Died of acute respiratory infection, they are saying 'flu'. Flu/MRSA co-infection comes to mind, or even just influenza alone but we are at the tail end of the northern hemisphere flu season. Or, it could be pneumococcal like the streptococcal toxic shock syndrome that killed Jim Henson. It's a shame because no one previously heathy, in this day and age, should die suddenly of a respiratory infection. http://www.mojvideo.com/video-prince-when-doves-cry/63806cee6342494500af
Kinda like David Bowie, a big young for me to feel the musical loss personally. But man. This dying too young stuff has got to stop! I know several people who will be devastated by this news. At least he was able to get the legal use of his name back, before he died.
He was an extraordinary artist. Not just a performer. Prince was astoundingly gifted. I'd rank him as one of my top ten favorite musicians and absolutely rank him as one of the objectively top five most talented musicians in the last several decades. He wrote witty songs not just for him but for other singers. He performed excellent guitar solos, he had stellar vocal abilities, and if you listen to the Beautiful Ones, you'll be blown away by his ability to convey emotion. He was a one man band.
Sad news! He was so much fun in the 80s! The only guy I know who could get away with wearing high heels without it looking like drag. I always loved U got the Look with Sheila E and oh well -- I could list almost every song. I sometimes wonder if he's why I like to make a lot of my hero's short. He was a 5'2 cutie.
Not to mention daring. Things have changed so much that it's hard to recognize, but at the time of Controversy and Purple Rain, I had all kind of friends who weren't allowed to listen to his music, let alone own albums. Little Red Corvette... uff! Maybe it's just because I was living in the south and in a little town where religiosity was high, but his music was something else.
David Bowie and Prince were a lot alike, not just musical geniuses but constantly reinventing themselves and talented in many things besides music. Music a bit young for you? Were you not listening to music in the 80s?
Nope, not that kind. My pop music era was the mid to late 60s and very early 70s. After that, I became more interested in traditional music. In the 80s I was totally immersed in traditional music, both sides of the Pond. I moved to Scotland in the mid 80's, where my husband produced the folk music magazine there.
