Minneapolis native and musical legend Prince was reported dead Wednesday morning at the age of 57.
Media reported police had been investigating a fatality at Prince’s Paisley Park compound and studio before later confirming Prince had died in his Chanhassen, Minnesota, home after his family was notified.
Prince was hospitalized the week prior to his death for battling a severe case of the flu. His private jet was forced to make an emergency landing in Moline, Illinois.
The iconic Minnesotan musician was known for pioneering the Minneapolis music scene and repeatedly challenging the standards of pop culture and contemporary music. A notable instance of this was when he changed his name to a symbol and became The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, in protest of Warner Brothers owning the name Prince.
Over Prince’s legendary 35-year career, he released 39 studio albums. Most recently, he put out four records with the band 3rd Eye Girl, further evolving in his career as an artist.
Prince cemented himself as a prolific figure in modern culture with the release of his 1984 album and film “Purple Rain.” This led him to his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 charts and garnered him two Grammy awards and an Oscar.
His music musical output has never halted; it has been rumored in reports that Prince has so much unreleased music he could release an album per year for a century after his death.
Prince also announced this spring his memoir, entitled “The Beautiful Ones,” is to be released in the fall of 2017. It is uncertain whether the memoir will still be published.
Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. His dedication reads:
“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. 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.”
Prince was a musician of exceptional talents. From his stunning guitar work to his enigmatic stage persona, Prince has left his legacy.