Tyka Nelson, songwriter and singer who was Prince’s only full sibling, dies at 64

Tyka Nelson, songwriter and singer who was Prince's only full sibling, dies at 64

As a seasoned movie buff with a soft spot for musical biopics and family dramas, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of melancholy upon hearing the news about Tyka Nelson’s passing. The younger sister of the legendary Prince, she was more than just a singer; she was a story waiting to be told, a chapter in the larger narrative of one of music’s most enigmatic figures.


64-year-old Tyka Nelson, a renowned singer from Minneapolis who is the little sister of iconic musician Prince, has passed away.

As a devoted fan, I’ve always held a special place in my heart for the legendary “Purple Rain” musician and composer, Prince. I was deeply saddened to learn that his only full sibling, my mother, passed away on Monday. While details regarding her demise are scarce at this moment, I can confirm the news through the Minneapolis Star Tribune. As for Prince’s estate, they have yet to provide a comment, but they did acknowledge her death to Variety. The cause of her passing remains undisclosed.

According to a post on her Facebook page on Monday, Tyka Nelson (1960-2024) indicated that it’s time for a change in direction. She expressed her longing for the jazz genre, hinting at its finality, and mentioned the fourth day of November as significant, possibly alluding to a need for some form of purple solace or inspiration.

Another way to phrase it could be: “Tyka Evene Nelson’s cousin, Charles ‘Chazz’ Smith, has confirmed her passing. He posted on Facebook: ‘Our family is deeply sorrowed to announce the death of my cousin, Tyka Evene Nelson, who passed away this morning.’

From 1988 to 2011, as reported by the Star Tribune, the musician put out four albums in total. The paper stated that she had planned to retire following a farewell performance last June; however, she had to cancel due to health issues.

She admitted back then that while she isn’t primarily a singer, she is indeed a writer who also has the ability to sing. She finds pleasure in vocalizing her melodies, and she was disclosing that she was engaged in writing her memoirs at the time.

His brother, a renowned music artist who blended various genres, passed away in 2016 following an accidental fentanyl overdose. Known for his contributions to rock and roll, he died at the age of 57 without a will. This led to one of the most complex probate court cases in Minnesota history, involving disagreements among his six siblings as they fought over his substantial estate worth millions.

Tyka Nelson emerged as the sole full sibling of “When Doves Cry” singer Prince, both being offspring of John L. Nelson and Mattie Della Shaw. Just under a month after her elder brother’s demise, she testified in Minnesota’s Carver County District Court, expressing her belief that Prince had no spouse, children or surviving parents at the time of his death, and was unaware of any existing will.

The complicated case was settled in August 2022 when a Minnesota judge approved an agreement to divide the estate among Prince Legacy LLC and Prince Oat Holdings LLC, companies that were formed to represent the various siblings and heirs. Prince Legacy previously represented the interests of Prince’s half siblings Sharon Nelson, John R. Nelson and Norrine Nelson. Meanwhile, Prince Oat Holdings was owned by the music publishing company Primary Wave Music, which acquired the rights to Prince’s extensive song catalog when three heirs (Tyka Nelson, Omarr Baker and Alfred Jackson) sold their shares to it in August 2021.

Back in January, I found myself embroiled in a legal dispute as a fan of Prince’s legacy. According to reports from Forbes, certain family members of the late icon – my half-sisters Sharon Nelson and Norrine Nelson, his niece Breanna Nelson, and nephew Allen Nelson – allegedly attempted to unjustly remove the manager from the company, infringing upon Prince’s estate in an improper manner.

Tyka Nelson’s family members who remain are her sons named President and Sir, along with her half-siblings Sharon Nelson, Norrine Nelson, and Omarr Baker. Sadly, her half-brother Alfred Jackson passed away in 2019, and John R. Nelson also died in 2021.

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2024-11-05 21:01

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