When I first learned that Prince died at the age of 57, I was a surprised and saddened by the news. Thankfully I got to see him in 2011, at a smaller venue; and he treated the audience to a night of hit after hit spanning his long career. Some of my fondest memories of the Purple one came from the movie Purple Rain, where his performances were electric; and from his Batman era. I can still remember people thinking I was crazy for dancing around the school listening to Batdance; all the while they were more into the hair metal scene.
While I considered myself a moderate Prince fan; my mother and sister were huge fans; so his death hit them harder than it did me. Still the music industry lost a musical great; one that we may never see the likes of again.
http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7341522/prince-dead