Breaking News - Musical Icon Prince Is Dead

[madbrian]

Tonight's SNL will be a tribute to Prince. 

[uncageg]

Settled n and watching now.

[sabrelady]

ome of Prince's "most beloved" family, friends and musicians celebrated his life in a small, private service on Saturday after his remains had been cremated.

His publicist Yvette Noel-Schure said in a statement that the 57-year-old music superstar's family and friends gathered "in a private, beautiful ceremony" to say a loving goodbye.

The statement did not say where the service was held, but friends such as percussionist Sheila E. and bassist Larry Graham were both seen Saturday entering Prince's suburban Minneapolis estate, Paisley Park. Prince's sister Tyka Nelson and brother-in-law Maurice Phillips also were seen on the grounds, as were catering trucks.

Hundreds of fans were gathered outside the estate, where a security fence was covered with purple balloons, flowers, signs and more honouring Prince, who both lived and recorded at there.

People emerged from the estate and handed out round purple boxes to some fans. Each box contained a handout with a colour photo of the late musician and a black T-shirt with "3121" printed on it in white — the numbers were the title of a Prince album.

Prince died Thursday at Paisley Park, and an autopsy was done Friday. But authorities have not released a cause of death and have said results could take days or weeks.

The publicist's brief statement repeated that the cause of Prince's death was unknown and said autopsy results wouldn't be received for at least four weeks.



Prince, shown performing in this 2010 file photo, died Thursday at his home and recording studio, Paisley Park, just outside Minneapolis. (Dirk Waem/AFP/Getty Images)

The statement said the "final storage" of Prince's remains would be private.

"We ask for your blessings and prayers of comfort for his family and close friends at this time," the statement said.

It said a "musical celebration" would be held at a future date.

[pushdabutton]

I was such a big fan of Prince and his music had such an impact on me. I was fortunate enough to see him more than 10 times in concert. There are very few artists that can put on as dynamic a concert as Prince could. 

[javero]

Fantasia Barrino has been performing Prince's signature song PURPLE RAIN in concert for years.  I longed for a collaboration between the two because his music was a huge part of my undergraduate experience and I always have a soft spot in my heart for her. Their backgrounds couldn't be more disparate but when she tackles the song in concert, musically she embodies Prince and Janis Joplin's love child.

Some birds aren't meant to be caged.  Prince was one of them.