Prince dead: Post-mortem to be carried out after musician's body found in Minnesota home

Investigations were taking place today into the circumstances surrounding the death of Prince, as people across the world mourned the passing of one of music's biggest global superstars.

Purple tributes appeared on buildings, in newspapers and on websites as all-night parties were held overnight in honour of the iconic musician after he was found slumped in a lift in his Minnesota home, aged 57.

His cause of death is still unexplained, with a post-mortem due to take place later today.

Carver County Sheriff said sheriff’s deputies responded to a medical call at Paisley Park Studios at about 9.45am. They performed CPR but were unable to revive him and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fears for Prince's health were sparked last week when his private jet made an emergency landing in Illinois so he could receive hospital treatment. His spokesperson later said he had been suffering from flu.

The entertainment website TMZ has reported Prince was treated for a drugs overdose six days before his death and received a "save" shot, leaving the hospital after three hours because he could not get a private room.

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Five days ago the singer arrived at a dance party held at his estate where he told fans: “Just wait a few days before saying your prayers.”

Prince’s ex-wife Mayte Garcia reacted with devastation after news of his death broke. The pair had a child together who tragically died a week after he was born and Garcia, a former backing dancer for Prince, told People: “He is with our son now”.

The director Spike Lee held a street party in New York in Prince’s honour, writing on Instagram: “I miss my brother. Prince was a funny cat. Great sense of humour”. Prince’s fans gathered outside of his home soon after, while others gathered together for a party and sang a rendition of Purple Rain, one of his most popular hits.

The diminutive singer was a force to be reckoned with on stage, charming fans across the world with his musical dexterity and sexually charged lyrics.

Born in Minneapolis, Prince became a pop icon in the late 1970s with the hits “Wanna Be Your Lover”, cementing his cult status with albums such as 1999 and Purple Rain.

Drawing influence from pop, R&B, soul, disco and jazz, his originality, flamboyant stage presence and instrumental talent made him one of the most unique and enduring musicians of the last four decades.

A prolific songwriter, Prince also wrote a string of hit songs for other singers. He released his first major studio album, For You, in 1978, recorded without a band. The album was not a huge commercial success and Prince released his eponymous album in 1979, which went on to reach number four in the Billboard Soul LP charts.

Prince’s refusal to confirm became one of his defining characteristics; he defiantly changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol without any concern for the reaction during a dispute with the label Warner Bros.

His powerful draw was about more than just his music, it was his indomitable presence; the ubiquitous Prince symbol, his flair, and glam rock aesthetic marked him out throughout the 80s and 90s and until his death today.