Prince found dead at Paisley Park

Musical icon Prince was found dead at his Paisley Park studios in Minnesota Thursday, his publicist confirmed to The Associated Press.

The news was first reported by TMZ.

He was 57. The cause of death was not immediately known.

This latest death, in a year that has seen a great many musical legends pass away, is shocking, although Prince had been hospitalized with what was described as a case of “severe flu” just last week.

The Minneapolis native leaves behind an immense catalog of 39 studio albums, including a pair released just last year, HITNRUN Phase One and Phase Two, and a reputation as one of the most ferocious live performers in the history of rock ‘n roll.

Prince was in the midst of a tour at the time of his death, titled “Piano and a Microphone.” His final concert was one week ago, in Atlanta, and his memoir, The Beautiful Ones, is due out later this year.

Although he performed frequently, he did not visit North Texas often.

His last concert here was in June 2004, on his tour supporting Musicology, which had previously stopped at American Airlines Center in April. Of that April performance, reviewer Mark Lowry wrote: “Prince doesn’t need all the trappings that are used by young singers who have to cover up their lack of talent with flashy spectacle and costume changes. With Prince, it’s all about the musicianship and the music. That’s all anyone needs.”

What would have been Prince’s final appearance in North Texas, pegged to the 2011 Super Bowl, ended up being a bizarre thicket of acccusations and rumors, with Prince never materializing at the hotel in Addison he had reportedly been booked to play.

I was fortunate to see Prince perform twice, once in 2004 on the aforementioned Musicology tour, and again, in a tiny club at South by Southwest three years ago. Of that 2013 SXSW appearance, I wrote: “It was, simply, one of the most arresting, exhilarating displays of live music I've seen in my life. ... While Prince never once touched a guitar, it seemed a rather small nit to pick with what was otherwise a blistering showcase of funk, pop and rock that had the room roaring from first note to last. ... Being that good, that often, can be its own reward, and one to which not enough modern bands aspire. However, if you're lucky enough to be in the room, witnessing such mastery is a genuine treasure for music fans.”

This post will be updated as more information becomes available.

This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 12:11 PM with the headline "Prince found dead at Paisley Park."