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Prince, the pioneering musician, has died at his home at the age of 57, days after being rushed to hospital after falling ill on tour.
The news was first reported by TMZ and confirmed by The Associated Press. According to TMZ, the musician’s body was discovered at his Paisley Park Estate early Thursday morning. A cause of death is not yet known.
According to Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson, Prince was found unresponsive in an elevator around 9:45 a.m. CT. First responders attempted to provide lifesaving CPR, but were unable to revive him. He was pronounced dead at 10:07 a.m.
One of the most influential musicians in pop, Prince produced 37 studio albums over the span of his decades-long career, selling more than 100 million copies and influencing countless genres. He enjoyed a recent revival with his Art Official Age album in 2014, and was at work on a memoir, tentatively titled Beautiful Ones.
This past Friday, Prince’s private plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Illinois, reportedly because Prince was dehydrated from the flu. The following Saturday he invited fans to his home in Minnesota for a dance party, during which Prince showed off his new purple piano. “Wait a few days before you waste any prayers,” he said, according to the Star Tribune.
Tributes And Reactions
Aretha Franklin has paid a moving tribute to Prince.
The Mowtown legend said he was “one of those artists” that slept in the studio, as she praised his dedication to music.
“[He was] a very, very unique musical individual who was so into his music – he was music to the max.
President Obama's statement on the passing of Prince pic.twitter.com/Ecc43yL6L7
— NPR Politics (@nprpolitics) April 21, 2016
‘It’s bigger than death’ Frank Ocean blogs about Prince
The R&B star took to his tumblr to share his thoughts on the death of Prince (apologies if you hate caps):
I’M NOT EVEN GONNA SAY REST IN PEACE BECAUSE IT’S BIGGER THAN DEATH. I NEVER MET THE MAN (I WAS TOO NERVOUS THE ONE TIME I SAW HIM) AND I NEVER SAW HIM PLAY LIVE, REGRETTABLY. I ONLY KNOW THE LEGENDS I’VE HEARD FROM FOLKS AND WHAT I’VE HEARD AND SEEN FROM HIS DEEP CATALOG OF PROPELLANT, FEARLESS, VIRTUOSIC WORK. MY ASSESSMENT IS THAT HE LEARNED EARLY ON HOW LITTLE VALUE TO ASSIGN TO SOMEONE ELSE’S OPINION OF YOU.. AN INFECTIOUS SENTIMENT THAT SEEMED SOAKED INTO HIS CLOTHES, HIS HAIR, HIS WALK, HIS GUITAR AND HIS PRIMAL SCREAM. HE WROTE MY FAVORITE SONG OF ALL TIME, ‘WHEN YOU WERE MINE’. IT’S A SIMPLE SONG WITH A SIMPLE MELODY THAT MAKES YOU WISH YOU THOUGHT OF IT FIRST, EVEN THOUGH YOU NEVER WOULD HAVE – A FLIRTATIOUS BRAND OF GENIUS THAT FEELS APPROACHABLE. HE WAS A STRAIGHT BLACK MAN WHO PLAYED HIS FIRST TELEVISED SET IN BIKINI BOTTOMS AND KNEE HIGH HEELED BOOTS, EPIC. HE MADE ME FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH HOW I IDENTIFY SEXUALLY SIMPLY BY HIS DISPLAY OF FREEDOM FROM AND IRREVERENCE FOR OBVIOUSLY ARCHAIC IDEAS LIKE GENDER CONFORMITY ETC. HE MOVED ME TO BE MORE DARING AND INTUITIVE WITH MY OWN WORK BY HIS DEMONSTRATION – HIS DENIAL OF THE PREVAILING MODEL…HIS FIGHT FOR HIS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – ‘SLAVE’ WRITTEN ACROSS THE FOREHEAD, NAME CHANGED TO A SYMBOL… AN ALL OUT REBELLION AGAINST EXPLOITATION. A VANGUARD AND GENIUS BY EVERY METRIC I KNOW OF WHO AFFECTED MANY IN A WAY THAT WILL OUTRUN OBLIVION FOR A LONG WHILE. I’M PROUD TO BE A PRINCE FAN(STAN) FOR LIFE.
Agencies/Canadajournal
