Teacher breaks down playing Prince to his class after singer's death

A teacher heartbroken by the news of Prince's death has broken down in front of his class in an outpouring of grief that has touched thousands mourning the singer's death.

Matthew Patterson, an English teacher at Banneker High School in, College Park, Georgia, in the US, removed his glasses and held his head in his hands as he played to his class classic tracks by the legendary performer yesterday.

One student filmed the emotional moment that has resonated with Prince's millions of fans shocked at his sudden death aged 57.

"It hit me like a ton of bricks," Mr Patterson told the New York Daily News after the video spread online.

"I talked (to my class) about what Prince meant to me as an artist and a brave performer and a person unwilling to take stuff from record companies.

"I've been listening to Prince since I was seven … I must've spent thousands and thousands of hours listening to Prince. I was just a huge fan."