"The doves are really crying now," American media mogul Oprah Winfrey said about the death of legendary musician Prince

"The doves are really crying now," American media mogul Oprah Winfrey said about the death of legendary musician Prince, referencing his song When Doves Cry.

The 57-year-old artist died Thursday morning at his home outside the northern U.S. city of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The cause of death has not been determined. The results of an autopsy scheduled Friday are expected to take several days, authorities say.

Sheriff's officials say deputies found music superstar Prince unresponsive in an elevator after they were summoned to his suburban compound.  He was pronounced dead after their attempts to revive him failed. 

An unidentified male who called the 911 operator to get emergency help for Prince did not know the address of the musician's home, according to a transcript of the conversation.  He said "We're at Prince's house....And the people are just distraught."

Prince was hospitalized last week.  His private plane made an emergency landing in Illinois following concerts in Georgia. No details were released at the time regarding his health.

Prince was not a stage name.  He was born Prince Rogers Nelson in Minneapolis on June 7, 1958. 

"For the residents of Minneapolis, the loss of Prince is too large to describe," Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges said in a statement.  "He was one of us.  He gave us more opportunities to hear his music than anyone else.  What a blessing. Only now may we realize how lucky we were."

VOA