Prince,
a dizzylingly prolific multi-instrumentalist and virtuosic performer,
was found dead at his home and recording studio in Minnesota early on
Thursday, his publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, told The Hollywood
Reporter. He was 57.
Deputies
are on scene at Paisley Park in Chanhassen conducting a death
investigation currently, authorities said. No further details were
immediately available and the cause of death is not being released at
this time.
The performer was born Prince Rogers Nelson June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minn.
He
released his debut album, For You, in 1978, followed by Prince (1979),
Dirty Mind (1980) and Controversy (1981). All of them traded in his
trademark sound - deep synth funk grooves with provocatively sexual
lyrics and heart-piercing ballads sung in pure falsetto.
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| Prince |
His
mainstream breakthrough came with back-to-back albums with his backing
band the Revolution: In 1982, 1999 launched several pop and dance floor
hits onto the charts, including “Little Red Corvette” and the title
song, a post-apocalyptic party anthem.
Two
years later he released the album - a soundtrack, actually, to his
movie-starring debut - that would launch him into the same superstar
stratosphere of other 1980s pop titans like Michael Jackson and Madonna.
The
soundtrack was 1984’s Purple Rain, a searing musical backdrop to a
semi-autobiographical tale of “The Kid,” a Minneapolis rocker from an
abusive family. The album launched five singles, two of which - “When
Doves Cry” and Let’s Go Crazy" - went to Number 1 on the Billboard
chart. The title ballad reached Number 2 and has gone on to become one
of the most recognizable rock anthems in history. The soundtrack itself
is frequently cited on music critics’ polls as being one of the best of
all time, and Prince won an Oscar for original score in 1985.
In
the 15 years since, he’s released an astonishing 15 records and toured
tirelessly. His latest tour, dubbed “Piano & a Microphone,” saw him
criss-crossing the globe from Melbourne, Aus., to Oakland, Calif.,
cycling through an intimate, improvised evening of hits performed solo
at a grand piano.
On
the night he learned of his collaborator Vanity’s recent death, Prince
told the crowd, “I just found out a little while ago that someone dear
to us has passed away. So I’m going to dedicate this song to her.“
The song was: Little Red Corvette.”
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