Music legend Prince dead at 57
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LOS ANGELES - Pop icon Prince - whose pioneering brand of danceable funk made him one of music's most influential figures - died at his compound in Minnesota. He was 57.
The announcement came just a week after the enigmatic Grammy and Oscar winner - acclaimed for his guitar skills and soaring falsetto - was taken to hospital with a bad bout of influenza, which he made light of after the scare.
"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," said his spokeswoman, Yvette Noel-Schure, without elaborating.
The Carver County sheriff's office in Minnesota confirmed on Twitter that Prince had been "found dead" at the compound and said it had opened an investigation into the circumstances.
Prince became an international sensation in the 1980s, when he popularized the Minneapolis sound of danceable funk, incorporating rock elements. His 1984 album "Purple Rain" is often described as one of the greatest of all time.
The artist - whose huge catalogue of hits includes "1999," "Cream" and "Kiss" - lived on the outskirts of Minneapolis, where he was known for throwing parties and preserving his back recording in vaults at his Paisley Park studio.
He changed his name in the 1990s to an unpronounceable "love symbol" and wrote "slave" on his cheek to protest contractual conditions by his label Warner.
He was recently prolific in his output, releasing albums through streaming site Tidal, and has taken to scheduling shows at the last minute to avoid scalpers.
- AFP
