LEGENDARY musician Prince has died aged 57 his publicist has confirmed.

The pop superstar was found collapsed in a lift at his home in Minnesota yesterday.

Medical personnel tried to revive the star, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, said Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson, who added the death is being investigated.

The singer, whose real name was Prince Rogers Nelson, was taken ill on April 15 while flying home from a show in Atlanta, Georgia.

His private jet made an emergency landing in Molina, Illinois and t he Purple Rain singer was taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance, where he was treated and released hours later.

At the time a representative for Prince assured fans he was feeling much better and was resting at his Paisley Park home.

But less than a week later paramedics were called to 7801 Audobon Road.

His British publicist later said: "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 at the age of 57.

"There are no further details as to the cause of death at this time."

Fans quickly gathered outside his home and t ributes flooded in for the music maverick, including a touching message from American President Barack Obama, ahead of his arrival in the United Kingdom.

Mr Obama said the world had lost a "creative icon".

He added: "Michelle and I join millions of fans from around the world in mourning the sudden death of Prince.

"Few artists have influenced the sound and trajectory of popular music more distinctly, or touched quite so many people with their talent.

"As one of the most gifted and prolific musicians of our time, Prince did it all. Funk. R&B. Rock and roll. He was a virtuoso instrumentalist, a brilliant bandleader, and an electrifying performer."

The star was widely regarded as one of the most inventive musicians of his era.

He became an international superstar in 1982 after his breakthrough album 1999 and was most famous for hits including Purple Rain, When Doves Cry and Kiss.

His won seven Grammy Awards, sold more than 100 million records and won an Oscar for Best Original Song Score for Purple Rain.

The singer, who was just 5ft 2in, was also seen as an eccentric with a tendency towards bizarre career moves, such as changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol in the 1990s.

He became even more famous with the release of the film Purple Rain in 1984, a seemingly autobiographical movie set in the club scene in his home town of Minneapolis.

It was a huge success and the soundtrack album spent 24 weeks at the top of the charts and sold more than 13 million copies.

Mr Olson said deputies responded to a medical call at about 9.43am.

Medics tried CPR but could not revive the singer, who was pronounced dead at 10.07am.

A cause of death was not immediately determined and a post-mortem examination has been planned for today.

The singer is reported to have made an appearance at a dance party held at his Paisley Park estate on Saturday.

The Carver County Sheriff's Office released the transcript of the 9.43am 911 call from Prince's Paisley Park compound which brought emergency workers to the home.

An unidentified man struggles to find the address to give to the call handler, at first saying only that he is "at Prince's house" and a person is unconscious.

He later says the person is dead and continues: "And the people are just distraught."

When the call handler asks if he knows how the person died, he says: "I don't know, I don't know."

After confirming the address, the dispatcher begins to ask a question and the caller interrupts to say: "Yes, it's Prince."

At the end of the call, another ambulance dispatcher comes on the line to cancel any other paramedics on their way to the address as the person is "confirmed DOA" (dead on arrival).