorations.

"He was not only thoughtful in friendship," said percussionist Al Faeet, an old friend of Prince. "He was a very present, very engaged friend. He was witty, sometimes over the top.

"He'd be commenting away on an opera or something, commenting prolifically, until it became like a sideshow unto itself." That, Faeet added, was a symptom of Prince's fluent "East Coast intellectual rivalry" with those he considered his peers. To be frank, there were not too many.

A New York-area native, Prince lived and practiced law in Boston for many years. He also was an acclaimed photographer of famous musicians — something few people knew. He moved here with his family in 1988 and quickly began expressing his wide and intense love of music in various venues.

He did so through Flight 505, his popular free-form radio show on local stations KUNM and KSFR over the years, and through spirited encounters with other arts lovers.

He was a contributing writer to many publications, including The New Mexican's Pasatiempo and its special supplement celebrating the Santa Fe Opera's 50th anniversary. He also wrote for The Santa Fe Reporter, Crosswinds and other independent journals and contributed program notes to various record labels. In addition, he was a fluent alto saxophonist and guitarist.

"As a rock 'n' roll nut myself, I always respected David's wide range of knowledge of music," said musician and journalist Steve Terrell of The New Mexican. "I'm a complete rube when it comes to classical music, but one day I was listening to a classical show on KSFR that Dave was hosting.

"Dave talked about the piece, I believe it was Mozart, in easy to understand language and it really added to my appreciation. Sometimes classical DJs seem so snooty and effete, but not David."

Dan Shimp of Denver, who did jazz radio shows around the time Prince began his shows, and who used to drop by the now-gone Candyman record store where Prince worked, recalled his friend's amazing memory.

"More times than I can remember, he would come up with things. He'd say, 'Do you remember on Aug. 14, 1994, when we went for that hike out in wherever?' You know, he blew me away. He had that kind of mind.

"David had the natural ability to transmit information about the music, along with the music. I don't know that I copied my style after him, but I certainly learned a lot just being around him."

One especially clear memory, Shimp said, was when he and Prince drove to Albuquerque to pick up saxophonist Steve Lacey at the airport. The venerable jazz musician was performing both in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

"We went someplace in Albuquerque and David interviewed Steve. It was just a really wonderful thing to sit there and listen. David interviewing Steve and bringing things out about not only music, but his art and life."

In addition to Kolb, Prince is survived by his former wife, Linda Prince, and four children: Ethan, a doctor, of Providence, R.I.; Elizabeth Prince, a Boston cartoonist; photographer Joseph Prince, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and dancer Caitlin Prince of Santa Fe. He also is survived by many friends and colleagues.

Joseph Prince has posted a tribute to his father on his website, http://joeyprince.wordpress.com, which includes artwork by Elizabeth Prince.

Services are pending.