Music Icon Prince dead at 57
The singer earlier this week was rushed to hospital and treated for the flu
BORN Prince Rogers Nelson on 7 June, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the singer, songwriter, multiple instrumentalist, producer and actor who was recognised as a musical genius, trend setter and advocate for artists’ rights has died at his Paisley Park home in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
The news comes days after a flight Prince was a passenger on had to make an emergency landing at Quad City International Airport in Moline, Illinois. The singer was then rushed to a local hospital, where he was treated for the flu.
He was released three hours later.
Prince had been battling the illness for weeks, his representative said.
The singer, who was on his ‘Piano and a Microphone’ tour, also had to cancel two shows earlier in the month due to the flu. The ‘Purple Rain’ singer’s last performance was Thursday night in Atlanta.
Combining rock, R&B, soul, funk, hip hop, disco, psychedelia, jazz, and pop, Prince was regarded as the pioneer of Minneapolis sound. He also gained a reputation for being a staunch perfectionist.
The 1984 semi-autobiographical rock musical drama film ‘Purple Rain’ – and its best-selling soundtrack – vaulted him into the pop stratosphere. The film won the now-defunct Best Original Song Score award at the Oscars and the album was his best-selling one, amassing sales of over 25 million copies.
Source: ABC News
