LONDON: Prince, the pioneering musician, has died at his home at the age of 57, days after his flight was diverted to a hospital after falling ill on tour.
The singer, whose full name was Prince Rogers Nelson, was confirmed dead at Paisley Park, Minnesota, the estate where he lived and worked.
Fans last night laid purple flowers around the compound as they gathered to console one another, with musicians around the world paying tribute to Prince and his legacy.
The singer, one of the bestselling artists of all time with countless hits including Purple Rain, When Doves Cry and Kiss, had on Thursday last week made an emergency landing mid-tour for hospital treatment after suffering flu-like symptoms.
The singer had been recuperating at home and on Saturday night threw a party in which he appeared to be back on his feet, telling guests to "wait a few days before you waste any prayers".
Fans had initially held out hope that news of the death, first reported by TMZ, the US celebrity website, was a hoax.
But last night, Prince's publicist released a statement saying: "It is with profound sadness that I am confirming that the legendary, iconic performer, Prince Rogers Nelson, has died at his Paisley Park residence this morning at the age of 57. There are no further details as to the cause of death at this time." On a recording of an emergency call, a police dispatcher can be heard requesting an update on a "male down not breathing" at Paisley Park. She then says "CPR started 9:49".
Sheriff's officials in Minnesota said in a statement that deputies found Prince unresponsive in an elevator after they were summoned to his Minneapolis compound.
Jim Olson, the Carver County Sheriff, said first responders tried CPR but could not revive the singer. Prince was pronounced dead yesterday at 10:07am US time (4.07pm GMT). Mr Olson said the death is under investigation. Earlier this month, Prince had rescheduled tour dates in Atlanta as a result of illness but later resumed concerts, performing two in one day to avoid letting fans down.
But last week, the Grammy and Oscar-winner was taken to hospital after falling ill midway through his US Piano and Microphone tour.
The private jet carrying him made an unscheduled landing at Quad City International Airport in Moline, Illinois, after the singer felt unwell mid-flight. He was taken to hospital for treatment but released three hours later, with a spokesman later confirming he had been fighting flu for several weeks.
TMZ reported that Prince had been seen visiting his local pharmacy four times since returning home.
On Saturday, he held a party at Paisley Park, posting a photograph early Sunday morning showing a scene from the compound in Chanhassen, He described it on Twitter as a party "to give thanks for the good weather and all the love and support".
He did not perform, but made a short speech to the crowd, who had paid $10 to attend. Addressing his health, he told them: "Wait a few days before you waste any prayers."
His final performance was in the Fox Theatre, Atlanta, on April 14, with reviewers noting that his ill health had taken its toll with a set of less than 90 minutes. One said he had left the stage several times to regroup, telling the audiences: "Sometimes I forget how emotional these songs are."
President Barack Obama said last night described Prince as "a virtuoso instrumentalist, a brilliant bandleader, and an electrifying performer".
He said: "Today, the world lost a creative icon. Michelle and I join millions of fans from around the world in mourning the sudden death of Prince.
"Few artists have influenced the sound and trajectory of popular music more distinctly, or touched quite so many people with their talent. As one of the most gifted and prolific musicians of our time, Prince did it all.
"?'A strong spirit transcends rules', Prince once said - and nobody's spirit was stronger, bolder, or more creative."
Nile Rodgers, the music producer and co-founder of the band Chic, said on Twitter last night: "RIP our dearly beloved Prince. Tears and love on our tour bus... I'll never forget my brother. We've had good times."
Ronnie Wood, of the Rolling Stones wrote: "I will miss a good friend who was so talented. He was such a great performer/guitar player."
Iman, the model whose husband David Bowie died this year, said: "So sad to hear of Prince's passing; one of the greatest musical talents of my lifetime. Maybe of the 20th century."
Spike Lee, the film director, said: "I miss my brother. Prince was a funny cat. Great sense of humour." Prince was widely regarded as one of the most inventive musicians of his era, becoming an international star in 1982 with his album 1999.
His music career spanned more than three decades and he won seven Grammy Awards, sold more than 100 million records and won an Oscar for Best Original Song Score for Purple Rain.
The singer, who was just 5ft 2in, underwent several name changes including becoming The Artist Formerly Known As Prince and a symbol in the 1990s. He courted controversy throughout his career, including his use of explicit lyrics, and fought against exploitation in the music industry.
Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll of Fame in 2004, where he was praised as a trailblazer who "rewrote the rule book, forging a synthesis of black funk and white rock that served as a blueprint for cutting-edge music in the Eighties".
In 2014, he stunned fans with a series of surprise gigs in London and had recently disclosed that he was writing a memoir, originally due for publication in 2017. Prince was married twice, the first time to his backing dancer, Mayte Garcia, from whom he split in 2000, and then Manuela Testolini, whom he divorced in 2006.
