Prince honoured with memorial

12 May 2016

Prince's ex-wives and close friends celebrated his life at a private memorial on Wednesday (11.05.16).

Prince

Manuela Testolini and Mayte Garcia were joined at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills by the likes of Gwen Stefani, Spike Lee, Eric Benet, Dita Von Teese, Larry King, Janelle Monae, Tony Kanal, Nile Rodgers, Herbie Hancock and Tavis Smiley for an event in honour of the late singer, who was found dead at his Minnesota estate last month.

According to Billboard, keyboardist Greg Phillinganes opened the "sombre" occasion with a performance of 'Sometimes it Snows in April', while Janelle Monae and Esperanza Spalding also sang Prince songs for those assembled.

Prince's former spouses and Omarr Baker - the son of the singer's mother Mattie and her second husband Hayward Baker - spoke of their time with Prince, while Spike, Nile, Mavis Staples, Recording Academy president Neil Portnow and Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were among those who spoke out.

Spike - who dressed head to toe in purple in honour of his friend - reportedly told guests another event in Prince's honour will take place in Brooklyn on June 7, what would have been the 'Raspberry Beret' hitmaker's 58th birthday.

It was previously claimed Prince was cremated just two days after his death on April 21, and a memorial took place at his Paisley Park estate but Mayte, who he was married to from 1996 to 2000, and Manuela - who he wed in 2001 before divorcing her five years later - were not invited.

Mayte, 42, recently admitted she is still finding it hard to talk about her ex-husband's death.

She said: "As you know, Prince is no longer with us.

"It is extremely difficult for me, and that is why I have chosen not to discuss it."

While she is finding it hard to talk about Prince, Mayte spoke tearfully about the passing of their son, Boy Gregory, who suffered from rare genetic disorder Pfeiffer syndrome and died just a week after he was born in 1996, and how she felt "broken" and "lost hope" when he died.

Speaking at Single Mom's Planet's Single Mom's Awards in Los Angeles last week, she said: "Like most women, I always dreamt of becoming a mother.

"Unfortunately, I got pregnant, lost the baby months later and then lost my marriage.

"It just wasn't my time yet. After that, I was broken. And I lost hope. I basically gave up my dream of becoming a mom."