Pop legend Prince died on Thursday at the age of 57‚ various media reported.
NBC News‚ in a tweet‚ quoted his publicist as confirming the death.
Associated Press reported that Prince’s publicist confirmed the news shortly after it emerged a person had died at the singer’s compound.
The entertainment website TMZ reported that the star’s body was discovered at his Paisley Park estate in Minnesota‚ and that multiple sources had confirmed his death.
The singer‚ whose full name was Prince Rogers Nelson‚ had a medical emergency on April 15 that forced his private jet to make an emergency landing in Illinois. He was hospitalised‚ but released a few hours later and appeared at a concert the next day‚ telling fans he was okay.
TMZ said sources had reported that he had flu.
Prince became an international superstar in 1982 after his breakthrough album “1999.” He went on to win seven Grammys‚ and his 2007 Super Bowl performance was hailed as one of the best live performances in pop history.
He sold more than 100 million records and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score for “Purple Rain” in 1985. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. Rolling Stone has ranked him at number 27 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Tributes immediately began pouring in for the American super-star from South African celebrities on Twitter.
“R.I.P Prince…. I was just listening to “Rasberry Beret” earlier today” tweeted local comedian Loyiso Gola.
“NOOOOOOO!!!!! Not Prince!!!!! I’m actually in tears‚” tweeted Isidingo star Pearl Thusi.
Source : Online
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