Prince Dead At 57
Prince Dead at age of 57
Born Prince Rogers Nelson on June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the singer, songwriter, multiple instrumentalist, producer and actor was recognized as a musical genius, trend setter and advocate for artists’ rights. His indelible impact on pop music culture dates back to when he first surfaced in 1978 with his debut album “For You.” The singer, who was on his “Piano and a Microphone” tour,” also had to cancel two shows earlier in the month due to the flu. The “Purple Rain” singer’s last performance was Thursday night in Atlanta. His early albums — 1979’s “Prince,” 1980’s “Dirty Mind” and 1981’s “Controversy” — built his core fan base while also creating controversial buzz due to their fusion of religious and sexual themes. The 1984 semi-autobiographical rock musical drama film “Purple Rain” –- and its best-selling soundtrack — vaulted him into the pop stratosphere. The film won the now-defunct Best Original Song Score award at the Oscars and the album was his best-selling one, amassing sales of over 25 million copies. Through his career, Prince won seven Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
Pop icon Prince dead at 57: entertainment website TMZ
New York (AFP) – Pop icon Prince — one of the most influential but elusive figures in music — has died at his compound in Minnesota, entertainment website TMZ reported Thursday, citing unnamed sources.
Local authorities said a death investigation was underway at Prince’s Paisley Park complex, but did not give the identity of the fatality.
The 57-year-old pop legend last week was taken to a hospital after his private jet made an unscheduled landing.
But Prince was said to be suffering the flu and made light of the situation, later posting on Twitter about a local shop in Minneapolis for Record Store Day.
A spokeswoman for Prince did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Prince became an international sensation in the 1980’s, when he popularized the Minneapolis sound of danceable funk. His 1984 album “Purple Rain” is often described as one of the greatest of all time.
The artist, who was born as Prince Nelson, lives in the outskirts of Minneapolis, where he throws parties and preserves master vaults at his Paisley Park studio.
Prince in the 1990s changed his name to an unpronounceable “love symbol” and wrote “slave” on his cheek to protest contractual conditions by his label Warner.
Among his best-known songs are “Purple Rain,” “1999,” “When Doves Cry,” “Cream” and “Kiss.”
He was recently prolific in his output, releasing albums through streaming site Tidal, and has taken to scheduling shows at the last minute to avoid scalpers.
