Prince found dead at 57

The Minneapolis musician is reported to have died at his Paisley Park recording studio and estate

Feature by News Team | 21 Apr 2016

Pioneering musical innovator Prince has been found dead in his Minnesota home. In a statement relayed by Los Angeles radio station KTLA, his publicist said, "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."

Investigating police have advised that his body was found in an elevator at his studio. The cause of death is as yet unknown; however last week a flight from Atlanta had to make an emergency landing in order to take Prince to hospital following a performance. According to TMZ, a representative confirmed that he was suffering from flu. 

Born in 1958, Prince released his debut LP For You in 1978, before scoring a platinum album with the next year's self-titled follow-up. He enjoyed a sustained period of commercial success in the 80s with his backing band The Revolution, with whom he recorded the soundtrack for his 1984 film Purple Rain.

After disbanding the revolution, 1987's Sign o' the Times marked the beginning of a short-lived solo stint, before the formation of The New Power Generation in 1991. Two years later he changed his stage name to the unpronouncable symbol  (often referred to as 'the love symbol'), before reverting to Prince at the turn of the millennium.

Widely recognised for pushing the boundaries of pop, rock and funk, his best-loved songs – all huge global hits – included 1999, When Doves Cry, Let's Go Crazy, Little Red Corvette and Raspberry Beret. He also wrote Nothing Compare 2 U, a number one hit when covered by Sinéad O'Connor in 1990.

Across his various bands and projects, Prince has sold over 100 million records worldwide, also notching seven Grammies, a Golden Globe and an Academy Award before his 2004 induction into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

A critical revival in recent years saw Prince enter an accelerated period of productivity and hotly-anticipated live performances – from September 2014, he released four albums with most recent project 3rd Eye Girl. Earlier this year, it was announced that he was compiling an autobiography with the working title of The Beautiful Ones.

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