Two years ago on this day, we lost the enigmatic artist known as Prince. The 57-year-old died of an accidental fentanyl overdose in his Paisley Park estate in Minnesota.
Millions of fans all over the world mourned Prince’s death, but also celebrated his life. Prince shared his musical gifts for decades, leaving his adoring fans with a vast catalog of funk/R&B/rock tracks that defy one-label classifications. There is no definitive “best of” Prince album because it would be impossible to determine which of his hits to leave out of the collection.
He expertly played multiple instruments, wrote hit songs for himself and others, and gave amazing performances that are legendary. He could sell out arenas, but he would also sometimes pop up at small, intimate venues and jam all night long on a whim. He was (and is) a creative treasure.
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The seven-time Grammy award winner was notoriously private. While Prince lovingly shared his ever evolving artistry, he kept certain details of his life close to the vest.
To honor Prince’s life on this day, Here are five interesting facts about the man who provided the soundtrack to our lives.
6A Real Prince

Many entertainers change their pedestrian-sounding names to something with a little more pizazz to help them stand out in the crowded world of Hollywood stars. But Prince had to do no such thing. His parents named him Prince Rogers Nelson when he was born on June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, MN.