Legendary American music icon, Prince Rogers Nelson known by his stagename Prince, who came into prominence in the 1980s with his...
Legendary American music icon,
Prince Rogers Nelson known by his stagename Prince, who came into prominence
in the 1980s with his creatively diverse sounds such as “Kiss”, “Cream”, “Let’s
Go Crazy”, died today at his residence in Paisely Park, Minneapolis. He was aged
57.
An statement released by his publicist
Yvette Noel-Schure reads “It is with profound sadness that I am confirming that
the legendary, iconic performer, Prince Rogers Nelson, has died at his Paisley
Park residence this morning.”
Prince is seen as a musical and
creative revolutionary of some sorts as he took on the music
industry in his
fight for creative freedom, and his transcendence of gender barriers and stereotypes.
According to police reports, medical
personnel found the singer unresponsive in an elevator.
Immediately news of his passing
on emerged, there has been an outpouring of tribute and grief on
social media by celebrities and fans alike. Some likened his death to “what it
sounds like when doves cry” in reference to his 1984 monster hit “Purple Rain”.
His former stylist, Michaela
Angela Davis speaking with CNN had this to say about the singer:
“The most prolific thing to me
about Prince was not only was he the most vibrant example of black genius that
I have ever seen, but he was able to negotiate God and sex in his subject
matter in a way that we had never seen before...Every song was either a prayer
or foreplay.
“He was a prophet. He was a pimp.
He was purple. He was Midwest. He was magical. He was funny. He was so black.
He walked through this world like he believed he was free, like a free artist,
a free man
“You know he put slave on his
face to challenge the entire music industry at a time when they were getting
everybody’s everything.” She eulogised.
