http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/2016/04/21/publicist-confirms-pop-superstar-prince-dies-at-his-minnesota-home/
Publicist Confirms: Pop Superstar
Prince Dies at his Minnesota Home
Prince performing in the hit film 'Purple Rain.'
CHANHASSEN, Minn. (AP) — Pop superstar
Prince, widely acclaimed as one of the most i
nventive and influential musicians of his era
with hits including “Little Red Corvette,”
”Let’s Go Crazy” and “When Doves Cry,”
was found dead at his home on Thursday in
suburban Minneapolis, acc
ording to his publicist. He was 57.
Prince, widely acclaimed as one of the most i
nventive and influential musicians of his era
with hits including “Little Red Corvette,”
”Let’s Go Crazy” and “When Doves Cry,”
was found dead at his home on Thursday in
suburban Minneapolis, acc
ording to his publicist. He was 57.
His publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, told The
Associated Press that the music icon died at his
home in Chanhassen. No details were i
mmediately released.
Associated Press that the music icon died at his
home in Chanhassen. No details were i
mmediately released.
The singer, songwriter, arranger and
instrumentalist broke through in the late
1970s with the hits “Why You Wanna Treat
Me So Bad?” and “I Wanna Be Your Lover,”
and soared over the following decade with
such albums as “1999” and “Purple Rain.”
The title song from “1999” includes one of
the most widely quoted refrains of popular
culture: “Tonight I’m gonna party like it’s 1999.”
instrumentalist broke through in the late
1970s with the hits “Why You Wanna Treat
Me So Bad?” and “I Wanna Be Your Lover,”
and soared over the following decade with
such albums as “1999” and “Purple Rain.”
The title song from “1999” includes one of
the most widely quoted refrains of popular
culture: “Tonight I’m gonna party like it’s 1999.”
The Minneapolis native, born Prince Rogers Nelson, stood just 5 feet, 2 inches tall, and seemed to summon the
most original and compelling sounds at will,
whether playing guitar in a flamboyant style
that openly drew upon Jimi Hendrix, switching
his vocals from a nasally scream to an erotic
falsetto or turning out album after album of
stunningly original material. Among his other
notable releases: “Sign O’ the Times,”
”Graffiti Bridge” and “The Black Album.”
most original and compelling sounds at will,
whether playing guitar in a flamboyant style
that openly drew upon Jimi Hendrix, switching
his vocals from a nasally scream to an erotic
falsetto or turning out album after album of
stunningly original material. Among his other
notable releases: “Sign O’ the Times,”
”Graffiti Bridge” and “The Black Album.”
He was also fiercely protective of his ind
ependence, battling his record company
over control of his material and even his
name. Prince once wrote “slave” on his
face in protest of not owning his work a
nd famously battled and then departed
his label, Warner Bros., before returning
a few years ago.
ependence, battling his record company
over control of his material and even his
name. Prince once wrote “slave” on his
face in protest of not owning his work a
nd famously battled and then departed
his label, Warner Bros., before returning
a few years ago.
“What’s happening now is the position
that I’ve always wanted to be in,” Prince
told the AP in 2014. “I was just trying to
get here.”
that I’ve always wanted to be in,” Prince
told the AP in 2014. “I was just trying to
get here.”
Prince, Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, Jeff Lynne
and others -- "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
In 2004, Prince was inducted into the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame, which hailed him as
a musical and social trailblazer.
and Roll Hall of Fame, which hailed him as
a musical and social trailblazer.
“He rewrote the rulebook, forging a synthesis
f black funk and white rock that served as a
blueprint for cutting-edge music in the
Eighties,” reads the Hall’s dedication. “Prince
made dance music that rocked and rock music
that had a bristling, funky backbone. From the
beginning, Prince and his music were
androgynous, sly, sexy and provocative.”
f black funk and white rock that served as a
blueprint for cutting-edge music in the
Eighties,” reads the Hall’s dedication. “Prince
made dance music that rocked and rock music
that had a bristling, funky backbone. From the
beginning, Prince and his music were
androgynous, sly, sexy and provocative.”
Rarely lacking in confidence, Price effortlessly
absorbed the music of others and made it
sound like Prince, whether the James Brown
guitar riff on “Kiss” or the Beatle-esque,
psychedelic pop of “Raspberry Beret.”
absorbed the music of others and made it
sound like Prince, whether the James Brown
guitar riff on “Kiss” or the Beatle-esque,
psychedelic pop of “Raspberry Beret.”
He also proved a source of hits for others,
from Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares
2 U” to Cyndi Lauper’s “When You Were
Mine.” He also wr
ote “Manic Monday” for the Bangles
from Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares
2 U” to Cyndi Lauper’s “When You Were
Mine.” He also wr
ote “Manic Monday” for the Bangles
Prince had been touring and recording right
up until his death, releasing four albums in the
last 18 months, including two on the Tidal
streaming service last year. He performed in
Atlanta last week as part of his “Piano and a
Microphone” tour, a strip
ped down show that has featured a mix of
his hits like “Purple Rain” or “Little Red
Corvette” and some B-sides from his
extensive library.
up until his death, releasing four albums in the
last 18 months, including two on the Tidal
streaming service last year. He performed in
Atlanta last week as part of his “Piano and a
Microphone” tour, a strip
ped down show that has featured a mix of
his hits like “Purple Rain” or “Little Red
Corvette” and some B-sides from his
extensive library.
Prince debuted the intimate format at his
Paisley Park studios in January, treating
fans to a performance that was personal
and was both playful and emotional at times.
Paisley Park studios in January, treating
fans to a performance that was personal
and was both playful and emotional at times.
The musician had seemed to be shedding his
reclusive reputation. He hosted several
late-night jam sessions where he serenaded
Madonna, celebrated the Minnesota Lynx’s
WNBA championship and showcased his
latest protege, singer Judith Hill.
reclusive reputation. He hosted several
late-night jam sessions where he serenaded
Madonna, celebrated the Minnesota Lynx’s
WNBA championship and showcased his
latest protege, singer Judith Hill.
Ever surprising, he announced on stage in
New York City last month that he was writing
his memoir. “The Beautiful Ones” was expected
to be released in the fall of 2017 by publishing
house Spiegel & Grau. The publishing
house has not yet commented on status of book,
but a press release about the memoir says:
“Prince will take readers on an unconventional
and poetic journey through his life and creative
work.” It says the book will include stories about
Prince’s music and “the family that shaped him
and the people, places, and ideas that fired his
creative imagination.”
New York City last month that he was writing
his memoir. “The Beautiful Ones” was expected
to be released in the fall of 2017 by publishing
house Spiegel & Grau. The publishing
house has not yet commented on status of book,
but a press release about the memoir says:
“Prince will take readers on an unconventional
and poetic journey through his life and creative
work.” It says the book will include stories about
Prince’s music and “the family that shaped him
and the people, places, and ideas that fired his
creative imagination.”
A small group of fans quickly gathered in the
rain Thursday outside his music studio, Paisley
Park, where Prince’s gold records are on the
walls and the purple motorcycle he rode in his
1984 breakout movie, “Purple Rain,” is on
display. The white building
surrounded by a fence is in Chanhassen,
about 20
miles southwest of
Minneapolis.
rain Thursday outside his music studio, Paisley
Park, where Prince’s gold records are on the
walls and the purple motorcycle he rode in his
1984 breakout movie, “Purple Rain,” is on
display. The white building
surrounded by a fence is in Chanhassen,
about 20
miles southwest of
Minneapolis.
Steven Scott, 32, of Eden Prairie, said he
was at
Paisley Park last Saturday for Prince’s
dance party.
He called Prince
“a beautiful person” whose message was
that people
should love
one another.
was at
Paisley Park last Saturday for Prince’s
dance party.
He called Prince
“a beautiful person” whose message was
that people
should love
one another.
“He brought people together for the right reasons,”
Scott said.
Scott said.
Note: This story is being updated. Check back as
details unfold.
details unfold.
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