"As history looks back on the contributions he made, he will be remembered in the same legion as Aaron Copland and many, many of the great composers who broke new genre and new ground,” Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) said this morning as the Minnesota Senate honored Prince. “We’re proud of course that sound that he produced, that incredible joyous music he produced, came from Minnesota."

Nine senators took turns reading from a resolution honoring Prince this morning, followed by a moment of silence for the late music icon. Sen. Karin Housley (R-St. Marys Point) is proposing legislation declaring purple to be Minnesota's state color, and this evening, the Minnesota House of Representatives paid tribute similarly. Below, see video from the Senate and House tributes:

Rep. Peggy Flanagan sings “Purple Rain" on the House floor: