NEW ORLEANS - Impromptu tributes to Prince punctuated the opening day of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Strains of Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" wafted over the crowd from one stage Friday morning. On another, local favorite Wanda Rouzan noted the pop music icon's Thursday death, and that of New Orleans writer, performer and record producer Allen Toussaint, who died in November.

Later, on still another stage, Cowboy Mouth lead singer Fred Leblanc, mentioned the passing before launching into the band's popular "l Believe," a song about the power of love and rock 'n' roll.

The Southern Rock band Gov't Mule, one of Friday evening's closing acts, tweeted praise for Prince on Thursday and was expected to pay homage during its performance on the festival's Gentilly stage.