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| Prince, singer and superstar, dies aged 57 at Paisley Park | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The hugely popular, acclaimed and influential musician Prince has died at his home in Minnesota at the age of 57. | The hugely popular, acclaimed and influential musician Prince has died at his home in Minnesota at the age of 57. |
| Police were called to a medical emergency at his Paisley Park estate earlier on Thursday, US media reported. An investigation is now under way. | |
| Prince became a global superstar in the 1980s, with albums such as 1999, Purple Rain and Sign O' the Times. | Prince became a global superstar in the 1980s, with albums such as 1999, Purple Rain and Sign O' the Times. |
| His innovative music spanned rock, funk, and jazz, and selling more than 100 million records during his career. | His innovative music spanned rock, funk, and jazz, and selling more than 100 million records during his career. |
| "It is with profound sadness that I am confirming that the legendary, iconic performer, Prince Rogers Nelson, has died," a spokeswoman for the musician said. | |
| "There are no further details as to the cause of death at this time." | |
| Born in 1958, Prince was a prolific writer and performer from a young age - reportedly writing his first song when he was seven. | |
| A singer, songwriter, arranger and multi-instrumentalist, Prince recorded more than 30 albums. His best known hits include Let's Go Crazy and When Doves Cry. | A singer, songwriter, arranger and multi-instrumentalist, Prince recorded more than 30 albums. His best known hits include Let's Go Crazy and When Doves Cry. |
| He also wrote music for several artists, with Sinead O'Connor's version of Nothing Compares 2U becoming a worldwide smash in 1990. | |
| In 1984, he won an Oscar for the score to Purple Rain, a film he also starred in. | |
| 'A visionary' - Madonna | |
| Throughout his career he had a reputation for secrecy and eccentricity, once changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol. | |
| In 2004, Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which said he "rewrote the rulebook". | In 2004, Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which said he "rewrote the rulebook". |
| 'A joy to watch': By Mark Savage, BBC entertainment reporter | |
| A musical prodigy from a broken home, Prince famously wrote, arranged, produced and played almost all of his hit records. | A musical prodigy from a broken home, Prince famously wrote, arranged, produced and played almost all of his hit records. |
| But the Purple man's purple patch really came with his first band The Revolution. | But the Purple man's purple patch really came with his first band The Revolution. |
| With them by his side, he wrote more than two dozen rock classics in a five-year flurry. | With them by his side, he wrote more than two dozen rock classics in a five-year flurry. |
| Purple Rain, Little Red Corvette, 1999, Raspberry Beret, When Doves Cry, Kiss... At the same time, he dashed off Manic Monday for The Bangles and Nothing Compares 2U, made famous by Sinead O'Connor. | Purple Rain, Little Red Corvette, 1999, Raspberry Beret, When Doves Cry, Kiss... At the same time, he dashed off Manic Monday for The Bangles and Nothing Compares 2U, made famous by Sinead O'Connor. |
| In the studio, he was unstoppable. But the magic really happened on stage. He would vamp, preen and tease an audience into a frenzy, then slay them with a quiet moment of crystalline beauty. He was a joy to watch. | In the studio, he was unstoppable. But the magic really happened on stage. He would vamp, preen and tease an audience into a frenzy, then slay them with a quiet moment of crystalline beauty. He was a joy to watch. |
| Prince the magician - Sometimes It Snows In April | Prince the magician - Sometimes It Snows In April |
| Prince's latest album, HITnRUN Phase Two, was released last year and he had been touring as recently as last week. | |
| On 15 April he was taken to hospital hours after performing on stage, but was soon released. At the time he reassured fans he was feeling much better and was resting at home. | |
| Tributes have been pouring in on social media and fans have been gathering at Paisley Park. | Tributes have been pouring in on social media and fans have been gathering at Paisley Park. |
| Madonna described Prince, who she briefly dated, as a "visionary who changed the world". | |
| Chic guitarist Nile Rogers said there were "tears and love on our tour bus". Pop star Katy Perry said "the world lost a lot of magic". Director Spike Lee said: "I Miss My Brother. Prince Was A Funny Cat. Great Sense Of Humour." | Chic guitarist Nile Rogers said there were "tears and love on our tour bus". Pop star Katy Perry said "the world lost a lot of magic". Director Spike Lee said: "I Miss My Brother. Prince Was A Funny Cat. Great Sense Of Humour." |
| "Numb. Stunned. This can't be real," wrote Justin Timberlake, while Boy George said: "Today is the worst day ever. Prince R.I.P I am crying!" | "Numb. Stunned. This can't be real," wrote Justin Timberlake, while Boy George said: "Today is the worst day ever. Prince R.I.P I am crying!" |
| Share your tributes to Prince. Did you meet him? Did you see him live? Email your comments: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Share your tributes to Prince. Did you meet him? Did you see him live? Email your comments: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |