NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, Associated Press
HILLEL ITALIE, Associated Press
JEFF BAENEN, Associated Press
CHANHASSEN, Minn. (AP) — Pop superstar Prince, widely acclaimed as one of the most inventive and influential musicians of his era with hits including “Little Red Corvette,” ”Let’s Go Crazy” and “When Doves Cry,” was found dead at his home on Thursday in suburban Minneapolis, according to his publicist. He was 57.
His publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, told The Associated Press that the music icon died at his home in Chanhassen. No details were immediately released.
The singer, songwriter, arranger and instrumentalist broke through in the late 1970s with the hits “Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?” and “I Wanna Be Your Lover,” and soared over the following decade with such albums as “1999” and “Purple Rain.” The title song from “1999” includes one of the most widely quoted refrains of popular culture: “Tonight I’m gonna party like it’s 1999.”
The Minneapolis native, born Prince Rogers Nelson, stood just 5 feet, 2 inches tall, and seemed to summon the most original and compelling sounds at will, whether playing guitar in a flamboyant style that openly drew upon Jimi Hendrix, switching his vocals from a nasally scream to an erotic falsetto or turning out album after album of stunningly original material. Among his other notable releases: “Sign O’ the Times,” ”Graffiti Bridge” and “The Black Album.”
He was also fiercely protective of his independence, battling his record company over control of his material and even his name. Prince once wrote “slave” on his face in protest of not owning his work and famously battled and then departed his label, Warner Bros., before returning a few years ago.
“What’s happening now is the position that I’ve always wanted to be in,” Prince told the AP in 2014. “I was just trying to get here.”
In 2004, Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which hailed him as a musical and social trailblazer.
“He rewrote the rulebook, forging a synthesis of black funk and white rock that served as a blueprint for cutting-edge music in the Eighties,” reads the Hall’s dedication. “Prince made dance music that rocked and rock music that had a bristling, funky backbone. From the beginning, Prince and his music were androgynous, sly, sexy and provocative.”
Rarely lacking in confidence, Price effortlessly absorbed the music of others and made it sound like Prince, whether the James Brown guitar riff on “Kiss” or the Beatle-esque, psychedelic pop of “Raspberry Beret.”
He also proved a source of hits for others, from Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” to Cyndi Lauper’s “When You Were Mine.” He also wrote “Manic Monday” for the Bangles
Prince had been touring and recording right up until his death, releasing four albums in the last 18 months, including two on the Tidal streaming service last year. He performed in Atlanta last week as part of his “Piano and a Microphone” tour, a stripped down show that has featured a mix of his hits like “Purple Rain” or “Little Red Corvette” and some B-sides from his extensive library.
Prince debuted the intimate format at his Paisley Park studios in January, treating fans to a performance that was personal and was both playful and emotional at times.
The musician had seemed to be shedding his reclusive reputation. He hosted several late-night jam sessions where he serenaded Madonna, celebrated the Minnesota Lynx’s WNBA championship and showcased his latest protege, singer Judith Hill.
Ever surprising, he announced on stage in New York City last month that he was writing his memoir. “The Beautiful Ones” was expected to be released in the fall of 2017 by publishing house Spiegel & Grau. The publishing house has not yet commented on status of book, but a press release about the memoir says: “Prince will take readers on an unconventional and poetic journey through his life and creative work.” It says the book will include stories about Prince’s music and “the family that shaped him and the people, places, and ideas that fired his creative imagination.”
A small group of fans quickly gathered in the rain Thursday outside his music studio, Paisley Park, wherePrince’s gold records are on the walls and the purple motorcycle he rode in his 1984 breakout movie, “Purple Rain,” is on display. The white building surrounded by a fence is in Chanhassen, about 20 miles southwest of Minneapolis.
Steven Scott, 32, of Eden Prairie, said he was at Paisley Park last Saturday for Prince’s dance party. He calledPrince “a beautiful person” whose message was that people should love one another.
“He brought people together for the right reasons,” Scott said.
Musicians, actors and other celebrities reacted to the death of music great Prince with shock and anguish Thursday. Here are some of the reactions they posted to Twitter or released in statements:
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“Stunned. This can’t be real.” — Justin Timberlake.
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“R.I.P PRINCE, another icon gone to soon.” — Shaquille O’Neal.
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“Lots of guitars gently weeping today #Prince #RIP.” — Kevin Bacon.
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“Running out of living musical heroes, those we measure everything against, emulate, know we won’t surpass but inspire us to try. #prince.” — Carrie Brownstein.
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Dang it… Truly hate hearing we lost Prince. Sad day….” — Blake Shelton.
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“Rest in power, Prince.” — Russell Simmons.
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“I’m in shock #Prince.” — Mark Cuban.
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“Shocked that @prince has died at only 57. Such a talent to have died so young #RIPPrince.” — Joan Collins.
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“So sad to hear about the loss of Prince today. #RIP #legend #purplerain.” — Kris Jenner.
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“This is what it sounds like when doves cry … Prince R.I.P. Condolences to his family & 2 us all.” — Whoopi Goldberg.
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“And just like that…the world lost a lot of magic Rest in peace Prince! Thanks for giving us so much.” — Katy Perry.
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“What a sad day today! Terribly sorry to hear that #Prince has passed! What an incredible talent.” — La Toya Jackson.
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“Oh My God! The musical genius of my generation has gone on to glory. Heaven has a new musical director with #Prince.” — Star Jones.
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“#Prince So much LOVE. Thank you, thank you, thank you. My heart is heavy. #RIPPrince.” — Arthel Neville.
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“The Prince is dead. Long live the Prince.” — Kathy Bates.
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“A shock to read #Prince has died. He was so magnificent at the Super Bowl that I was privileged to perform the National Anthem in sign. RIP. — Marlee Matlin.
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“RIP Prince. You were the king.” — Joel McHale.
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“No matter what he asked us to call him, Prince was a force. Genius in the studio. Brilliant onstage. And a 4-star movie. #PurpleRain.” — Richard Roeper.
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I am stunned to hear about #Prince, a huge part of my record collection and the sound of my 20s. A rare kinda brilliance. RIP.” — Eric McCormack.
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“I’m in shock!! #Prince has passed away at the age of 57.” — Maria Menounos.
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“MTV is heartbroken and in utter disbelief at the news that the world has lost Prince Rogers Nelson so suddenly and so before his time. Prince was a once-in-a-lifetime artist who transcended every medium and genre he touched and created music with a passion and individuality that inspired multiple generations.” — Statement from MTV.
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“I can’t. I just can not. #Prince” — Shonda Rhimes.
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“PRINCE, sad to say, has passed on!!! He was a Giant. My deep condolences go out to his family, friends and fans. — Gene Simmons.
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“This (expletive) sucks. Prince on repeat all day. Just like I did with Michael and Whitney.” — Demi Lovato.
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“Now Prince? No no no.. RIP You genius x.” — Robbie Williams.
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“I Miss My Brother. Prince Was A Funny Cat. Great Sense Of Humor.” — Spike Lee.
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“Prince was brilliant and larger than life. What a sad day.” — Ellen DeGeneres.
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“Heartbroken to hear about the sudden passing of Prince. RIP.” — Lori Loughlin.
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“RIP to one the greatest to ever hit the stage #Prince. We are all going to cry purple tears today. #Legend.” — Tito Jackson.
