It’s a sad day for music fans: Singer Prince dead at 57
Apr 21, 2016, 10:09 AM | Updated: 5:24 pm
(Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)
(Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)
Thursday marked a sad day for music lovers everywhere: Singer Prince died, aged 57.
He died at his Paisley Park studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota, near Minneapolis. The cause of death is unknown.
Prince was a Minneapolis native.
Fitting that it's raining in Minneapolis today. pic.twitter.com/s5KFurDhHi
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) April 21, 2016
TMZ reported last week that Prince had treated for a drug overdose six days before his death, although the singer’s representatives originally stated he was battling the flu.
His plane made an emergency landing in Moline, Illinois last week so he could be treated at the hospital. TMZ reported that Prince was advised to stay in the hospital overnight, but he was released three hours after arriving and flew home.
Last month, Prince told a New York City audience he was writing a memoir — with the working title “The Beautiful Ones” — that was intended for release next year.
“This is my first (book). My brother Dan is helping me with it. He’s a good critic and that’s what I need. He’s not a ‘yes’ man at all and he’s really helping me get through this,” Prince told the audience.
“We’re starting from the beginning from my first memory, and hopefully, we can go all the way up to the Super Bowl,” he said.
Prince gave one of the most memorable Super Bowl performances of all time, when he played in the midst of a huge downpour.
He last played in the Valley in 2013. He played four shows — two each night — between April 30 and May 1.
The singer had a storied musical career. Born Prince Rogers Nelson on June 7, 1958, Prince enjoyed nearly three decades of popularity.
He first made it big in 1979 with his self-titled album, “Prince.” It went platinum and his fame only grew with each album he released in the 1980s.
“Purple Rain,” arguably his most famous song, was released in 1984 and served as the soundtrack to his acting debut in a film by the same name.
In the mid-1990s, Prince again made a splash when he changed his name to a symbol and became known for a time as The Artist (Formerly Known as Prince). He began using the name Prince again in 2000.
Prince was one of the best-selling artists of all time. He sold more than 100 million records worldwide.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and won seven Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe and an Academy Award.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
