Music Icon Prince dies at 57

Born Prince Rogers Nelson on June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the singer, songwriter, multiple instrumentalist, producer and actor was recognized as a musical genius, trend setter and advocate for artists’ rights. His indelible impact on pop music culture dates back to when he first surfaced in 1978 with his debut album “For You.”
ABC News confirmed that the Carver County Sheriff’s Department has launched an investigation at the singer’s Paisley Park estate in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
The news comes days after a flight Prince, 57, 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, his rep confirmed. He was released three hours later.
Prince had been battling the illness for weeks, his rep 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.
Named after the Prince Roger Trio, a jazz band his father performed with, Prince was signed to Warner Brother Records as a teenager.
His early albums — 1979’s “Prince,” 1980’s “Dirty Mind” and 1981’s “Controversy” — built his core fan base while also creating controversial buzz due to their fusion of religious and sexual themes.
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.