April 22, 2016: In audio obtained by TMZ, an emergency dispatch officer can be heard saying “male down, not breathing”.

Prince, the music icon and legend of pop, has died at age 57 after his unresponsive body was found in an elevator at his Minnesota compound.

Emergency services were called to the Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen about 12.45am (AET) but CPR failed to revive him.

"It is with profound sadness that I am confirming that the legendary, iconic performer, Prince Rogers Nelson, has died at his Paisley Park residence this morning," his spokeswoman, Yvette Noel-Schure, said.


April 22, 2016: Along with other artists Prince performed “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” during the 2004 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions.

The sudden death comes just after the Grammy and Oscar winner was rushed to hospital with influenza on April 15, a scare which Prince later played down.

His plane had to make an emergency landing after a show in Moline, Illinois but the musician was released from hospital three hours later.

Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson said the investigation into the circumstances of Prince's death was still ongoing.

Mourners have started to gather outside Paisley Park. (Photo: AFP)

In a recording of the 911 call made after Prince's body was discovered, a person is heard saying "male down, not breathing". 

Prince was in the middle of a pared-back Piano and a Microphone tour when he experienced health problems, cancelling a show in Atlanta due to flu earlier this year.

Prince became an international phenomenon in the 1980s and his 1984 masterpiece Purple Rain is often mentioned as one of the greatest albums ever made.


April 22, 2016: Prince in his last performance of 'Purple Rain' in Atlanta, six days before his death.
Purple Rain went on to earn Prince a Grammy, he also won that same year as the writer for Chaka Khan's hit I Feel for You.

The next year the Purple Rain soundtrack earned Prince an Oscar. 

The Grammy awards continued to pile up with another nod for his song Kiss, and two wins in 2004 for the tracks Musicology and Call My Name.
He famously changed his name in the 1990s to an unpronounceable "love symbol" and wrote "slave" on his cheek to protest contractual conditions imposed by his label Warner.

The news of his death has triggered an outpouring of grief from fellow celebrities and musicians.
"RIP our dearly beloved Prince. Tears and love on our tour bus... I'll never forget my brother. We've had good times," American musician, producer, and guitarist Nile Rodgers tweeted.

"Devastated to hear the news about Prince. An enormous talent that we were all big fans of," the official account of British pop group Duran Duran posted.


April 22, 2016: Nine’s entertainment editor Richard Wilkins interviews music legend Prince during his Australian tour in October 2012.

Recording Academy president Neil Portnow mourned the seven-time Grammy winner, calling him "one of the most uniquely gifted artists of all time".

Named after his jazz pianist and songwriter father's stage name Prince Rogers, the pop icon was born in Minneapolis, although his family had its roots in Louisiana.

The famously private musician has revealed in rare interviews that he suffered from epilepsy as a child but told his mother, jazz singer Mattie Della, that he had been cured by divine intervention.


April 22, 2016: Prince's performance of Purple Rain during the Super Bowl XLI halftime show was labelled the greatest halftime performance ever..

"My mother told me one day I walked in to her and said, 'Mom, I'm not going to be sick anymore,' and she said 'Why?' and I said, 'Because an angel told me so.'" he told PBS in 2009.
"Now, I don't remember saying it, that's just what she told me."