Prince

One of rock's most singular artists, Prince captivated millions with his multitude of talents, unique brilliance, and eccentric behavior. His decades-long career began in his hometown of Minneapolis, where the artist crafted his genre-bending musical style that incorporated funk, soul, R&B, rock, and pop. Beginning with his 1979 self-titled debut, Prince rivaled the success of Michael Jackson and Madonna in the 1980s with groundbreaking albums such as 1999 (1982) and Purple Rain (1984). The latter spawned a cavalcade of pop anthems like "Let's Go Crazy" and "When Doves Cry," as well as an extremely profitable film of the same name, released in 1984, which starred the singer. A gifted songwriter, Prince often used sexually suggestive lyrics for his own provocative tracks and for other artists. From his androgynous stage costumes, to his shy offstage persona, to dating some of the world's most beautiful women, Prince's theatrical and envelope-pushing behavior made headlines, but none more so than when he changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol in 1993. After an embittered legal and creative battle with his longtime record label Warner Bros., Prince took full control of his career and reemerged as a successful businessman, producer, and concert artist. In 2004, Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a testament to his contributions to music as one of the greatest artists of all time. Although his chart success dwindled during his later career, he remained an iconoclastic stage presence, touring frequently and constantly reinventing his best-loved songs on stage. Prince died on April 21, 2016 in his palatial home/recording studio, Paisley Park, in the Minneapolis suburb of Chanhassen. He was 57 years old.