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Reporting tonight. dean, thank you. the rock 'n' roll hall of fame says that prince "rewrote the rule book, forging a synthesis of black funk and white rock that served as a blueprint for cutting edge music in the '80s." vladimir duthiers has the man and his music. ♪ this is what it sounds like when doves cry ♪ >> reporter: he was a prodigy, an icon, and a provocateur. earning him the nickname "his royal badness" with songs like "darling nikki" about a one- night stand prompting warning labels on albums for the first time. ♪ ♪ he sang, wrote, produced and was known to shred on the guit...

>> things have been open for me because of his music. he broke down walls. he broke down barriers. he brought people together. the impact is profound. >> reporter: president obama paid his respects by quoting him, "a strong spirit transcends rules," prince once said, and added the president, "nobody's spirit was stronger, bolder or more creative." tributes to the legend by fellow artists have set instagram and twitter on fire. from elton john, "the greatest performer i have ever seen." from friend spike lee, "i miss my brother. prince was a funny cat, great sense of humor." and from oprah, "th...

Prince first broke through in the music world in the late 1970s with hits like "i want to be your lover" ♪ little red corvette but it was his music in the 1980s, forging funk and rock, that catapulted prince to stardom with "little red corvette" and 1999. ♪ so tonight i'm going to party like it's 1999 ♪ ♪ just another manic monday he wrote for other musicians, too, from the bangles to sinead o'connor. ♪ nothing compares to you he won seven grammys during his career and an oscar for original score to the film "purple rain" ♪ only want to see you laughing in the purple rain ♪ joe l...

That's the "cbs evening news" tonight, but we're going to leave you with more of the music of prince. it is from one of his greatest performances, halftime at the super bowl in miami, 2007 on cbs singing "purple rain" in a downpour. ♪ i never meant to cause you any sorrow ♪ i never meant to cause you any pain ♪ i only wanted one time to see you laughing, baby ♪ >> well, i think music not only should it be entertaining, but it should try to uplift you in some form or fashion. ♪ purple rain, purple rain ♪ purple rain, purple rain ♪ >> that's all right, come on, y'all. i think that'...

Follow him. that's a legacy right there. >> reporter: a legacy cemented in 2004 when he was inducted into the rock 'n' roll hall of fame. he talked about one essential thing to make his stardom possible. >> the freedom to produce, freedom to play all the instruments on my records, freedom to say anything i wanted to. ♪ i embarked on a journey more fascinating than i could have ever imagined. i wish all of you the best on this fascinating journey. it ain't over. peace. >> reporter: hundreds of fans have gathered here at new york's apollo theater where he played in 1993 to pay tribute to the m...