Minneapolis musician Tyka Nelson, who was the only full sibling of the iconic artist Prince, passed away on Monday at North Memorial Health located in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. She was 64 years old. Her son, President Nelson, confirmed the news, although details regarding the cause of her death have yet to be revealed, with her son indicating that it may take a few days for answers.
Born in 1960 to jazz musician John L. Nelson and Mattie Della Shaw, Tyka had a musical career that included releasing four albums. Her debut album, “Royal Blue,” was launched in 1988 and featured popular tracks such as “Marc Anthony’s Tune” and “L.O.V.E.” The former enjoyed a notable run on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, securing a peak position at No. 33, while the latter reached No. 52.
In reflecting on her debut album, Tyka had mentioned to the Star Tribune of Minneapolis that it encapsulated various love relationships between men and women. She described her sense of “royal blue” stemming from the absence of her ideal partner, contrasting with her brother’s association with the color purple. Furthermore, she humorously remarked on how people often defined her merely as “Prince’s sister,” not realizing her individuality since their relationship was established from the very beginning of her life.
Critics noted that her musical style differed significantly from her brother’s, highlighting her focus on an adult-contemporary and easy-listening sound that catered to a mature audience. Following her first album, she released “Yellow Moon, Red Sky” in 1992, “A Brand New Me” in 2008, and her final album, “Hustler,” in 2011.
Tyka is survived by her two sons, President and Sir, along with five grandchildren. President Nelson expressed that his mother was primarily recognized as Prince’s sister yet actively worked to honor his legacy through participation in fan and industry gatherings. In a family statement, he mentioned that private services are planned, asking that in lieu of flowers, everyone should look after one another.
It was reported by the Star Tribune that Tyka Nelson intended to retire and planned to conduct a farewell concert at the Dakota in downtown Minneapolis in June. However, due to illness, she was unable to perform. Just days before the scheduled event, she revealed plans to release a mixtape and work on a memoir.
Prince, who died from an accidental fentanyl overdose in 2016 at the age of 57, left behind no will, resulting in equal distribution of his estate among his six siblings, which included Tyka and five half-siblings. Tyka, along with the two youngest siblings, sold their shares to a music publishing entity known as Primary Wave Music, LLC, which later assigned those interests to Prince OAT Holdings LLC. It should be noted that Jackson, one of her siblings, has since passed away.
At this time, representatives of Paisley Park, Prince’s estate that operates as a museum, studio, and concert venue in Chanhassen, Minnesota, have not yet responded to requests for comments regarding Tyka Nelson’s passing.
