Prince performs on stage during his Purple Rain Tour in 1984.
Prince performs on stage during his Purple Rain Tour in 1984.
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He performs at the Palladium in New York in 1981.
Prince performs at the Palladium in New York in 1981. His debut album, "For You," was released in 1978. He played all the instruments on that album and produced it himself. He was 19 years old.
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Prince and Apollonia Kotero in a scene from the movie "Purple Rain," which was released in 1984.
Prince appears with Apollonia Kotero in a scene from the movie "Purple Rain," which was released in 1984. The rock drama's soundtrack, by Prince and the Revolution, contained hits such as “When Doves Cry,” “Let’s Go Crazy” and “Purple Rain.”
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Prince, seen here on set, won an Oscar for the original song score for the classic film.
Prince, seen here on the set of "Purple Rain," won an Academy Award in 1985 for best original song score. He also won two Grammys earlier that year for his work on the movie.
Warner Bros/Everett Collection
Prince performs in New York in 1984. Controversy followed the singer and that, in part, made his fans adore him more. His 1984 song, "Darling Nikki," details a one-night stand and prompted the formation of the Parents Music Resource Center. Led by Al Gore's then-wife, Tipper Gore, the group encouraged record companies to place advisory labels on albums with explicit lyrics.
Prince performs in New York in 1984. Controversy followed the singer and that, in part, made his fans adore him more. His 1984 song, "Darling Nikki," details a one-night stand and prompted the formation of the Parents Music Resource Center. Led by Al Gore's then-wife, Tipper Gore, the group encouraged record companies to place advisory labels on albums with explicit lyrics.
Richard E. Aaron/Redferns/Getty Images
Prince, circa 1985.
Prince, circa 1985. The singer was born Prince Rogers Nelson on June 7, 1958. He was raised in Minneapolis. His father was a jazz pianist and his mother was a social worker and singer.
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Prince performs in Inglewood, California in 1985. He created what became known as "the Minneapolis sound," which was a funky blend of pop, synth and new wave.
Prince performs in Inglewood, California in 1985. He created what became known as "the Minneapolis sound," which was a funky blend of pop, synth and new wave.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Prince appears a scene from the 1986 musical film "Under the Cherry Moon," which he also directed.
Prince appears a scene from the 1986 musical film "Under the Cherry Moon," which he also directed.
Warner Bros/Everett Collection
Prince performs in London in 1986.
Prince performs in London in 1986. Prince won seven Grammy Awards during his career. Five of his singles topped the charts, and 14 other songs hit the Top 10.
ERMA/CAMERA PRESS/Redux
Prince performs at Wembley Arena in London in 1988.
Prince, seen here in 1988, was a self-taught guitarist. His androgynous look and mastery of the guitar drew comparisons to both Little Richard and Jimi Hendrix.
Nils Jorgensen/REX/Shutterstock
Prince, 1990.
The singer’s predilection for lavishly kinky story-songs earned him the nickname, His Royal Badness. He was also known as the Purple One because of his colorful fashions.
Rico D'Rozario/Redferns/Getty Images
Prince listens to the crowd during a 1991 concert.
Prince listens to the crowd during a 1991 concert.
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Prince performs at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles in 1991.
Prince performs at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1991.
Frank Micelotta/Getty Images
Prince arrives at the Ritz Hotel in Paris in 1994. A year earlier, he changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol due to a dispute with his record label, Warner Bros. At the time, he was commonly called the Artist Formerly Known as Prince.
Prince arrives at the Ritz Hotel in Paris in 1994. A year earlier, he changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol due to a dispute with his record label, Warner Bros. At the time, he was commonly called the Artist Formerly Known as Prince.
Jacques Brinon/AP
A disguised Prince appears at a record store in London in 1995.
A disguised Prince appears at a record store in London in 1995.
Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock
As dozens of singers perform "We Are The World" on the 10th anniversary of the African famine relief anthem, the artist formerly known as Prince stands sucking on a lollipop next to Quincy Jones at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles in 1995.
Prince stands next to record producer Quincy Jones as dozens of singers perform "We Are The World" at the American Music Awards in 1995.
Reed Saxon/AP
Prince poses for a photo in Toronto in 1996.
Prince poses for a photo in Toronto in 1996.
Chris Wahl/iPhoto.ca/Newscom
Boxing great Muhammad Ali pats Prince's head prior to a news conference where they announced plans for a benefit concert in 1997.
Boxing great Muhammad Ali pats Prince's head prior to a news conference where they announced plans for a benefit concert in 1997.
Karin Cooper/Rogers & Cowan/AP
Prince performs in 1998.
Prince performs in 1998.
Wattie Cheung/Camera Press/Redux
A disguised Prince speaks at GQ magazine's third annual Men of the Year Awards in 1998.
A disguised Prince speaks at GQ magazine's third annual Men of the Year Awards in 1998.
Mitch Jacobson/AP
Prince performs in Hong Kong on October 17, 2003. Prince's concert was the the opening act in a four-week government-sponsored music festival titled "Hong Kong Harbor Fest," aimed at boosting the image of SARS-battered Hong Kong.
Prince performs in Hong Kong in 2003. When the singer’s publishing contract with Warner Bros. expired in 2000, he reclaimed the name Prince.
Anat Givon/AP
Prince arrives with his then-wife, Manuela Testolini, for the 77th Academy Awards on February 27, 2005, in Los Angeles.
Prince arrives with his then-wife, Manuela Testolini, for the Academy Awards in 2005. Prince was married twice, to Testolini from 2001 to 2007 and to Mayte Garcia from 1996 to 2000. Both marriages ended in divorce. He had one child, “Boy Gregory,” with Garcia. The child died shortly after birth.
Kevork Djansezian/AP
Prince at the 2005 NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles.
Prince attends the NAACP Image Awards in 2005.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Prince performs during a news conference for Super Bowl XLI in 2007.
Prince appears at a news conference for Super Bowl XLI in 2007. He was the game's halftime performer.
Terry Gilliam/MCT/Sipa USA
He left his imprint on many aspects of popular culture, from film to movies to sports to politics. As the Minnesota Vikings prepped to take on the New Orleans Saints in the 2010 NFC championship game, Prince wrote a fight song entitled "Purple and Gold" to inspire his home team. The Vikings lost. He was the half-time performer at the Super Bowl in 2007 in Miami Gardens, Florida, seen here.
Rolling Stone ranked Prince's performance as the second-best Super Bowl halftime show in history.
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Prince performs during his Welcome 2 America tour at Madison Square Garden in 2011 in New York.
Prince performs in New York during his Welcome 2 America tour in 2011. He continued to make albums over the years, though his conversion to the Jehovah’s Witness faith caused him to forgo some of his racier lyrics.
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Prince presents the winner for Record of the Year to Gotye and Kimbra during the 55th Grammy Awards in 2013.
Prince presents the winner for Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 2013.
Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images
Prince performs at the 2013 Skanderborg Festival in Denmark.
Prince performs at the Skanderborg Festival in Denmark in 2013.
Christian Hjo/REX/Shutterstock
Left to right: Zooey Deschanel, Prince, and Jake Johnson in a scene from the TV show "New Girl" which aired in 2014.
Prince appears with Zooey Deschanel and Jake Johnson in a scene from the TV show "New Girl" in 2014.
Fox/courtesy Everett Collection
Prince speaks at the Grammy Awards in 2015.
Prince speaks at the Grammy Awards in 2015.
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Prince posted his passport photo to social media in 2016. <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2016%2F02%2F17%2Fentertainment%2Fprince-passport-photo-feat%2Findex.html">The photo quickly took the Internet by storm. </a> A couple of months later, he was found dead at his home in Minneapolis. According to a report released by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2016%2F06%2F02%2Fhealth%2Fprince-death-opioid-overdose%2F">Prince died from an accidental overdose of the opioid fentanyl.</a>
Prince posted his passport photo to social media in 2016. The photo quickly took the Internet by storm. A couple of months later, he was found dead at his home in Minneapolis. According to a report released by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office, Prince died from an accidental overdose of the opioid fentanyl.
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