The Newsroom | Macleay College | Musical genius Prince dead at 57

Prince Rogers Nelson, the virtuoso best known simply as Prince, died this morning aged 57.

Prince was found dead in his house in Chanhassen, Minnesota on Thursday. The cause of death is not yet known however the music gamechanger’s death has sent fans around the world into shock.

Prince was rushed to hospital last week after the star’s private jet was forced to make an emergency landing in Illinois when he was ill with the flu. He was released after a few hours.

In his forty-year long career, Prince released 39 solo studio albums, sold over 100 million records, appeared in four films and recently made a television appearance on Zooey Deschanel’s New Girl in 2014.

Prince’s eclectic taste in fashion was dazzling, and the star always knew how to captivate an audience. His artistry could also upstage fellow performers, as on one notable occasion, the induction of the late George Harrison into Rock’s Hall of Fame in 2004:

He wrote, performed and produced number one hits including Purple Rain, The Most Beautiful Girl in the World, Nothing Compares 2 U and Cream.

Purple Rain was one of Prince’s most popular songs and the name of his top-selling album, and he won an Oscar for the soundtrack of the 1984 film of the same name.

Prince’s music embraced a number of genres to create a unique sound. To top it off, he had an amazing vocal range, allowing him to quickly change from high to low. It was light and shade at its finest.

Tweets and tributes flooded social media this morning.

Prince the doves really are crying now. Listening to your music. Remembering you. #RIPPrince

— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) April 21, 2016

Numb. Stunned. This can't be real.

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) April 21, 2016

Prince was a gift and a genius. He showed us that we have no limits. His music left me forever changed. ❤ https://t.co/AbZc3AGxny

— Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys) April 21, 2016