Prince, the legendary rock and R&B musician and songwriter, died on Thursday, his publicist told the Associated Press. He was 57.
Emergency responders were called to his Paisley Park estate in Chanhassen, Minn. at 9:34 a.m. on Thursday morning, according to KSTP.
From USA TODAY :
Prince was briefly hospitalized Friday after his plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Illinois’ Quad City International Airport. His representatives told USA TODAY that he had been struggling with the flu.
Prince was born Prince Rogers Nelson, but it seems weird to write about him as anything other than the artist he would become.
Much like David Bowie, another brilliant musician we lost this year, Prince seemed not of this earth.
He was wholly original, a fashion and art icon as well as one of the greatest guitar players who ever lived. Some people seem like more than people.
But he was a man, one born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a kid who played basketball and according to legend wrote his first song at the age of seven. Prince played in some bands in high school but quickly rocketed to success with the release of 1979’s Prince , which went platinum.
He’d go on to sell over 100 million records. His most lasting artistic statement will probably be Purple Rain, the mega successful album, rock opera and accompanying film that along with Michael Jackson’s Thriller were probably the two most important and popular artistic statements of the decade.
He also gave us this guitar solo, when he got onstage with Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, and Jeff Lynne, played a Beatles song, and showed everyone that he was the most compelling musician alive:
He will be missed.
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(AP Photo/Rob Burns)
Prince, who pioneered "the Minneapolis sound" and took on the music industry in his fight for creative freedom, died Thursday at age 57.
"It is with profound sadness that I am confirming that the legendary, iconic performer, Prince Rogers Nelson, has died at his Paisley Park residence this morning at the age of 57," said his publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure.
Earlier Thursday, police said they were investigating a death at the Paisley Park studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
A massive outpouring of grief followed on social media. Some are saying the icon's death "is what it sounds like when doves cry," a reference to his monster hit from 1984. Fans rushed to record stores to pick up vinyl and other Prince memorabilia.