Purple Rain fades to black: Pop icon Prince dies at 57

US pop star Prince, the 57-year-old whose hits included "Purple Rain" and "Kiss," was found unresponsive on Thursday at his Minnesota home and was later declared dead.

Prince an innovative and influential singer and songwriter whose music combined jazz, funk and disco is best known for hit songs that also included "Raspberry Beret" and "Little Red Corvette." (Source: AP)

He was born Prince Rogers Nelson in Minneapolis on June 7, 1958, and is said to have written his first song at the age of 7. As well as singing and writing, he played multiple instruments, including guitar, keyboards and drums. His music was marked by sexually charged lyrics and explosive live performances. (Source: AP)

The dazzlingly talented and charismatic singer, songwriter, arranger and instrumentalist who died Thursday at his home drew upon the history of modern popular music and created a gender- and genre-defying blend of rock, funk and soul. With hits including "1999" "Purple Rain" and "Little Red Corvette", Prince's records sold more than 100 million copies and earned him Grammys and an Academy Award for music. (Source: Reuters)

Prince, an intensely private person, sold more than 100 million records during his career, won seven Grammy awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. (Source: AP)

In 2007, he played the Super Bowl in one of the most celebrated such performances. (Source: AP)

His most recent album, "HITnRUN: Phase Two" was released in December 2015, and the artist had been on tour in the United States as recently as last week.(Source: AP)

In 1993, Prince legally changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol, but later changed it back again. (Source: AP)

Prince was fiercely protective of his independence, battling his record company over control of his material and even his name. Anxious to get out of his contract with Warner Bros., he identified himself by a key-like symbol with an unpronounceable name. (Journalists called him "TAFKAP," or The Artist Formerly Known as Prince). Prince also once wrote "slave" on his face in protest of not owning his work and famously fought and then departed Warner, before returning a few years ago. (Source: Reuters)

He was born Prince Rogers Nelson in Minneapolis on June 7, 1958, and is said to have written his first song at the age of 7. As well as singing and writing, he played multiple instruments, including guitar, keyboards and drums. His music was marked by sexually charged lyrics and explosive live performances. (Source: AP)