METRO ATLANTA REMEMBERS POP ICON PRINCE

Private service for popular entertainer follows cremation.

Across a nation mourning the loss of Prince, one of its most iconic artists, purple reigns.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton directed that a bridge in Minneapolis remain bathed in purple light through the weekend.

“Prince, and his music, defined an era,” Dayton said. “Minnesotans and our nation mourn the loss of a great artist today; one who has left an unforgettable mark on music history.”

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed took similar action, and City Hall was lit up in a purple glow Friday night.

“Prince led a singular, dynamic career, spanning four decades and reaching generation after generation of fans. His incredible live performances moved people to dance and to feel,” Reed said. “His memory will be indelibly tied to our city and the fans who celebrated him here.”

The mayor suggested fans play their favorite Prince songs in tribute. (He’s a “Raspberry Beret” man, by the way: “It never fails to put a smile on my face and a song in my heart.”)

Like Atlanta City Hall, the King and Queen towers in Dunwoody also glowed purple Friday night.

Prince died Thursday at 57, one week after two sold-out shows at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre, his final public full-length concerts. Authorities completed an autopsy Friday. The cause of death remains undetermined and officials didn’t comment on tabloid speculation regarding drug use.

Carver County, Minn., Sheriff Jim Olson did say that no signs of trauma were detected and that investigators do not suspect suicide.

Prince was cremated and a group of his “most beloved” family, friends and musicians celebrated him afterward in a small, private service, his publicist told media Saturday.

While answers remained elusive, tributes large and small came together swiftly. The Carmike and AMC theater chains announced plans to show Prince’s film “Purple Rain” in hundreds of theaters nationwide. (See carmike. com or amctheatres.com for details and showtimes.) Locally, the Plaza Theatre plans a special screening at 11:59 p.m. April 28. (Details: plazaatlanta.com.)

Yacht Rock Review plans a “Purple Rain” performance at 7:30 p.m. April 29 in Piedmont Park. (Details: parktavern.com/ events/ yacht-rock-purplerain.)

For a guide to all metro “Purple Rain” screenings, go to http://events.accessatlanta.com/ movie/ purple-rain.

A number of Atlanta radio stations altered their regular programming to drop Prince tunes into their rotations. On a more intimate note, the social messaging app Snapchat added a purple filter.

BEN GRAY / BGRAY@AJC.COM Atlanta City Hall was lit in purple in remembrance of Prince on Friday night. Similar tributes continued over the weekend in other locales.