Prince’s remains have been cremated and the singer was remembered by a family, friends and musicians in a private ceremony Saturday, according to a statement from his representatives.
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Prince was found unresponsive in an elevator Thursday at Paisley Park, and an autopsy was done Friday.
“Prince was celebrated by a small group of his most beloved: family, friends and his musicians, in a private, lovely ceremony to say a loving goodbye”, Prince publicist Anna Meacham said in a statement.
Prince’s family is keeping the final storage location of his remains private. Prince’s sister Tyka Nelson and brother-in-law Maurice Phillips have also been seen on the grounds.
Police are investigating whether foul play was involved in Prince’s death after authorities said they had “no reason to believe” he killed himself and there were “no obvious signs of trauma” on his body.
Prince’s latest album, HITnRUN Phase Two, was released previous year and he had been touring as recently as this month. Olson also said there was nothing to suggest it was suicide. But after his death – following a series of canceled shows, a reported emergency plane landing for medical treatment and a subdued hometown appearance – questions are being raised about whether he was hiding health problems from his fans.
She said: “When you’re in a place of musically creating and writing, you just do your thing, and you don’t realize how many people you touch”.
A private memorial service for Prince was held Saturday at the Paisley Park compound in Chanhassen, Minnesota, where the musician lived and worked, as a crowd of fans gathered outside the fence, some wearing purple, the musician’s favorite color.
Reports of drug abuse have circulated in the days since the singer’s death, with the cause of death rumored to be due to an overdose on prescription painkillers. The night after that, Prince hosted a dance party at Paisley Park, where some fans said he looked fine and seemed irked by reports of an illness. After about a minute he returned and apologized, saying he didn’t realize how emotional the songs could be.
In the later show, Prince coughed a few times, though the show was again energetic.
She told “Entertainment Tonight”: “It was very somber”.
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AMC Theatres said Friday that the movie “Purple Rain” will return for a limited theatrical run. She had contacted him only a few days ago, she added, to tell him she was building a school in his honor.
