Color institute creates purple shade to honor Prince

The Associated Press

7 years ago

Prince performs at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., Feb. 18, 1985. The Pantone Color institute and the estate of the late music superstar announced a new shade of purple on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, named for his famous love symbol. (Liu Heung Shing/AP, File)

This image provided by the Pantone Color Institute shows “Love Symbol #2” that the institute and the estate of the late music superstar Prince announced as a new shade of purple Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, named for his famous love symbol. (Pantone Color Institute via AP)

NEW YORK — A shade of purple named for the late superstar Prince was announced Monday by the icon’s estate.

The “Purple Rain” hue created by the Pantone Color Institute was dubbed “Love Symbol #2,” paying tribute to his custom Yamaha piano and the squiggly graphic Prince began using as his name in 1993 in a testy battle with Warner Bros. Records over ownership of some of his biggest hits. He switched back to Prince as a name in 2000 after his Warner contract expired.

Prince died in April 2016 at age 57 of an opioid overdose, according to authorities.