Tyka Nelson
Tyka Evene Nelson (May 18, 1960 – November 4, 2024) was an American singer. She was the daughter of jazz musician John L. Nelson (1916–2001) and jazz singer Mattie Della Shaw (1933–2002), and the sister of Prince (1958–2016). In addition, she had seven half-siblings.
Also recorded as Tyka Evene Nelson · Tyka Evene Phillips
Tyka Nelson
- Name
- Tyka Nelson
- Born
- 18 May 1960
- Birth Name
- Tyka Evene Nelson
- Birthplace
- Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
- Died
- 4 November 2024
- Place of death
- Robbinsdale, Minnesota, U.S.
- Occupation
- Singer
- Spouse
- Maurice Phillips
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q3545998 · wikipedia · Tyka Nelson
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The documentary record
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Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
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Biography
Biography
She was Prince's only full sibling.
Documentary record
Tyka Nelson is recorded as a musician.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Tyka Nelson • Born — 18 May 1960 • Birth Name — Tyka Evene Nelson • Birthplace — Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. • Died — 4 November 2024 • Place of death — Robbinsdale, Minnesota, U.S. • Occupation — Singer • Years Active — 1980–2024 • Notable Works — Marc Anthony's Tune Royal Blue • Spouse — Maurice Phillips • Children — 6 • Mother — Mattie Della Shaw • Father — John L. Nelson • Relatives — Prince (brother) Tyka Evene Nelson (May 18, 1960 – November 4, 2024) was an American singer. She was the daughter of jazz musician John L. Nelson (1916–2001) and jazz singer Mattie Della Shaw (1933–2002), and the sister of Prince (1958–2016). In addition, she had seven half-siblings. She was Prince's only full sibling.
Career
Career
She released four albums between 1988 and 2011, and reached No. 33 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in July 1988 with "Marc Anthony's Tune", produced by Larry Graham.
Later life
Later life
After a protracted probate following Prince’s death in 2016, Tyka Nelson was ruled to be one of the six legal heirs. In 2022, she sold all but 2% of her shares to Primary Wave, a music management firm based in New York. She also accepted Prince's American Music Award for Top Soundtrack following his death in 2016. Her last public performance was in Australia in 2018, although she tried to make another performance in June 2024. In July 2021, she agreed to sell 90% of the shares she had in Prince's estate, with her half-brother Omarr Baker and late half brother Alfred Jackson's interest selling 100% of their shares. In June 2024, she retired from music after falling ill and failing to make a planned concert performance. At the time of her retirement, she stated that she was working on a memoir.
Personal life and death
Personal life and death
Nelson was born in Minneapolis on May 18, 1960. She was married to Maurice Phillips, and had six children. At the time of her death in November 2024, it was revealed that aside from three half siblings, she was survived by her two sons Sir and President and five of her grandchildren. Nelson and President co-designed Prince's urn. Her half sister Lorna Nelson died in 2006. Half brother Alfred Jackson died in August 2019. Her eldest half brother John R. Nelson died on September 3, 2021. Nelson died at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, on November 4, 2024, at the age of 64. She had reportedly been ill since June 2024.
Discography
Albums • Royal Blue (Cooltempo, 1988) • Yellow Moon, Red Sky (CMC International Records, 1992) • A Brand New Me (2008) – Grammy Award Consideration • Hustler (2011)
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Tyka Nelson”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q3545998: Tyka Nelson
General reference · Wikidata
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Tyka Nelson, revision 1371037648 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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