DC remembers music legend Prince

WASHINGTON - Washington D.C. is paying tribute to Prince after news of his death spread throughout the city on Thursday.

In his final concerts in the nation's capital, the 57-year-old pop superstar performed two shows at the Warner Theatre last year in June with his all-female funk-rock group 3RDEYEGIRL during his HITnRUN Tour. He was honored on the music venue's marquee Thursday. A candlelight memorial was also formed outside the theater in his honor.

The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery is remembering Prince with a photograph of the musician that was taken back in 1993 by Lynn Goldsmith. It will be placed in the museum's In Memoriam space on the first floor Friday morning.

D.C. radio legend Donnie Simpson spoke with FOX 5's Tony Perkins and gave us his thoughts and experiences with the music superstar.

On Thursday afternoon, D.C. radio station WPGC held a Prince tribute party outside of its Southeast D.C. building on Half Street.

At Ben Chili's Bowl, a D.C. landmark in the nation's capital, workers and customers recalled their favorite Prince songs and performed renditions of "Purple Rain" and "Adore" inside the restaurant.

The Capital Wheel shined in all purple in memory of the artist known for songs such as "Purple Rain," "When Doves Cry," and "1999."

Many in our area also got to experience Prince weeks after the death of Freddie Gray and the riots in Baltimore as he headlined a special Rally 4 Peace concert in Baltimore on Mother's Day last year. Prince debuted a new song he wrote for the city in wake of Gray's death.