Spike Lee Honors Prince With Purple People Party in Brooklyn
The late musician would have turned 58 this upcoming Tuesday
Lawrence Yee | June 4, 2016 @ 3:52 PM
Last Updated: June 4, 2016 @ 6:25 PM
Brooklyn was awash in purple Saturday as hundreds of Prince fans took to the streets to celebrate the late musician.
The event, affectionately called the Prince Born Day Purple People Party, came three days before what would have been the singer’s 58th birthday. Spike Lee and Sway served as hosts.
The party kicked off with a live marching band. Lee served as band leader, carrying a golden guitar in the shape of Prince’s symbol.
The band made its way to Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration, where purple-clad fans joined in the festivities, set to the soundtrack of such Prince hits as “Alphabet Street” and “Erotic City.”
There were also live guitar performances and dance-off competitions.
Earlier this week, an autopsy revealed Prince died of an opioid overdose. His body was discovered at his Paisley Park, Minnesota compound on April 21.
Lee, a friend of the late singer’s, threw an impromptu block party on April 22, but today’s festivities were planned far more in advance.
Lee also took a moment to mark the passing of Muhammad Ali on social media, posting an undated and uncredited photo of Prince and Ali together. It depicts the boxer dwarfing the musician and playfully patting his head.
A photo posted by Spike Lee (@officialspikelee) on
Lee served as a contributor for the 1996 Ali documentary “When We Were Kings.”
Watch the kick-off to today’s festivities below.
Spike Lee and the Apollo Throw Prince Parties in NYC
After the sun went down in New York City, Prince fans all over town took to the streets to celebrate the life and career of the legendary rock star. In Brooklyn, Spike Lee threw a block party to celebrate Prince, who recorded the soundtrack for Lee's 1996 film "Girl 6."
All of Prince's greatest hits were played for the roughly 1,000 fans in attendance, with Lee eulogizing the singer from the stoop of his 40 Acres film studio headquarters.
"There's a big party in heaven tonight," he proclaimed.
Meanwhile, in Harlem, the famous Apollo Theater changed its marquee in honor of Prince. Hundreds of fans paid their respects at the venue where the musician performed several times throughout his career, while a PA system blasted his songs for everyone on 125th street to hear.
??'???'???'? | ??"?: @brianmdunn_
A photo posted by MTV (@mtv) on Apr 21, 2016 at 8:19pm PDT
Prince was found dead on Thursday at his Paisley Park compound in Minnesota. Local medical examiners will perform an autopsy on Friday. Prince reportedly had received treatment for a drug overdose earlier in the week.
Remembering Prince: 5 of Legendary Singer's Most Memorable Performances (Videos)
As a part of a rock guitarist All-Star team, Prince performed George Harrison's classic "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" alongside Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood, Tom Petty, and George's son, Dhani.
To ring in the year 2000, Prince pulled out all the stops with a special New Year's Eve concert that featured a duet performance of "American Woman" with Lenny Kravitz.
If you want to see what Prince sounded like in his pre-Revolution days, you can check out this complete concert filmed at the Capitol Theatre in New Jersey in 1982.
Prince's career has been filled with mindblowing performances, but his Super Bowl XLI halftime show in 2007 defines his career. On a stage lit purple and during a torrential Miami downpour, Prince gave his greatest performance of "Purple Rain" ... ever. Even diehard NFL fans remember this more than the beat down the Indianapolis Colts delivered the Chicago Bears.
Prince debuted a new backup band, 3rdeyegirl, in 2014, and they proved they were just as good as the Revolution and the Time when they performed "She's Always In My Hair" on "The Arsenio Hall Show."
1 of 5
From a rain-drenched Super Bowl to duets with other iconic guitarists, Prince put out one great show after another during his historic career
As a part of a rock guitarist All-Star team, Prince performed George Harrison's classic "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" alongside Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood, Tom Petty, and George's son, Dhani.
Hundreds of fans took to the streets of Brooklyn and Harlem to honor the legendary musician
After the sun went down in New York City, Prince fans all over town took to the streets to celebrate the life and career of the legendary rock star. In Brooklyn, Spike Lee threw a block party to celebrate Prince, who recorded the soundtrack for Lee's 1996 film "Girl 6."
All of Prince's greatest hits were played for the roughly 1,000 fans in attendance, with Lee eulogizing the singer from the stoop of his 40 Acres film studio headquarters.
"There's a big party in heaven tonight," he proclaimed.
Meanwhile, in Harlem, the famous Apollo Theater changed its marquee in honor of Prince. Hundreds of fans paid their respects at the venue where the musician performed several times throughout his career, while a PA system blasted his songs for everyone on 125th street to hear.
??'???'???'? | ??"?: @brianmdunn_
A photo posted by MTV (@mtv) on Apr 21, 2016 at 8:19pm PDT
Prince was found dead on Thursday at his Paisley Park compound in Minnesota. Local medical examiners will perform an autopsy on Friday. Prince reportedly had received treatment for a drug overdose earlier in the week.
Remembering Prince: 5 of Legendary Singer's Most Memorable Performances (Videos)
As a part of a rock guitarist All-Star team, Prince performed George Harrison's classic "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" alongside Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood, Tom Petty, and George's son, Dhani.
To ring in the year 2000, Prince pulled out all the stops with a special New Year's Eve concert that featured a duet performance of "American Woman" with Lenny Kravitz.
If you want to see what Prince sounded like in his pre-Revolution days, you can check out this complete concert filmed at the Capitol Theatre in New Jersey in 1982.
Prince's career has been filled with mindblowing performances, but his Super Bowl XLI halftime show in 2007 defines his career. On a stage lit purple and during a torrential Miami downpour, Prince gave his greatest performance of "Purple Rain" ... ever. Even diehard NFL fans remember this more than the beat down the Indianapolis Colts delivered the Chicago Bears.
Prince debuted a new backup band, 3rdeyegirl, in 2014, and they proved they were just as good as the Revolution and the Time when they performed "She's Always In My Hair" on "The Arsenio Hall Show."
1 of 5
From a rain-drenched Super Bowl to duets with other iconic guitarists, Prince put out one great show after another during his historic career
As a part of a rock guitarist All-Star team, Prince performed George Harrison's classic "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" alongside Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood, Tom Petty, and George's son, Dhani.
