The world is grieving the loss of music icon Prince Rogers Nelson, whose lifeless body was found inside an elevator at his Minneapolis home. He was 57.
The singer’s longtime publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, confirmed his death in a press release on Thursday.
The Associated Press reports Sheriff’s officials found Prince unresponsive in the elevator inside the singer’s sprawling Paisley Park Compound. CPR was performed but he was pronounced dead at the home at 10:07 a.m. Thursday.
A group of about 50 to 60 fans gathered outside Prince’s estate, crying hysterically after news broke of his death.
There are unconfirmed rumors that the bisexual singer was infected with the virus that causes AIDS. He declined treatment, allegedly, on the advice of leaders at the Jehovah’s Witness church where he was a member.
The pilot of Prince’s private jet was force to make an emergency landing in Illinois when Prince’s “flu symptoms” took a turn for the worse early Friday morning. He was briefly hospitalized and released the same day.
“The meaning of the word loss has taken on a new meaning this day,” Prince protege and close friend Sheila E. told People.com in a statement. “Thank God love lives forever.”
President Obama also paid tribute to Prince in a prepared statement.
The gifted singer and songwriter who played 27 instruments is best known for his hit songs “Little Red Corvette,” “I Wanna Be Your Lover,” and “When Doves Cry.”
At age 20, Prince burst onto the music scene with his hit mid tempo ballad “Soft and Wet” off his album For You.
His movie Purple Rain became a cult classic and inspired a new generation of musicians and songwriters.
Prince performed for the final time in concert in Atlanta last week.
Watch Purple Rain in HD below, courtesy of DDotomen.com!
