Pop icon Prince passes away at 57

NEW YORK: Pop icon Prince -- one of the most influential but elusive figures in music -- has died at his compound in Minnesota, entertainment website TMZ reported Thursday, citing unnamed sources.

Local authorities said a death investigation was underway at Prince's Paisley Park complex, but did not give the identity of the fatality.

The 57-year-old pop legend last week was taken to a hospital after his private jet made an unscheduled landing.

But Prince was said to be suffering the flu and made light of the situation, later posting on Twitter about a local shop in Minneapolis for Record Store Day.

A spokeswoman for Prince did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Prince became an international sensation in the 1980s, when he popularised the Minneapolis sound of danceable funk. His 1984 album “Purple Rain” is often described as one of the greatest of all time.

The artist, who was born as Prince Nelson, lives in the outskirts of Minneapolis, where he throws parties and preserves master vaults at his Paisley Park studio.

Prince in the 1990s changed his name to an unpronounceable “love symbol “and wrote “slave” on his cheek to protest contractual conditions by his label Warner.

Among his best-known songs are “Purple Rain,” “1999,” “When Doves Cry, “ “Cream” and “Kiss."

He was recently prolific in his output, releasing albums through streaming site Tidal, and has taken to scheduling shows at the last minute to avoid scalpers.