ultiple media outlets have confirmed the sad news that superstar artist PRINCE has died at the age of 57. His body was discovered at his PAISLEY PARK residence in MINNESOTA early THURSDAY (4/21) morning.

The multi-genre icon — real name PRINCE ROGERS NELSON — had a medical emergency on FRIDAY, APRIL 15th when his private jet made an emergency landing in ILLINOIS, FOX6NOW.COM reports, yet he performed at a concert the following day. His camp told TMZ he was battling the flu — and he previously canceled two shows due to health concerns.

Born in 1958, the son of a pianist in a MINNESOTA jazz band, PRINCE came out of the MINNEAPOLIS club scene in the ’70s before becoming a global sensation in ’80s and early ’90s. PRINCE’s early hits included “Little Red Corvette,” and a bevy of hits from his “Purple Rain” film and soundtrack — “When Doves Cry,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” and the title track — and a string of hits from successive albums, such as “Kiss,” “Sign O’ The Times,” “Cream,” and “Diamonds and Pearls.

PRINCE was also a supremely gifted musician and performer, fronting several top-flight bands. He was fiercely protective of his music rights and his image, leaving WARNER BROS. RECORDS for a time before returning and even changing his name to a symbol.

PRINCE was inducted into the ROCK AND ROLL OF FAME in 2004. “He rewrote the rulebook, forging a synthesis of 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.”

RECORDING ACADEMY President NEIL PORTNOW referred to PRINCE as “one of the most uniquely gifted artists of all time.”

“Never one to conform, he redefined and forever changed our musical landscape,” he said in a statement. “PRINCE was an original who influenced so many, and his legacy will live on forever. We have lost a true innovator and our sincerest condolences go out to his family, friends, collaborators, and all who have been impacted by his incredible work.”

WARNER BROS. RECORDS Chairman/CEO CAMERON STRANG offered the following thoughts:

Today, we lost one of the most revolutionary talents of our time. PRINCE’s untimely passing is deeply shocking, reminding us that unique artists who chart their own course and move culture are precious few and irreplaceable.

He leapt onto the scene in 1978 and it didn’t take the world long to realize that pop music had changed forever. He played the studio like an instrument and shattered the definition of live performance. He defined a new kind of superstardom, with a transformative impact not just on music, but on video, film, and style.

PRINCE was the epitome of cool and mystery — an inspirational soul who created his own universe by bringing together different genres, races and cultures with a purity of sound and spirit unlike any other. His visionary gifts as a songwriter, vocalist, musician, performer and producer placed him in a league all his own.

We are honored to have had PRINCE as a member of the WARNER BROS. RECORDS family during two eras of his astonishing career. We express our deepest condolences to everyone w

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