Tributes pour in for iconic musician

A great loss hit the entertainment industry yesterday as news broke that the legendary and innovative musician and actor Prince died at his Paisley Park residence.

A statement by the sheriff’s office reported that “the sheriff's deputies responded to a medical call at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen and found an unresponsive adult male in the elevator. The first responders attempted CPR, but were unable to revive the victim. He was pronounced deceased at 10:07 am.” The police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. In the meantime, the medical examiner has scheduled an autopsy for Friday.

"'A strong spirit transcends rules,' Prince once said—and nobody's spirit was stronger, bolder, or more creative." —President Obama

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 21, 2016

Storming into the music industry like a wrecking ball, he famously performed, produced and wrote nearly all of his own songs at the beginning of his career, embracing controversy by staging himself as an androgynous, hypersexualised character in his album art and lyrics, and challenged conservative music archetypes in his first decade on the scene.

Since yesterday, several celebrities and prestigious people have reached out over social media to express their grief and sadness over the sudden departure of the music icon.

Katharine Viner, the editor-in-chief of the Guardian, tipped her hat at the star for his audacity and breaking down stereotypes, especially when it comes to racial segregation:

This is wonderful: Prince broke all the rules about what black American men should be. By @thrasherxy https://t.co/o0m1fOvCHd

— Katharine Viner (@KathViner) April 22, 2016

The Kooks had a more emotionally charged reaction to the devastating new, pondering the future without Prince:

The tragedy has spurred others to pay their respects in other ways. Several buildings in the US such as the New Orleans Superdome, Warner Bros. Records Studio and San Francisco Town Hall lit in purple in tribute of the “Purple Rain” singer.