The artist Prince, one of the most well-known and beloved rock musician who helped shape modern rock and funk music during a decades-long career, died Thursday at his famed estate in Minnesota, his publicist confirmed.
Prince, whose full name was Prince Rogers Nelson, was hospitalized last week after his jet made an emergency landing. The artist told the media he was battling a bout of the flu.
An investigation was underway at the Minneapolis-area home, but police had not confirmed the identity of the deceased.
After the news was first reported by TMZ, the Associated Press also reported confirmation of Prince’s death from his publicist.
Prince was a preeminent songwriter, singer, and actor whose stature only grew during his more than 40 years in the spotlight. He was also an integral part of the Minneapolis music scene, championing local venues in the city where he was born.
Known for his flamboyant stage presence, Prince released 39 albums during his career and became one of the best-selling artists of all time. His film “Purple Rain,” released in 1984, won an Academy Award, while the tracks “When Doves Cry” and “Let’s Go Crazy,” off the movie’s soundtrack of the same name, both reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
When he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, a dedication read: “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.”
Watch Prince perform “Purple Rain”:
This post has been updated.
