One of Minnesota’s most iconic recording artists passed away on Thursday. Prince (full name Prince Rogers Nelson) died at the age of 57. The exact cause of death is not known at this time.
According to the Carver County Sheriff’s office, at about 9:45 a.m. Thursday, emergency personnel responded to a medical call at the Paisley Park complex, where his home and studio are located in Chanhassen. He was found unresponsive in an elevator. CPR was attempted without success. Prince was pronounced dead at the scene. The Carver County Sheriff’s office said that it is investigating the death with help from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office.
Six days before his death, Prince’s airplane had to make an emergency landing in Moline, Illinois, while on the way back to Minnesota from Atlanta where he had performed. It had been reported that he was battling the flu. However, according to TMZ, Prince was treated for a drug overdose. Doctors had advised Prince to stay for 24 hours, but when Prince and his people couldn’t get a private room, they left three hours after first arriving and flew home.
Prince’s musical style blended R&B with Rock to create a relentlessly funky and soulful stew. His most well-known album, “Purple Rain,” which was released in 1984 contained several charting singles including “When Doves Cry” and “Let’s Go Crazy.” According to the Recording Association of America, this album has sold over 13 million copies. He has sold over 100 million albums worldwide and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Prince’s fans will no doubt miss him. Just to state his impact, many famous monuments around the world have lit up purple, including the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building, Niagara Falls, and of course many Minnesota locations like the 35W bridge. Prince has left a legacy that will reign for decades in the future -- the sting of his death will affect fans for years to come.
Photo courtesy of:
Scott Penner -- Twitter
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