ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera and Chaka Khan topped the bill for an all-star concert tribute planned for Thursday in memory of Prince, six months after the influential pop star died of an accidental prescription drug overdose.
The show is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. local time at Xcel Energy Center, an arena in St. Paul, Minnesota, about 30 miles west of the Paisley Park home-studio complex where Prince died in April at age 57.
The 17,000 concert seats, ranging in price from $19.99 to $152.50, sold out in minutes. The concert will follow a free, outdoor preshow party open to the public.
St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman is expected to declare Thursday "Prince Day" in honor of the genre-defying, Grammy-winning performer, and several of St. Paul's biggest landmarks will be illuminated in purple lighting at night.
In addition to Wonder, Aguilera and Khan, the three hours of live music slated for the concert will include performances by Anita Baker, Tori Kelly, the R&B ensemble Mint Condition and members of two of Prince's backing bands - New Power Generation and 3rdEyeGirl.
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Also on the bill are such members of his inner circle as Morris Day & the Time, Judith Hill and Liv Warfield.
One well-known Prince associate who is reported to be missing Thursday's tribute is his former percussionist Sheila E., who the Minneapolis StarTribune has said was booked for a show in New York as part of her own tour.
Remembered for such hits as "Purple Rain," "When Doves Cry" "Let's Go Crazy" and "Kiss," Prince blended elements of jazz, funk, R&B, disco and rock in a prolific output of more than 30 albums that have sold over 36 million copies in the United States alone since 1978.
He was also known as fiercely determined to maintain creative control over his music, famously changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol for several years during a bitter contract battle with Warner Bros.
