good evening. there are new songs on a play list featuring david bowie, glen fry, now prince. the sound track touched by sadness at the loss of another enormous talent. also full of joy at what he created. spike lee's place in brooklyn, randy kay joins us now. what's going on? >> reporter: hey there,

anderson. there's quite a party here tonight. we're outside spike lee's place in the heart of brooklyn. this was supposed to be spike lee's party celebrating the life of prince, but really this feels like prince's party. you can feel his presence here. there are hundreds of people in the streets. they've closed off the streets. there are people here who are black, who are white, who are young, who are old. they're all singing every word to prince's songs, including "when doves cry" which is playing now. there are people in the balcony, talking about where they were when they got the news that prince died. people that grew up in the '60s, '70s, '80s, all feel like they grew up with prince, such an outpouring of love on the streets. also an outpouring not just from everyday people on the streets but from celebrities today. take a look. >> pop, rock, funk, he did it all. ♪ tonight i'm going to party like it's 1999.

>> the passing of prince left many stunned. many taking to twitter to remember the purple one. whoopi goldberg tweeting this is what it sounds like when doves cry, prince, rip. condolences to his family and all. lenny kravitz, my musical brother, my friend, the one that showed me the possibilities within myself. spike lee. i miss my brother, prince was a funny cat, great sense of humor. ♪ dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life ♪ >> justin timberlake who idolized the rocker posting a heart felt message on his instagram. they say don't meet your idols, they let you down, some of my greatest, funniest, yes, he was hilarious, came from moments i spent with him.

even the president chimed in, saying in part prince did it all, funk, r&b, rock and roll. he was a virtuoso instrumentalist, an electrifying performer. his impact is undeniable. beyonce describing her grammy performance with the pop idol in 2004. >> i was like is that -- are you serious? i was on the stage with prince? like are you serious? that is crazy! i still can't believe it. ♪ ♪ >> and alicia keyes upon prince's rock and roll hall of fame induction. >> there are many kings, king

henry viii, king solomon, king tut, king kong. but there's only one prince. ♪ ♪ >> jamie foxx talked about how prince influenced his career. >> everything about this guy, dug everything about his music. i called it delicious music. like you could almost taste the music he was making. >> composer, performer and artist, prince was one for the ages. for that he will always have a place on the stage. >> one for the ages. people of all ages at the party at spike lee's place. how late is that party going to go? >> reporter: i think it will go several hours. they closed off the street, people don't seem to mind it.

they have their windows open, music is blasting, people are willing to stay all night. they say prince changed their life. he got them through makeups, breakups. i asked him one word to describe him, anderson. to go through a short list, edgy, sexy, not afraid to be different. and one more thing, people aren't talking about what might have killed prince, they want to celebrate his life. to many it doesn't matter, he is gone and they'll miss him terribly. >> thank you very much. we will talk to spike lee shortly. prince wrote for, produced, nurtured so many other talented performers, many who became stars in their own right. george clinton already in the stratosphere, collaborated with prince, we spoke just before air. george, you knew prince, worked with him, you were on his record label. what's going through your mind tonight?

>> well, the world is going to be missing a great personality, not only performer but song writer. with me, a good friend, you know, just watching we used to call him the kid, i haven't processed it yet. still in denial. >> did you know, his publicist said he was battling the flu. did you hear anything about his health? >> i heard last week he was on a flight and had the flu or something. i had no idea. he always seemed in great shape. i don't know anybody that could work that hard, you know, morning to night every day and then get up and go party. i just never seen him as being ill, like myself. i can't picture myself being

ill, you know, but he was strong as far as i knew. i have no idea. >> talk to me about him as an artist. i saw him a couple years ago at a hotel room to a crowd of maybe 50 people. went late into the night. he kept saying i got too many hits, i got too many hits. i got to keep going. he kept on playing one hit after another. >> he was into that, showing up places people didn't expect him to be. saw him with his girl over in london, i didn't know he was going to be there. called up, told me he was there. he enjoyed that, same as we did. we still do. playing places where hardly anybody in there sometimes, call it the anti-tour. he was into that even when we were back -- when i was on paisley, used to do those things, go around places people

wouldn't expect you to be. >> saw a clip of you with arsenio hall many years ago, you talked about prince, you said he does his job, he expects you to do yours. was he tough to work with? >> you can't achieve the kind of success he had without being disciplined in terms of the craft. >> oh, no, he's true to the craft, but also inspired that in you when you're around him. it don't be hard to do when you're around him, see how dedicated he is to doing what he do. he inspire you to want to keep up with him. but he expect the same from you, that's for sure. going to do it, might not think you get the compliment, but that's why you around him, because he thinks you're good enough to be around. so yeah. he expects a lot from you. >> in person was he as kind of enigmatic and mysterious as in public persona? only met him once or twice, sat

next to him at dinner one time, i don't get nervous often, but i got nervous trying to figure out what to talk to him about, he was quiet. when he spoke, you had to lean in, listen to what he was saying. i was struck by how interesting he was, how interested he was in a lot of stuff, not just music, but issues, news. things like that. >> right. he did a lot of it, you know, calculating that he wasn't going to waste his energy for the most part, but he's really quiet, really quiet. he did do a lot of it intentionally to save his energy. used to tease me a lot, i could go out in the audience, be bothered with people. he was like how could you do that. his way of doing it, keep you thinking he is mysterious, you didn't want to bother him, he is so quiet. once he got down, got to having

fun, then you can see how much fun he could have. how much he liked to talk. >> i would go to his house, and sit around and political, social, any of that, he was interesting. like you said, mysterious. but mainly to preserve his own energy. >> george, i'm sorry we're talking under these circumstances, but it is a real pleasure to talk to you. i am a big fan. thank you very much. >> thank you for having me. >> george clinton, tributes everywhere. look at purple super dome in new orleans. go back to brooklyn, back to spike lee and the block party he arranged in honor of his friend. ♪

did you hear, "talk more and disappoint me"? ♪ do do do do ♪ skiddly do do ♪ camping with the family ♪ [ flame whooshes ]

♪ ♪ just another manic monday ♪ wish it was sunday ♪ the bangles hit, "manic monday" one of the huge songs he wrote for other artists. i feel for you, and love song by madonna which prince co-wrote. she's talking about his death. he changed a world. visionaries aren't always understood. larry king asked him why he

stopped using his name and went to a symbol. >> you would admit yourself an unusual personality. >> depends. >> say you're different. >> as compared to what? >> as compared to most in show business, most don't get famous with one name and change it. what's the story of that? >> well, i had to search deep within my heart and spirit and i wanted to make a change and move to a new plateau in my life. one of the ways i did that was to change my name, divorce me from the past and hangups that go along with it. >> do you still have fondness for minneapolis? >> absolutely. >> what was it like growing up there. aren't many blacks in minneapolis.

talk to go dave winfield the other night, 1% maybe. >> it was interesting for me. i grew up getting a wide array of music, i grew up with santana, larry graham, fleetwood mac, all kinds of different things, you know. so that was very cool. >> good place to grow up? >> yes, sir. >> you had a rough childhood, didn't you? >> in some respects. >> did that affect your music? >> i don't think so. it probably helped me to look inside to know that i had to do for self. i've always known that god was my creator and that without him, boy, nothing works. it works to a point, then it kind of deteriorates, atrophy takes place. >> when bad things have happened to you, you blame him? >> absolutely not, no.

>> how do you explain, how do you resolve that in yourself. >> i learn from it and i don't wallow in it, i don't spend time in a place. i let myself move on, you know. >> prince on larry king. he released his first album when he was 19 years old. owen husne was his first manager. he joins us. i'm sorry we are speaking under these circumstances, you were in minneapolis, said they had the next big thing, happened to be an 18-year-old prince. what did it sound like, did you know this guy has incredible talent? >> yes, it was very interesting. a fellow by the name of chris moon had a small studio, south side of minneapolis. he brought me this cassette. it was routine to have people bring me cassettes, i am shuffling papers on the desk, he is reaching over, putting it in my cassette player. i'm all ready with the speech,

it is promising, come back in five years. i listened. from the first notes that i heard, it was a very early demo they had done at chris' studio of soft and wet, which was his first single. and i listened to it, i noticed that the sound was different. it was derivative, but it was a new sound, the way he was using guitars against the keyboard. just this 8 track studio. it was different. then his voice came on and it was this falsetto he was using at the time. it was so vulnerable. i didn't know what he looked like, i had no idea who he was. i just wanted to hug him and protect him.

and i realize that he was creating a new sound. in this business when you hear things, you can say that sounds like so and so's guitar playing, he was melding sounds against the key boards and going for something quite new. >> on the first albums, he was playing all of the instruments. >> he was playing all of the instruments on the first album. he did have some help, patrice russian played some key boards on there, but by and large he played every single instrument on the first album. >> when you finally met him, what were your impressions? >> he came over to my house and was in the fall of i believe 1976, and the minute i met him and saw his eyes, that's the old cliché, your eyes of the window to your soul, there was something so special about just looking at his eyes, seeing his reactions. and one thing i noticed was that he was wearing clothes of not a wealthy man.

but he put it together meticulously. brown sweater, iron creases in his jeans. i saw that he had just taken care to put himself together. then as we started talking i noticed how brilliant he was. i just surmised very early on this kid has a very high iq. obviously there's no iq that determines creativity, but i could just tell by talking to him and concepts that he was grasping that this was no ordinary 18-year-old who would drive 100 miles per hour down the street and do stupid things that i probably did when i was 18. he was very focused. knew what he wanted. >> when he was offered like a three record deal or at least for the first album, he was made an offer but the record company wanted others to produce it and he said no. he turned it down. incredible act for somebody at that age.

>> he called me and said no one is producing me. they wanted other people to produce him. he wrote me a letter and said here is why i don't want this person to produce me. i am respectful of his music but i don't want his imprint. owen, tell the chairman of warner brothers records i am producing my own album so i had the lovely job of going up there and saying prince is going to produce his own album, but i'll tell you something, mo austin, lenny kerr, they were artist friendly label at the time. we had to do a test in the recording studio to watch him, see that he could play the instruments. when they saw it, they called me out into the hallway and said we get it. we get it. he can do this. it might cost us an album. they watched him create a drum track alone. i don't even think we used a quick track, added base guitar.

by the time he got to third or fourth instrument, they were like he gets it. >> owen husney, thank you so much. again, sorry under these circumstances, great to talk to you. spike lee, the prince tribute block party he arranged where friends and family are making a joyful noise. businesss rely on the us postal service? because when they ship with us, their business becomes our business. that's why we make more e-commerce deliveries to homes than anyone else in the country. here, there, everywhere. united states postal service priority: you

shoshow me more like this.e. show me "previously watched." what's recommended for me. x1 makes it easy to find what you love. call or go online and switch to x1. only with xfinity.

who was your one direction? >> my one direction when i was younger had to be prince. prince was my one direction. stevie. stevie wonder. >> did you have posters in the bedroom? >> first album i bought was "purple rain," it came with a poster. >> that's right. >> it came with a poster! you open it up, you get this poster. put that poster on the wall. sometimes i would kind of walk out the room and kiss prince. give him a kiss, yeah. >> queen latifah talking to jimmy fallon about the singer that is deeply mourned tonight and celebrated. from the celebration, director, producer, writer, friend, spike lee. the scene there, you are throwing a huge party. what do you hope people think about right now about prince when they remember him?

>> well, anderson, right here in brooklyn, new york, we are having a great time celebrating the prince. now we're going to go, let's go crazy in a minute! dearly beloved. we are gathered here today for this thing called life. about to go bananas here, a great celebration. we're all stunned by his sudden death, but he's still here in spiritual form and we love him. i just put out my -- come out to brooklyn. let's celebrate. # >> looks like there are thousands of people there. >> at least 5,000. the power of social media. right here in brooklyn new york, what's up! >> to you, spike, what made prince on the level that he was?

>> it's hard to describe. he was so many things. uh-oh, we're going crazy, anderson! ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! but we're just having a good time. as i said before, it is all sudden. nobody knew it was going to happen. but we're just dancing and singing, shouting. having a great time. >> i saw him, spike, i saw him perform once in a small room in manhattan and he started i think at 2:00 a.m., and it went i think until 4:00 a.m. and he kept saying i've got too many hits, i've got too many hits. it is incredible when you put together a prince play list, the sheer volume of hits he has. >> oh, when he got in the groove, he would play four hours straight. >> and how long did you know him for? what was he like as, you know, one on one?

>> well, i mean, we all grew up together. i was one year older than michael and prince, we all grew up together. you know, when everybody, i was the last one to hit it, i got to meet them all, got to work with them, too, so it was a great honor. >> what was he like to work with? we talked to jimmy jam, talked to stevie wonder, to george clinton, he was in command of that stage when he was on the stage. >> yeah, i was just, i had the pleasure of doing a music video for the film "money don't matter." called me out of the blue, said i want to direct this video. so i did it. two weeks ago he had a party for the cast of "hamilton." he performed and was in great form, great shape. he looked fine to me. now he's gone.

>> when he would perform, did he used to have parties late at night, i used to get calls, i met him over a dinner, i used to get calls from his people saying prince is having a party tonight, he would like you to come, but i was always in new york. i've got a job. i was like can you give me a heads up, i can't just get on a plane and go there. i feel like i missed all of these incredible parties he must have had. >> well, big party happening tonight, that's all i can say, anderson, big party tonight. >> i saw it on the instagram. >> be good. >> spike, you want to go back and party, no problem. i'll talk to you later. >> thank you, anderson, thank you cnn. >> have fun in brooklyn. an amazing scene at spike lee's place. we'll be back with more memories from people that knew prince. ♪ ♪ ♪ i was dreaming when i wrote this, forgive me if it goes

astray ♪

♪ i got the discounts dothat you need ♪l ♪ ♪ safe driver ♪ accident-free ♪ everybody put your flaps in the air for me ♪ ♪ go paperless, don't stress, girl ♪ ♪ i got the discounts that you need ♪ ♪ safe driver ♪ accident-free ♪ everybody put your flaps in the air for me ♪ i can't lip-synch in these conditions. ♪ savings ♪ oh, yeah

you have a vault of hundreds of unreleased songs. are you ever going to release them, let us hear? >> one day someone will release them, i don't know that i'll get to release them. >> prince on "the view" in 2002. there's a vault of unreleased material. one of the most prolific song writers.

had a well spring of creativity. cnn commentator van jones, david wild, and michaela angela davis that was his stylist. how do you style prince. >> you just respond to his greatness, really. i worked with him in that moment where he started to wear tunics and i went to morocco to buy tunics for him, it was pretty fabulous, but it was interesting. his spirituality was starting to really become part of his aesthetic expression, so it was really fun, but he had these shoes, well -- >> shoes. >> all of his shoes were almost all of them were covered in the same fabric as his trousers, it was a seamless line to make him seem taller. he could do things in those shoes. he expressed himself.

the last clip, you showed the afro and glasses. he found no boundaries, and he absorbed creativity from every source. it was amazing. >> what a lot of people don't realize, there was a lot of activism prince was involved with, you and he did together. what was it like to know him in that way? >> well, you know, he was my friend. he was not the kind of guy would call you when you were having a good day, if you had a best selling book, if you had did something good, not calling you then. when you're having a bad day, going through something, that's when he would call you, he would want to be there for you. he felt that way about the community as well. went to chicago in the middle of the violence, did three shows to launch rebuild the dream. that clip you showed, i was on "the view" with him on that show. so was dawson, another good friend. we went to chicago, to

baltimore, woman named who lambkin, young african-american, his manager in the last years, she got him his catalog back. got him his masters back. he fought his whole life back. got that back. was going to do things for children. he had ideas, he wanted to almost do sesame street, do the music of something like sesame street. >> were you there when he got -- did i read that you were in the room when he got the catalog back and found out? >> i was there for the moment of triumph. all those fights. >> what was that like? >> it was unreal. here you have a man who they took his name, his mother named him prince rogers nelson, that wasn't a stage name, his mother named him that. in the legal conflict, the musical industry said you can't call yourself prince because of this contract. he said call me a symbol then.

that was horrible for him. it was such a seering injury to have his name stripped away. he started writing slave on his face, what do you mean these people can tell me i have to make music for them on their terms. he fought and fought and fought. the woman that won that who has gotten no credit, doesn't have a law degree, she came out of the labor movement and beat them back and won. i was there. and the peace that came over him. there was no trampalism, it was to have it back in his control. don't forget this. he fought for artists to be in control of their own destiny because when he was a kid, 17, 19 years old, he signed a contract, signed it all away. but he fought and got it back. fought for himself and also fought for others. >> david, so many artists are concerned with brand. was that part of prince's approach to everything? he was a brand unto himself in many ways. >> i think first and foremost he

was -- it was that period when he was the artist formerly known as prince. first and foremost, he was an artist. that's what's surreal and heart breaking about this year we've lost, david bowie and prince, two of the most beloved artists. becomes a brand because they have style. they have a brand. but first and foremost, what he had was one of the greatest catalogs in music. great that he got it back. van was mentioning baltimore. great song he wrote not long ago called "baltimore." when you're prince, you're competing against your past. his first ten years why so towering, it was almost tough to compete with himself. >> you said he used to watch you on cnn, let now if he thought you were missing the mark. he would give you feedback. >> he was brutal.

the terrible thing about it, and everybody, he's the funniest guy you've ever met. if he never touched a musical instrument, he would have been as famous as a comedian. gave eddie murphy five minutes and prince one, prince was win. not only would he tell you how bad you were, he would have you laughing at yourself at the same time, so you're crying because you feel like you haven't lived up to his standard, but also making you -- literally one of the funniest people you've met. so talented across the board. cared about the community. let me say this, anderson, black lives matter inspired him more than anything else.

his big prayer for alisha garza and black lives matter people, they would become an economic force, creating jobs, creating apps, creating music, companies. if they can become an economic creative force, solve the problems they're protesting about. >> and briefly, michaela, i get the sense on stage he was in full command. did he sort of have a sense of himself in all realms, he knew what he wanted to wear, how he wanted to look, what he wanted to project? >> what this all speaks to is this idea of freedom, emancipation, fearlessness. he was self liberated. even in his work he was in command, but also he was also really -- he surrendered to his art. he surrendered musically in a way i haven't seen, dancing, doing the splits, humping, playing piano moving seamlessly through time and space. that really was freedom in this absolute sense, right? so you know, i just keep thinking someone will call us and say this isn't real. like i still haven't quite --

i'm a little disoriented that -- i keep thinking maybe this is a mistake, you know. there was no preparation. he made reference, we knew he was ill, but this has -- like everything stopped. people left meetings, turned off their phones, walked around in a way that is. >> hard to imagine. >> yeah. and the set is purple. >> thank you for being here. before we get a break, want to show you the crowds paying homage in paisley park. i will talk to verdine white from earth, wind and fire. prince wrote a song for their millennium album. # ♪ ♪

(announcer) need to hire fast? go to ziprecruiter.com and post your job to over 100 of the web's leading job boards with a single click, then simply select the best candidates

from one easy-to-review list. and now you can use ziprecruiter for free. go to ziprecruiter.com/offer5

an outpouring of grief for music legend prince that died this morning in his complex outside minneapolis. the circumstances are a mystery, the cause unknown. he was just 57 years old. an autopsy will be performed,

and investigation is under way. ryan young is outside paisley park where crowds have been gathering. a lot of people we have been seeing all day. what's the mood like right now? >> reporter: huge crowds, anderson. you talk about the mood, maybe the music reflects the crowd. maybe get a higher vantage point see you can see it. so many different races are here talking about their memories of prince. i listened to people having a conversation about the singer, how certain songs touched them. there was an artist here painting several hours. we watched him put a picture together of prince, some people stood there, taking pictures of this. at one point, the family requested everyone not take pictures closer to the fence line. now those folks have gone inside, people pushed all the way to the front. they're placing flowers along the fence to make sure to point out this is a person they loved so very, very much.

the police are here making sure no one tries to run in the gate. this is something that has been continuing. the singer was found inside an elevator here, 911 calls have come out, and people are trying to get a picture what happened. people asking the simple question, do you know any more information about what happened to prince. they love him. they want to talk about what happened and maybe get more information tomorrow obviously when the autopsy happens. >> do we know much about the investigation, when the autopsy will be performed? >> well, we are told it will be tomorrow. people want to know more about the 911 call that came out, when we hear back and forth, someone trying to figure out exactly the location of the building. they're saying we're at prince's compound. people want to know exactly what happened in the minutes before he was in the elevator, whether or not he saw a doctor before this. those are questions that obviously we can't answer at this point. we know the police set up a heavy presence. we have seen cars going back and forth for a few hours.

just in the last half hour or so, there were several suvs that left with people covering their faces, we're not sure who was on the inside. obviously great concern in the community about what happened to prince in his final hours and people wanting to come out, especially with concerts later on tonight in this area, for people that want to say they love this man. >> we have been hearing, talked to a lot of people saying just that. ryan, thank you very much. the last few months have seen the loss of so many legends, including maurice white, and prince wrote for super hero on the band's millenium album. earlier i spoke to verdine white, the bassist and co-founder. verdine, thank you for joining us. first of all, my condolences, you lost your brother maurice in february. >> yes, right. >> news of prince's death is so shocking. when you first heard it, what went through your mind? >> almost what i went through with maurice's passing, it hits

you. we knew prince well, maurice new prince, it backs you up for a minute, anderson. then we went to rehearsal, everybody is quiet. we're getting condolences and hearing everybody's thoughts on the great artist of prince's caliber. >> it is nice people coming together to share their stories. i was reading on the background today about prince and i read that cbs actually wanted you to produce his three albums when he was only 19. >> that's right. i had a meeting with him with the cbs executives. i met with him when he was a beginning, beginning artist and then cbs didn't work it out and he went to warner brothers. but we all stayed close after

that. of course he had the same management that we had at the time, bob cavallo, who managed luis and us as well as prince. we were around each other all the time anyway. >> at 19, he had tremendous confidence. what was he like as a young artist? >> he was great. we used to go see him at the from the beginning of his career, anderson, he came out the blocks, as we say in the business, smokin'. >> i heard he was in awe of your base playing as well, as so many others in the music industry are and have been. what do you think when you think about him as a musician, what set him apart? i mean, was it his ability to write? was it his performance or was it the whole package? >> the whole thing, anderson. i just think he's one of those artists that just came to the world with everything. he could write, you know, he could produce. he was very unique. and as he evolved, he became socially conscious, you know.

he fought for the right of others, you know, as -- in other interviews, he really opened up the door for women, you know, people like vanity, who we just lost as well. sheila e., appollonia. >> he was also interested in a lot of things beyond music, social justice issues, political issues. i remember sitting with him at dinner and he clearly watched and consumed a lot of news and was fascinated by what was happening in the world. >> black lives matter, city of hope, the jazz foundation of america, the bridge, urban army and these are things people really didn't know. he did the work on stage and off stage. he's great example of a person who is an artist and hopefully all of other artists coming up, if they take just a little piece

what prince did, they can do some great work because we just lost an icon, icon. >> it's been a brutal couple of months. prince, your brother, david bowie, so many artists. verdine white, thank you for talking with us. >> you're welcome, anderson. >> coming up, stevie wonder. and another sensation where prince is being remembered and honored tonight. abalonia. this is the prince street. i'm so bored, i'm dead. you can always compare rates on progressive.com. oh, that's nice, dear. but could you compare camping trips? because this one would win. all i want to do is enjoy nature and peace and quiet! it's not about winning. it's about helping people find a great rate even if it's not with progressive. -ugh. insurance. -when i said "peace and quiet," did you hear, "talk more and disappoint me"? ♪ do do do do ♪ skiddly do do

♪ camping with the family ♪ [ flame whooshes ] "w"well you don't want to live with mom and dad forever, do you?" "she says...bazang!" "ok, good one." "uh, how do i check my credit score?" "credit karma, it's free." "credit karma. give yourself some credit." and an early morning mode.ode. and a partly sunny mode. and an outside... to clear inside mode. transitions® signature adaptive lenses... ...are more responsive than ever. so why settle for a lens with just one mode? experience life well lit®. ...upgrade your lenses to transitions® signature. now get up to a $90 rebate by mail. when you purchase glasses and sunglasses featuring select brands. ask your eyecare professional or visit transitions.com for details.

this is the prince street. a performer who said he modeled himself after stevie wonder. here's a bit more of our conversation. >> how does prince inspire you? >> well, he was a great musician. he loved music. he loved playing his instrument. and you know the times that we did jam together were amazing, with all the various people he would bring together. most of all he brought all the various coaches together.

he could play classic, if he wanted to, jazz if he wanted to, he could play country if he wanted to. he played rock, he played blues, he played pop, he played everything. he was just a great musician. and very cognizant of what his responsibility was as a musician and a human being. >> today was watching a recording of a concert that you did in paris back in 2010. you were performing "superstition," prince was accompanying you on the guitar. what i think gets lost on prince is he wasn't just a great songwriter, he's a stellar guitar player. he played nearly all the instruments on his first five albums, that's incredible. >> yeah, it's amazing. and, you know, it's fun to do that because basically you're going inside yourself and you're really giving people every single part of what you feel. it's what your soul is saying, this is how i wanted this to be played.

fortunately i can play it and express myself. it's like an artist painting a picture. so he was a great artist of picture, of sound picture. and music. and so this is an amazing day, as we see so many things happening, the heartbreak is to see this man who is so talented to be taken away from us. but i know that the almighty god has far greater things for him to do eternally. so i just hope that we celebrate his music and celebrate his purpose that he fulfilled.

>> stevie wonder, thank you so much. again, i'm sorry we're talking under these circumstances, but it's always an honor. thank you. that does it for our two-hour tribute. we remember the life of prince. right now "cnn tonight" with don lemon. ♪ dearly beloved, we are gathered here in this thing called life ♪ >> this is "cnn tonight" i'm don lemon. prince rogers nelson died today at the age of 57, found unresponsive in an elevator at paisley park studios. the cause so far unknown, but his death comes far too soon. his music the sound track of a generation, hit after hit after hit. ♪ leave me standing alone in a world that's so cold ♪ >> five singles like that one "when doves cry" topping the charts, 14 others in the top ten. he won an oscar. ♪ the sky was all purple, there

were people running everywhere ♪ >> he won an oscar, played the super bowl halftime show. ♪ ♪ >> and made america and the world dance with music that was ground breaking, uncompromising and always funky. the life and legacy of prince being celebrated across the country, including brooklyn, where spike lee is hosting a block party tonight and telling prince fans to wear something purple in his memory. cnn's randi kaye is there for us this evening. my gosh, it looks like they are having a good time celebrating this evening. how is the mood there in fort green? >> reporter: the mood is incredible, don. this is really a celebration of his life. you feel like prince is alive

and well. he can certainly be heard on the streets of brooklyn. this is prince's party tonight, not really spike lee's party. they've been playing his music. people are hanging out of the windows, these women have been dancing all night. but what's really amazing is the group, there are people black, white, young, old, holding hands, celebrating his life, people born in the 60s, 70s and 80s. he has brought so many generations. so many people love him, have been touched by him. one woman told me when she heard he had died that she was breathless, many said they were heart broken. he really touched people's lives, he got them through make-ups, breakups and relationships. >> i'm sure you've been hearing the entire prince catalogue tonight. do you have any favorite prince song? >> reporter: i do.

>> reporter: i do, certainly, "when doves cry", and of course "purple rain." how can you go wrong with "purple rain." but just about every song that prince sang, it hits you in some way. he was so original. he was edgy, he was sexy. he was out there. and that's what you feel. and i love seeing his life celebrated here on the streets of brooklyn tonight. >> any idea how long this is going to go on, randi? >> reporter: it doesn't seem like the neighbors mind. they have their windows open. i think this could go on a few more hours. >> randi kaye for us celebrating the life of prince, the music legend. on the phone with me is another

legend. and that is the queen of soul herself, ms. aretha franklin. i'm so sad to speak with you on such a sad occasion, how are you doing? >> caller: i'm doing very well, john with the exception of prince's passing. it was just so stunning and what a blow. you just didn't expect that. you would never connect that with him. it was the last thing i expected to hear this morning. and wow, what a bummer. he -- go ahead. >> we often, i just saw you last week for your birthday, and you look amazing, and you live every moment. >> caller: thank you, thank you. >> and we often get to talk on such sad occasions. we talked for whitney and for michael and now for prince. and as i rattle off the list of all these talented people, they go so young. >> caller: why do i think what

was it? >> these really talented, wonderful people just go so young. >> caller: oh, okay. well, you know, i didn't know prince personally, so it would be hard for me to speak on it accurately. but just observing him from a distance, he appeared to be very healthy, a healthy, strong young man. and on the way. i'm at a loss for words like most of us. >> you know, just like yourself, prince is truly an origin, unique artist. >> caller: mm-hm. absolutely. >> what are you going to remember about him? >> caller: i think his uniqueness, and yes, definitely an original. there could not be two. he was musical haute couture. >> uyou know, he addressed everything in his music like you, love, sex, religion, race. he was fearless, wasn't he? >> caller: yes, i think.

and just very, very unique. i didn't hear him speak a lot. i saw him from time to time on tv, but, as my colleague, of course, i was observing and listening. he didn't have a lot to say, but he would give you music, and he would give you eyes and attitude. [ laughter ] >> i was in the makeup room as we were getting ready for this. and some of the video came up, and the artist said you know, he gave you smoky eye before people knew what smoky eye was. >> caller: mm-hm. >> as someone who's been doing this in the business, a legend, you know this industry. he sort of broke the rules, fighting for ownership of his music. explain to the audience how important that is for an artist. >> caller: mm-hm. what was the last part you said? >> about fighting for ownership of their music. how important it is for an artist to have ownership over their music. >> caller: absolutely, absolutely. the writers, publishing, and he

was uniquely gifted there again to be the producer, the writer and the artist. >> he was just 57 years old. >> caller: and why shouldn't the artist own their own music. especially if you wrote it. >> right. >> caller: mm-hm. >> and the writing, that's really the important part, the writing. if someone else does your song, it doesn't matter who, you still get the royalties from that as one should. >> caller: yes, that's true. if someone re-records what you have written, yes. sometimes it's successful, sometimes it's not. who knows what it will be until it, you know, you put it out there. >> you know, we've lost recently we lost another icon, we lost david bowie. >> caller: mm-hm. >> and i keep saying to you -- >> caller: natalie cole. >> why do we keep losing so many legends. but it's "the cycle" of lithe p

of life. >> caller: it can be grueling for a successful artist, in terms of the concert demand and other demands that are related to your success. >> he was just 57 years old. >> caller: very young. too young. much too young. >> he was creative his entire life, writing music, performing. so protective over his work. what would you like to see to his body of work. he recently purchased his entire catalog of work. what would you like to see happen to his work? >> caller: i'm thrilled to hear that. i'm delighted to hear that he purchased it, and of course that should go into his estate and the hands of his family. >> anything you want to say to his family and friends before i let you go? >> caller: yes, my heart and my

deepest sympathy and condolences go out to prince's family and to his friends and supporters. >> the queen of soul, ms. aretha franklin. thank you, ms. franklin. >> caller: thank you, don for giving me the chance to express my kol dosympathy. >> prince's first single to hit the top charts "little red corvette", and the rest, as they say, is history. ♪ little red corvette ♪ babe you're much too fast ♪ little red corvette ♪

[alarm beeps] ♪ ♪ the intelligent, all-new audi a4 is here. ♪ ♪ ain't got time to make no apologies...♪ >>psst. hey... where you going? we've got that thing! you know...diarrhea? abdominal pain? but we said we'd be there... woap, who makes the decisions around here? it's me. don't think i'll make it. stomach again...send! if you're living with frequent, unpredictable diarrhea and abdominal pain, you may have irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea

or ibs-d - a condition that can be really frustrating. talk to your doctor about new viberzi. a different way to treat ibs-d. viberzi is a prescription medication you take every day that helps proactively manage both diarrhea and abdominal pain at the same time. so you stay ahead of your symptoms. viberzi can cause new or worsening abdominal pain. do not take viberzi if you have or may have had pancreas or severe liver problems, problems with alcohol abuse, long-lasting or severe constipation, or a blockage of your bowel or gallbladder. if you are taking viberzi, you should not take medicines that cause constipation. the most common side effects of viberzi include constipation, nausea, and abdominal pain. stay ahead of ibs-d... with new viberzi. don't go to paris. don't tour paris. and please, don't "do" paris. ♪ hey, welcome! live in paris. when you airbnb in paris, you have your own home. make your bed.

♪ cook. ♪ you know, the stuff you normally do. don't go to la, don't go to new york, don't go to tokyo. live there. live in malibu, live in the east village, live in shinagawa. feel at home, anywhere. do your regular routine. ♪ wherever you go, don't go there. ♪ live there. ♪ even if it's just for a night. ♪ (ee-e-e-oh-mum-oh-weh) (hush my darling...) (don't fear my darling...) (the lion sleeps tonight.) (hush my darling...) man snoring (don't fear my darling...) (the lion sleeps tonight.)

woman snoring take the roar out of snore. yet another innovation only at a sleep number store. our breaking news tonight, the death of prince, an icon. prince was found unresponsive this morning at his home, paisley park studios in minnesota. what do we know now about what happened at paisley park today? >> reporter: well, you know, that's the big question so far. we know he was found unresponsive inside an elevator and a 911 call was made, and someone was calling 911 to say they needed to get someone here as quick as possible. they didn't have the location. they kept saying prince's house. and the 911 call keeps going on, and they said we need an address because we can't track this cell

phone. they tried to perform cpr on prince, but it did not work. he was blpronounced dead. this is quite breathtaking for some of us standing out here for quite some time. for all of those who decided to show up here. so many people come here all the time. just to get some of the essence of this, when you stand here, it's a different story, because you see people from all over, people who obviously have been touched by prince, the artist, who are standing together sharing stories about him. we saw one artist painting in the background, someone was taking pictures of it, telling stories about what their favorite song was or how he impacted their life. this has been going on for several hours. and the police have been on the inside trying to make sure no one runs through the gates. there's music being played over there by the fence right now as people show up, place flowers and pictures and talk about

stories about how prince, the artist and his music has touched their hearts forever. >> ryan young at paisley park there, thank you for your reporting. i want to bring in one of the purple one's friends. she says he was an inspiration, and that's none other than super model naomi campbell who joins me on the phone. he touched so many lives. how are you? what did he mean to you? >> caller: he's been a very good friend. he was a very, very caring person. some people might say he was arrogant because he was so shy. but he just meant to me so much. i grew up with him and his music, and i can't imagine how his family and friends and fans must feel today, because i am

devastated. paralyzed and numb. >> i am so sorry, naomi. where were you when you heard? i know that you're traveling. how did you find about his death? >> caller: i'm in saudi arabia working. and you just don't believe it when you hear a thing like this. i heard it and thought it was a joke. and i had to call to my publicist in new york, because i just wanted to be clear that i understood right. and he said no. definitely, he said no, it's true. you just don't want to believe that. you know, i don't, most of the time, a lot of the time i got to

know him through donatella versace. he was so close before, during, very much after johnny was killed and so supportive of the versace family. so i basically grew up working, knowing him for about 17 and knowing him throughout my working time with versace. and after that, he would always call and tell me when he was going to be in new york or paris or london, and i never missed a concert. i didn't care if i had to get up out of my bed, because he was someone who would not sleep and play, once he'd play a big concert, he would play another concert after that. he was so generous and giving to his fans and to all that loved his music. and he would just keep on giving. and, you know, i don't think anyone in the world will sleep

tonight, hoping they will wake up and this is a dream and it didn't happen. >> i thought about this because i just saw you a couple weeks ago at your book launch, and everything was purple. you're wearing a purple sequinned gown. >> my favorite color. >> did prince inspire you in any way? it was very purple rain prince. >> for everyone in fashion, they know my favorite color is purple. johnny was always making me purple dresses all the time. i mean, anyone that's ever worked for my and quite a few people in my 30 years, but who hasn't been inspired by "purple rain." i remember when i wasn't even in fashion i wanted the shirt and the tie and the purple shoes and jacket. i wanted, i dyed my hair purple once. >> but he inspired you to wear an afro. i heard you tell my friend wendy

williams that he inspired you to wear an afro again. >> caller: yeah, i was very upset one time, and i was being pressed and i didn't like the way the pr and promotion was put out there, and i thought i'd wear an afro and be rebellious, and i wore an afro the whole press promotion, and i did see prince after, and that definitely inspired me. he was unpredictable. he never played the same concert twice. never going to be. i mean, in the 20 days that he played in london, i think i went 11 times, and it was never the same. the concert was always different. i was there when amy winehouse performed with him. he was a genius. we've lost such a genius. >> well, naomi, i can feel your heart's broken and devastated,

and our hearts go out to you and your family and friends. you take care of yourself, okay? >> caller: thank you, thank you. bye-bye. >> naomi campbell. we'll be right back. but first, ""the new yorker" paying tribute to prince with this cover, saying quote, albums still matter, like with books and black lives, albums still matter tonight and always. one of his most successful albums was the sound track to his 1984 movie "purple rain." and "when doves cry." ♪ purple rain ♪ purple rain ♪

♪ purple rain real is touching a ray. amazing is moving like one. real is making new friends.

amazing is getting this close. real is an animal rescue. amazing is over twenty-seven thousand of them. there is only one place where real and amazing live. seaworld. real. amazing went to ancestry, i put in the names of my grandparents first. i got a leaf right away. a leaf is a hint that is connected to each person in your family tree. i learned that my ten times great grandmother is george washington's aunt. within a few days i went from knowing almost nothing to holy crow, i'm related to george washington. this is my cousin george. discover your story. start searching for free now at ancestry.com

it's and as fans of awesome tv shows! because we are the couch-dwellers, the binge-watchers, the work-skippers! and we refuse to waste the greatest tv week this proud nation has ever known! but time is scarce my friends, so fetch your fancy voice remotes and join me! three, two, one... watchathon! big is back. xfinity watchathon week now until april 24. the greatest collection of shows free with xfinity on demand.

♪ purple rain ♪ the i-35 w bridge in naemts lit up in purple tonight to honor prince. right now joining me, michelle turner, host of "entertainment tonight." thank you for coming on. i know it's a tough moment. but i want to start with michelle to give us some of the news as the entertainment reporter here. such a shock, isn't it? >> reporter: oh, this is a tough one, don, it really is, my friend. it's one of those ones, steve harvey tweeted earlier today, this hurts like mj. like michael. it really does. there are so many fans out here just to pay their respects. but one thing that has struck me about this crowd. it's so quiet.

it's eerily silent. they're just standing here and feeling. it's hard to get words for this one today, and probably because i'm just like the rest of the folks out here, at the end of the day, i'm just a big fan. >> what are you hearing, michelle, about his final days? >> reporter: you know, there's a lot of information still to be known, of course, don. there's information starting to trickle out. and what we are reporting on entertainment tonight this evening and going forward, sources close to our kevin frazier are telling us that prince did indeed have the flu, that that flu turned into walking pneumonia, that he was also battling a hip injury. a source told kevin that prince, quote, was not healthy. but we won't really know everything until the autopsy comes out. there is still a lot of information to be known, and of course we are following this story, because it does seem, you know, really crazy to see him one day so up and playing

concerts and then the next day we're here, all of us reporting on the fact that he has passed away. we hope to uncover the next few days. >> and that autopsy happening tomorrow. hi, van. >> hey. >> so van, you and i have been talking all night. so what do you want to say? >> well, i just want to say that he wasn't just a musician. he was an incredible musician. but that, there was a core of genius that used music to express itself. but he also was an incredible humanitarian. he was a jehovah's witness, so he was not allowed to speak public by about any of his good acts, but i was one of the people in his life who helped him with all of that. he created something called "yes we code." they have 15 technology

companies working with kids in the hood. that was prince. he worked for something called "green for all." he put the money in. there are people who have solar panels on their house that they don't know prince paid for them. he was the kind of friend, kind of like you, don, he doesn't care if you're having a good day. that's not when he's there. it's when you're having a bad day, he comes to the rescue. and there are so many people, i'll never forget, don, i landed in a plane that landed. and my phone rang, and it's prince, and i said what's going on? and he said where are her kids? where are her kids? i said what are you talking about? lauryn hill, he found out she was in trouble. and he wanted to know where are her kids and how can we help. i guarantee you, anybody struggling, anywhere in the world, he was sending checks. he was making phone calls, but he did not want it to be known

publicly, and he did not want us to say it, but i'm going to say it, because the world needs to know that it wasn't just the music. the music was one way he was trying to help the world, but he was helping every single day of his life. >> van, as a friend and a loved one, what are you guys dealing with today? >> just guilt. feelin' like what could we have done? what happened? and just feelin' like now people will start talking, and you'll start hearing, he was such a private person that everybody in the inner circle and people got on tv, if you got on tv bragging about knowing prince you're not going to know prince tomorrow because he doesn't like that. now you're going to hear all these people coming out, oh, he mentored me, he helped me. he was there for us when we were down. when i left the white house.

he was the first person to call. al gore called and he called me. and he said come over. he had me come to his house, and he sat me down. i was just feelin' so low. and he looked at me, and he said why are you so sad? and i said because i had this great job. i was working in the white house, doing good things he said you're going to do good things again, he said let me tell you what you do, man, go to jerusalem, stay there for two weeks and pray, and when you come back, sit down and give me a blank piece of paper, and you write on there everything you want to do that you think will help the community, and i will help you do it. okay? so i went from working for a president to working with prince. and every single thing that i said, i said we've got to go to chicago and do something about violence. we did three concerts in chicago, don, three, and every community group there he brought in, and he didn't let -- there were no vendors, only community groups to help. we went to baltimore. i mean, we went to new orleans. there were so many things that

he did. those concerts that he was doing were cover for him to be able to go into cities and help organizations. >> hmm. >> and help leaders and touch people. and i want people to understand. now, and all the rest of us. quit talking just about the music. everybody that's been on this whole thing knows his humanitarian part as well. and how many people he's helped. and i know that we're not supposed to talk about it, but it's important that people know. when you make to his level, he said i don't need anymore attention. but i can't be in this world and see this much pain and suffering and not do something. don't give me the credit. don't give me the glory, but he pushed all of us to do more, and we all did more, and i want him to be known for that, too. >> and i was -- thank you for that, van. that was special. thank you. i've been watching you all day, and talking to you and texting you on the phone ansent yd i se a note saying take a breath. were you so out of breath. appreciate you being so candid

with the audience. so, michelle, to van's point, he was not really comfortable with fame. he loved the artistry. he had a complicated relationship with fame. let's listen to this larry king. >> are you interested in the personal lives of other people? >> michael jordan? who. >> yeah, are you interested, michael joshden, you're a big fan of michael jordan. are you interested in how his marriage goes? >> no. >> interested in how he gets along with his children? >> no. just interested in how he gets along with that rim. >> well said. >> so, michelle, would prince be uncomfortable with the way that we're discussing him tonight? >> probably. probably very uncomfortable. but, you know, i think also one of the things that he did love, and i know van said, you know, stop talking so much about the music, but i think that the music also helped us get a

little piece of this person who was an enigma, but who was so brilliant, and for a lot of us of our generation, his music was the sound track of our lives in so many ways, and i can tell you the first time that i saw "purple rain", and the feeling i felt and i fell in love with this man who was andronlness in so many ways and i didn't understand how i was attracted to this man who was so very feminine but so fantastic. all of those things were about the music in a lot of ways for me, but it's interesting hearing that larry king clip, because i remember the first time i met prince, and it was at a basketball game. it was at a lakers game, and he was sitting front row with snoop dogg and hanging out, and i was so nervous to say hello to him because i didn't know what he would be like. but when i said hello, he looked me straight in the eye and said "hey, sister, how are you."

and he was soft-spoken and polite and wonderful. he would be, he would probably be very uncomfortable. but i would tend to say i don't care, because i think he's that fantastic of an artist that we have to celebrate that music. >> van, hold on, we're going to do another segment with you. i'll get your thoughts. but to your point, michelle, he was a gentleman, he was thoughtful, and they don't really make them like that anymore. it's oh, so important to have those old-fashioned values. so stand by. but first, an early prince song, a 1981 song "controversy." it pulls no punches. ♪ controversy ♪ ♪ controversy ♪ inds me of like a monster chef. uh oh. i don't see cake, i just see mess. it's like awful. it feels like i am not actually cleaning it up

what's that make mommy do? (doorbell) what's that? swiffer wetjet. so much stuff coming up. this is amazing woah. wow. now i feel more like making a mess is part of growing up. stop cleaning. start swiffering.

go to ziprecruiter.com and post your job? to over 100 of the web's leading job boards with a single click, then simply select the best candidates from one easy-to-review list. and now you can use ziprecruiter for free. go to ziprecruiter.com/offer5

looking live now, these are live pictures, the crowd outside the first avenue club in minneapolis where an all-night dance party is going on in prince's honor. the purple one sat down for a rare in depth interview with

larry king and explained why he dropped his name and replaced it with an unpronounceable symbol formally becoming known as the artist formally known aspirins. >> you're a symbol. how do you promote a symbol? >> well, what we found is throughout the world, if you hold this up and show it to people what they think of, they will say prince. >> obviously. so you obviously made it famous. >> yeah, i think so. yeah. >> can you tell us what it signifies? >> me. >> how you chose it. you designed it? >> it's sort of come about over time. i've always morphed the female and the male symbol together. >> sew how me again. let me see it. and it works. >> it's very cool, ain't it? makes for great jewelry, too.

>> back with me now, great friend of prince, van jones and the host of "entertainment tonight" michelle turner. so van, he recently celebrated a huge mile stone, i spoke with aretha franklin about it, about owning his own catalog. that was huge. >> yes. >> wow. >> yes. part of the reason that that symbol came into being, he didn't talk about it then. there was a lawsuit going on. as a young person, 17, 19 years old, he signed these contracts that essentially gave everything to the record industry. even his name. now his mother named him prince rogers nelson. that wasn't a stage name, and yet in this legal fight, they said you can't even record under the name prince. and that was a searing injury for him. he said my mom named me prince, how can i not use the name my mother gave me?

and he started writing the word slave on the side of his face. and he said i'm going to use this symbol nobody can pronounce and i'm going to get my music. and that set off a 20-year war to get his masters back, his catalog back. and i was in the room when it happened. and a young woman named faydra, she had no law degree. a tough sister, organized labor background, and she beat the crap out of these executives and got him his masters back and his whole catalog. and the weight, i mean, it was, to see the weight come off of a human being, nobody understood that that injury was in his mind every minute of every day, until he finally got his music back. he was a black man whose music was stolen by the industry. and who got it back. and i say that deliberately, a black man, because he saw what

happened to james brown. he saw the struggles of the jimi hendrix. of little richard. of sly and the family stone, of larry graham, all of the greats who had come before him. all of them, the industry beat them, and he emerged victorious before he died. and i give thanks and honor and praise to faydra lamb kikins. and i take that forever that he got his music back. >> you have to be strong and fearless. >> oh, yeah. >> and even lose your name. i lost his name at one point and got it back as van said. >> well, it's the ultimate story of betting on yourself, and van is right. i've been talking to a lot of celebrities today that i'm good friends with, and like van said, if you bragged about being friends with prince you weren't

going to be friends with him the next day. people that i'm very close to, talking to them today, finding out the relationships they had with prince that i didn't even know about and how close they were with him, and talking about and van was mentioning this, yes, he was a gentleman but just funny, and he was a man, and he was a homeboy, and he was all of these things that a lot of people didn't know. just didn't know. but the private prince, he was a brother, he was a brother to so many people, and i think that's fantastic, and it hurts to have to talk about this now. but i think it's wonderful for the world to know just how complex and wonderful this man was to so many people beyond the music, like van was saying. >> i want to read this to both of you and to the audience. this is from the white house today. it says today the world lost a creative icon. a michelle and i join millions of fans around the worldmourni in

mourning the loss of prince. 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 brilliant bandleader and electrifying performer. a strong spirit transskends rules, prince said. our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his band, and all who loved him. you said everybody is talking about the music. listen, he could do everything. he could write. he could play the keyboard, we know the guitar. he was prolific in his writing. he could sing. but also he was an incredible businessman. he could do it all in this industry, which is what most artists aspire to be. >> well, i mean, across the board, and one of his great, another great thing was him getting a chance to play in the obama white house. that was something that he had wanted to do and was able to do

before the end. and then the crazy thing was, then he goes on this most recent tour. and he says he wants to just be him and a piano and a microphone. and we all just thought, okay, he'll change his mind tomorrow, because he likes to have, you know, 12 horns and all that stuff and the dancers. and he goes no. no. for me, it was bizarre, because when you're at the house, everybody has to play. i mean, i don't have any musical talent, but he handed me a tambourine. everybody has to play. he just loves everybody playing. now how is he going to go and sit on that stage with no band, and it was brilliant. these last shows were brilliant. that atlanta show was beyond brilliant, and it was almost like he just wanted to show the world, if you strip it all down, take away the horn section, take away all the extra keyboards, take away the dancers, take away everything. just give me from here to here, just this keyboard, and one

microphone, and i can move the whole world, and he did. >> that's how you know. >> and he did it. >> that's how you know when someone's talented. when they can sit there with just the keyboard or themselves and their voice and do it. final word, michelle. >> what i was just going to say, van was talking about being at the house and those type of things. just so you all know, the hottest invitation every in hollywood was the impromptu parties that prince would throw. if you got an invitation, if you were at that party, that was a memory you took forever, but everybody wanted to be at a prince house party, and i never got an invitation, so van, you're a lucky fella. >> there in are lots of parties going on tonight, celebrating the life of prince. >> absolutely. >> there are live pictures now from minnesota, minneapolis that we're looking at. thanks to both of you. coming up, what prince said in one of his last interviews.

i think we should've taken a tarzan know where tarzan go! tarzan does not know where tarzan go. hey, excuse me, do you know where the waterfall is? waterfall? no, me tarzan, king of jungle. why don't you want to just ask somebody? if you're a couple, you fight over directions. it's what you do. if you want to save fifteen percent or more on car insurance, you switch to geico. oh ohhhhh it's what you do. ohhhhhh! do you have to do that right in my ear?

as long as you love me, it's alright bend me shape me, any way you want me... shape the best sleep of your life. sleep number beds with sleepiq technology adjust any way you want it. the bed that moves you. only at a sleep number store. if you have moderate to severe plaque psoriasis isn't it time to let the real you shine through? introducing otezla, apremilast. otezla is not an injection, or a cream. it's a pill that treats plaque psoriasis differently. some people who took otezla

saw 75% clearer skin after 4 months. and otezla's prescribing information has no requirement for routine lab monitoring. don't take otezla if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. otezla may increase the risk of depression. tell your doctor if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts, or if these feelings develop. some people taking otezla reported weight loss. your doctor should monitor your weight and may stop treatment. side effects may include diarrhea, nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, and headache. tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, and if you're pregnant or planning to be. ask your dermatologist about otezla today. otezla. show more of you.

presence was famously cautious about what he shared with the media, so joining me now, the woman who did the last billboard cover story on prince. gail mitchell is a senior correspondent with "billboard"

magazine. thank you for coming on. i wish it was under better circumstances, okay? >> me too. >> you wrote the last interview with prince. you flew to minneapolis to speak with prince at paisley park. you were nervous going into this interview. why were you? >> i was nervous, because for one thing, i got a call late sunday afternoon, i flew out on a monday morning, late sunday afternoon, asking me, have you ever talked to prince? we want to you fly out to his paisley park and interview him first thing in the morning, and we knew at that point we were giving him the icon award, and we were introducing the new design of "billboard", so i was excited, because he was at the top of my wish list to talk to. in all of my years at "billboard", but second, i knew he didn't like people recording him and taking notes, but i

thought since it's going to be paisley park, and i was texting asking can i record him and then destroy the tape? no. can i take a couple notes go my notebook? no. i didn't now what to expect because i am a rab id prince fan like a lot of folks are, and just trying to mull in my head, how do i do all of this, embrace this opportunity and not be the fan girl and go oh, my god, it's prince, but inside, that's what i was doing when i got there to the studio. >> that's what i do when i interview people like aretha franklin or prince, in your life, i doesn't want to be a fan, i don't want to be a fan, but we're just human. prince was in the middle of rehearsing when you arrived. so what was it like at paisley park? >> well, you walk in, because the cabby, i'd never been to minnesota. and then i tell the cabby, i give him the address, and it's just this, it just looked like a

warehouse. and the cabby, and it's winter, january, winter. there's ice in the parking lot. he's looking at me, because there's no signs, i guess i thought i was going to see the symbol in front announcing it's paisley park, and he's looking at me going are we in the right place? and i said i think so. and then the manager came out and walked me in. and you saw the symbol as soon as you walk in. and he was in, as you said, he was rehearsing. he was auditioning with a girl band, auditioning for a drummer. and i was in this vast studio, i guess, where he did a lot of jam sessions and parties and things, and he's on top of this tall platform with, i'd say, about 15 steps, and he came down and took my hand and walked me up the steps, so i'm sitting up on top of the platform with him and the ladies, and he asked me, you know, what do you want to hear, and one of my favorites is "let's go crazy", but i really

wanted to hear "sexy mf", which i knew i couldn't ask him to do at this point, but it was just something to be sitting next to him as he played the piano and the guitar. >> in your "billboard " story, you said i was reluctant to let you come until i heard you wanted to do a story about ownership. he famously dissolved his relationship with warner bros. he wanted to emancipate himself from the label and eventually ended up getting his music catalog back. tell me about that. >> well, he had gotten wind that i was writing about, i was going to write an essay about ownership, black radio station ownership and how those numbers were declining. and it fit in with his whole thought process on ownership,

and you know, way before anybody today thought about owning their masters and things like that and controlling everything, that was prince. he was diy, you know, following in the footsteps of sam cook and ray charles. but before we even talked anything about music or anything at all, he took me in the conference room and said we need to sit down and talk to see if we're going to vibe before we go any further. and that's the first thing he talked about, the ownership, meeting with different companies to see if he wanted to sign up with anybody. and he just want too sure about all that, because, again, he thought that it was at the mercy of the artist, and the artists weren't being treated very well, and he didn't want to deal with that situation anymore. >> gail mitchell. thank you. you take care. >> thank you. you too. >> here's a good measure of just how well loved prince music is and how well loved prince s you're looking at the top 15

songs on itunes tonight. every one of them prince. same holds true for albums. the top ten, all prince. just in case you're wondering why we're covering this so much. there you go. we'll be back, but first here's the hit "the most beautiful girl in the world." his only single to reach number one in the u.k. ♪ could you be the most beautiful girl in the world ♪ ♪ ♪ it's plain to sigh see ♪, it you're the reason god mad girl ♪ mountains, and racetracks. and now much of that same advanced technology is found in the new audi a4. with one notable difference...

the all-new audi a4, with available traffic jam assist. wrely on the us postal service? because when they ship with us, their business becomes our business. that's why we make more e-commerce deliveries to homes than anyone else in the country. here, there, everywhere. united states postal service priority: you

go to ziprecruiter.com and post your job? to over 100 of the web's leading job boards with a single click, then simply select the best candidates from one easy-to-review list. and now you can use ziprecruiter for free. go to ziprecruiter.com/offer5

♪ the world mourning the death of a superstar tonight. you're looking at the historic apollo theater in harlem, where fans have been gathering all night to pay tribute to prince. this is cnn tonight, i'm don lemon. the superdome is lit in purple. prince rogers nelson found unresponsive in an elevator at paisley park studios. the cause of death still unknown, but prince leaves an incredible legacy of pop, rock, funk and soul behind, songs you can't help but dance to, like "baby, i'm a star." ♪ hey, look m