Prince Memorial to Be Held at LA City Hall

LOS ANGELES, CA - A memorial service for Prince will be held at Los Angeles City Hall next Friday, event organizers said today.

The May 6 memorial was originally scheduled for 11 a.m. but is now set for 5 p.m. to allow more people to attend, according to organizer Najee Ali.

Ali also organized a candlelight vigil for Prince in Leimert Park last Thursday, the same day the musician was found dead in an elevator at his Paisley Park home in Minnesota at the age of 57.

Ali, who is director of Project Islamic Hope, said the City Hall memorial service will be a "celebration of Prince's life, music and his legacy."

With the singer "being cremated so quickly at a private, small memorial service in Minnesota," his fans in Los Angeles did not have the opportunity to have "true closure," Ali said.

Ali said he has reached out to radio station KJLH-FM 102.3, which is owned by musician Stevie Wonder, to help sponsor the event, as no public money has been allocated.

Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson has agreed to help reserve City Hall space for the memorial, Ali said.

A master of showmanship, Prince created a musical style of his own, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. His hits included "When Doves Cry," "1999," "Raspberry Beret," "Kiss" and "Little Red Corvette."

His talent was on full display in the 1984 film "Purple Rain," which became a cult sensation and propelled him to superstardom.

Prince -- born Prince Rogers Nelson -- won an Oscar for best original song for "Purple Rain." He also won seven Grammys.

Photo courtesy of Joe Fox ‏@joemfox