Prince performs during the 'Pepsi Halftime Show' at Super Bowl XLI in 2007. (Photo : Getty Images/Jamie Squire)
Prince Rogers Nelson, 57, known as Prince, was found dead on April 21, Thursday, in his home in Minnesota and his body was set to go through post-mortem examination on April, 22, Friday. His death spurred tributes in purple from people all over the world, and U.S. President Obama said the world lost a creative icon.
Prince starred in the 1984 film "Purple Rain" loosely based on his own life which soundtrack was his studio album of the same name. The Minnesota Twins baseball team in Minneapolis, the artist's native place, turned their stadium purple.
Hundreds of people gatheredat the First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis in the evening after the announcement of Prince's death. It was where the artist recorded Purple Rain album in 1984. Many people were also outside his home in Brooklyn and Los Angeles.
In the wake of Prince' untimely death, many attempt to absorb his prolific artistic output. The 5-foot-2-inch guy, who liked high-heeled boots but had a deep voice dubbed to be that "of a much larger man," was a flamboyant and fashion trailblazer and had a face that appealed to people.
Being in the music industry for nearly 40 years, Prince released 37 studio albums, made tours and established some quirky behaviors. For instance, the artist denied reporters to audio-record his interviews.
Just like everyone, the late artist experienced life's complications and tragedies. As an artistic genius, he had his own persona, and knowing him does not necessarily mean understanding him, according to E! News.
"He was very quiet. Very low-key," Al Nuness, Prince's former P.E. teacher and basketball coach, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune in 2007. "He was so shy you couldn't believe it to see him perform in front of people."
In 2009, Prince told Tavis Smiley in the latter's show that he had epilepsy and suffered seizures when he was a child. His parents did not know how to handle the disease but did the best they could with what little they had.
According to Prince, he had to deal with many things like getting teased a lot in school. He tried to compensate by being as noisy and as flashy as he could.
Though not tall, Prince was known for how he played basketball, aside from being a pro with the guitar and the piano. In such a small frame, he packed self-assuredness.
At 18, Prince was able to comprehend that it would be challenging for a band to succeed in their state, unlike those in New York, Los Angeles or some other big cities. He released his first album in 1978, entitled "For You," and a self-titled sophomore effort followed after a year.
From 1980 to 1990, Prince was linked to high-profile women, such as Carmen Elektra, Apollonia, Kima Basinger and Madonna. He married backup dancer and singer Mayte Garcia on Valentine's Day in 1996 in his hometown.
On Oct. 16, 1996, Garcia gave birth to their son, Boy Gregory, who had Pfeiffer syndrome, an illness that impedes the normal growth of the skull. The baby died on Oct. 23, but the couple did not acknowledge his birth and death at the time.
Prince and Garcia divorced in 2000 and the former married an employee of his charitable foundation, Manuela Testolini, after a year. In the same year, he joined Jehova's Witness. Testolini filed for divorce in July 2006.
Watch the following video about Prince' sudden death.
