Pop icon Prince dead at 57: publicist
This June 30, 2011 file photo shows US singer and musician Prince performing on stage at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris. Pop icon Prince was treated in hospital on April 15, 2016 after a bout of flu worsened in mid-air, forcing his private jet to make an unscheduled landing, his publicist told AFP. PHOTO AFP | BERTRAND GUAY
What you need to know:
- Prince became an international sensation in the 1980s, 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.
Pop icon Prince — one of the most influential but elusive figures in music — died suddenly at his compound in Minnesota on Thursday, a representative said. He was 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," said his spokeswoman, Yvette Noel-Schure.
She did not offer further details. Local authorities outside Minneapolis said that they were investigating a death at Paisley Park, with local media showing images of emergency vehicles.
The 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.
Prince became an international sensation in the 1980s, 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 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.
"This is what it sounds like when doves cry.. Prince R.I.P. Condolences to his family & 2 us all," actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg said on Twitter.
The singer - whose real full name was Prince Rogers Nelson - shot to fame in 1982 with his groundbreaking album '1999' which went on to sell over 100 million records.
Prince has won seven Grammy awards during his lengthy career with over 30 nominations. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the first year he was eligible.
Prince was a controversial figure and he famously changed his name to a symbol in 1993 to protest his recording contract with his label claiming to own his name "Prince" which he could no longer use if he left the label.
Prince was married twice, firstly to dancer Mayte Garcia - with whom he had a son, Boy Gregory, in 1996 who was only a few days old when he died. The couple split in 2000 after four years of marriage, and Prince then subsequently married Manuela Testolini to whom he remained married to for five years until 2006.
His most recent album releases came in 2015 with 'HitnRun Phase One' in September and 'HitnRun Phase Two' in December. Prince recently announced earlier this year that he was writing his autobiography, 'The Beautiful Ones'.
