PAISLEY PARK, Minn. — The artist known as 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 Paisley Park studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
When the E Center, now known as the Maverik Center, opened in Utah in 1997, Prince was the first to perform on that stage.
There is a massive outpouring of grief on social media.
Some are saying the icon’s death is what it sounds like when doves cry, a reference to his monster hit.
In early April, Prince said he wasn’t feeling well, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and canceled at least one concert in the city. Some days later, he took the stage in Atlanta to perform.
After that concert, the singer’s plane made an emergency landing, Noel-Schure told CNN. At the time she said, “He is fine and at home.”
Prince has won seven Grammy Awards, and has earned 30 nominations. Five of his singles have topped the charts and 14 other songs hit the Top 10. He won an Oscar for the original song score to the classic film “Purple Rain.”
The singer's predilection for lavishly kinky story-songs earned him the nickname, His Royal Badness.
He is also known as the "Purple One" because of his colorful fashions. His sound was as unique and transfixing as he. He created what became known as Minneapolis sound which was a funky blend of pop, synth and new wave.
Controversy followed the singer and that, in part, made his fans adore him more. "Darling Nikki," a song that details a one-night stand, prompted the formation of the Parents Music Resource Center.
Led by Al Gore's then wife, Tipper, the group encouraged record labels to place advisory labels on albums with explicit lyrics.
He left his imprint on so many aspects of popular culture from film to movies to sports to politics.
As the Minnesota Vikings prepped to take on the New Orleans Saints in the 2010 NFC championship game, Prince wrote a fight song entitled "Purple and Gold" to inspire his home team.
The Vikings lost. He was the half-time performer at the Super Bowl in 2007.
Last year while addressing the unrest following the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody in Baltimore, Prince released the song "Baltimore."
He performed at a benefit concert in the city and gave a portion of the proceeds to youth groups in Baltimore.
This is a developing story.
Here is a look at the life of Prince, a multitalented entertainer famed for his eclectic sound, glittery wardrobe and provocative lyrics.
Personal: Birth date: June 7, 1958
Birth place: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Birth name: Prince Rogers Nelson
Father: John Nelson, jazz pianist
Mother: Mattie Shaw, social worker and singer
Marriages: Manuela Testolini Nelson (2001-2007, divorced); Mayte Garcia (1996-2000, divorced)
Children: One child, named "Boy Gregory" with Mayte Garcia. The baby died shortly after birth.
Other Facts: Prince has won seven Grammy Awards, and has earned 30 nominations.
Five of Prince's singles have topped the charts and 14 other songs hit the Top 10.
One Oscar win, for the original song score of "Purple Rain."
The singer's predilection for lavishly kinky story-songs earned him the nickname, His Royal Badness. He is also known as the "Purple One" because of his colorful fashions. In the film, "Purple Rain," his character was nicknamed "The Kid."
"Darling Nikki," a song that details a one-night stand, prompted the formation of the Parents Music Resource Center. Led by Al Gore's wife, Tipper, the group encouraged record labels to place advisory labels on albums with explicit lyrics.
As the Minnesota Vikings prepped to take on the New Orleans Saints in the 2010 NFC championship game, Prince wrote a fight song entitled "Purple and Gold" to inspire his home team. The Vikings lost.
Prince declared, "Albums still matter; like books and black lives, albums still matter tonight and always," before presenting the award for Best Album during the 57th annual Grammy Awards.
Timeline: 1978 - Prince's debut album, "For You," is released by Warner Bros. He plays all the instruments on the LP and produces it himself, making him, at 19-years-old, the youngest record producer in the history of Warner Bros. at the time.
1980 - "I Wanna be Your Lover," from Prince's eponymous sophomore album, peaks at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
1982-1983 - Prince scores a hit with the album, "1999." Three singles - the title track, "Little Red Corvette" and "Delirious" - reach the Top 40.
1984 - The film, "Purple Rain," a rock drama starring Prince, is released. Its soundtrack, by Prince and the Revolution, contains hits like, "When Doves Cry," "Let's Go Crazy" and "Purple Rain."
February 26, 1985 - Prince wins two Grammy awards for "Purple Rain" - Best Album Of Original Score Written For A Motion Picture Or A Television Special and Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. He gets a third Grammy - Best Rhythm & Blues Song - for writing "I Feel For You," a hit recorded by Chaka Khan.
March 25, 1985 - Wins the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score, for Purple Rain.
1985-1992 - Releases eight albums, one per year, including the soundtrack for Tim Burton's "Batman." Stars in two more movies, "Under the Cherry Moon" and "Graffiti Bridge." A concert film, "Sign 'o' the Times" hits theaters in 1987.
1987 - Unveils a $10 million recording complex/movie studio called Paisley Park in a Minneapolis suburb.
1993 - Changes his name to an unpronounceable symbol due to a dispute with his record label, Warner Bros. At the time, he is commonly called the "Artist Formerly Known as Prince."
1994 - Warner Bros. releases an abandoned collection of songs that has come to be known as "The Black Album." Bootleg copies of the tracks, recorded by Prince in 1987, had been circulating widely for years.
2000 - When the singer's publishing contract with Warner Bros. expires, he reclaims the name Prince.
2001 - Becomes a Jehovah's Witness.
2004 - Prince performs on the Grammy awards with Beyoncé. A month later, he is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
November 2006 - Prince opens 3121, a nightclub in Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. He performs there on the weekends for six months.
February 4, 2007 - The Super Bowl features Prince as the halftime performer.
May 09, 2015 - Addressing the unrest after Freddie Gray's death in police custody, Prince releases the song, "Baltimore." He performs a Rally 4 Peace benefit concert in Baltimore the next day, with a portion of proceeds donated to youth groups in the city.
