Musicians Who Died in 2016

April 21, 2016: Emergency personnel were called to Prince’s Chanhassen, Minnesota estate after receiving a call that someone was not breathing. The “Purple Rain” singer, whose real name was Prince Rogers Nelson, had been ill for weeks. He was just 57 when he passed away, apparently in his Paisley Park recording studio. A pioneering musician of Minneappolis sound, Prince combined soul, funk, rock, R&B, hip hop, disco, jazz, and many other styles into incredibly successful and critically acclaimed songs like “When Doves Cry” and ” Kiss.” During his career, he won an Academy Award (for Best Original Song Score – “Purple Rain”), a Golden Globe (for Best Original Song – “The Song of the Heart” in Happy Feet), and seven Grammys. His flamboyant style and relentless talent made him a true American icon.