Remembering Prince: Pop Star Helped To Heal Baltimore After Riots

BALTIMORE (AP/WJZ) -- Pop superstar Prince, who was widely acclaimed as one of the most inventive musicians of his era with hits including "Little Red Corvette," ''Let's Go Crazy" and "When Doves Cry," was found dead at his home on Thursday in suburban Minneapolis, according to his publicist.

His publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, told The Associated Press that the music icon died at his home in Chanhassen. No details were immediately released.

RELATED: Transcript Of Prince's 911 Call Released

The man born Prince Rogers Nelson stood just 5 feet, 2 inches and seemed to summon the most original and compelling sounds at will, whether playing guitar in a flamboyant style that openly drew upon Jimi Hendrix, switching his vocals from a nasally scream to an erotic falsetto or turning out album after album of stunningly original material. Among his other notable releases: "Sign O' the Times," ''Graffiti Bridge" and "The Black Album."

He was also fiercely protective of his independence, battling his record company over control of his material and even his name. Prince once wrote "slave" on his face in protest of not owning his work and famously battled and then departed his label, Warner Bros., before returning a few years ago.

"What's happening now is the position that I've always wanted to be in," Prince told The Associated Press in 2014. "I was just trying to get here."

In 2004, Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll of Fame, which hailed him as a musical and social trailblazer.

"He rewrote the rulebook, forging a synthesis of black funk and white rock that served as a blueprint for cutting-edge music in the Eighties," reads the Hall's dedication. "Prince made dance music that rocked and rock music that had a bristling, funky backbone. From the beginning, Prince and his music were androgynous, sly, sexy and provocative."

His music lit up the airwaves. Baltimore DJs are on the frontline of tributes to Prince.

"I mean, Prince was just that guy. He broke a lot of rules, but was the best rules to break," said Persia Nicole, 92 Q.

Baltimore has a very special connection to Prince.

A purple City Hall dome to honor a brilliant artist. #Prince pic.twitter.com/KdhyovfPdx

— Mayor Rawlings-Blake (@MayorSRB) April 22, 2016

After the riots following the death of Freddie Gray, he performed here. He even wrote a song entitled "Baltimore."

The "Purple Rain" icon took his philanthropy a step further, donating $30,000 so that Baltimore teens could have a summer job.

"He put his money where his mouth is. He showed that he cared about the young people here in Baltimore," said Ernest Dorsey, Youth Works.

Many called him a genius. The self-taught instrumentalist, songwriter, producer won seven Grammys, a Golden Globe and an Academy Award.

The curtains have fallen on his last act, but not the memories Prince left behind.

"Nobody can compare to him. Nobody. Like I said, we just lost a great icon," fan Anthony Stuckey said.

"If anybody could leave a legacy, he sure did," said fan Shannon Cocharan.

At Baltimore's Hard Rock Cafe, Prince's impeccable fashion sense is on display -- a great outfit, and a nice pair of heels.

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