Tyka Nelson, Prince’s sister, has died at the age of 64.
Her family has paid tribute to the late star: ‘Our family is very saddened to share the news of my cousin Tyka Evene Nelson who passed away this morning.’
The news was announced by Charles ‘Chazz’ Smith on Facebook with outlets confirming her sad passing.
The Star Tribune confirmed the death with another family member: ‘Her son, President Nelson, confirmed the death but declined to offer details.’
Between 1988 and 2011, Nelson released four albums titled Royal Blue in 1988
Yellow Moon, Red Sky in 1992, A Brand New Me in 2008, and Hustler in 2011.
The singer was supposed to have her retirement and farewell concert in June at the Dakota, but took ill and the gig went on without her.
‘I’m getting older, the singer told the Minnesota Star Tribune before her show scheduled for June. ‘I really wasn’t a singer. I’m a writer. I just happen to be able to sing. I enjoy singing.’
She also added that she was writing a memoir about her life.
‘She had her own mind,’ Sharon Nelson, her sister, said Monday night. She’s in a better place.’
The singer was the younger sister (by two years) of the legendary singer Prince who died in 2016 at the age of 57 from an accidental drug overdose.
In an interview with Rolling Stone Nelson revealed that she originally didn’t want her name associated with her brother: ‘Because I’m a songwriter, I never wanted his name to affect mine. I didn’t want to copy him in any way, shape, or form. I never wanted my name associated with him.
‘I wanted to take my last name off. I didn’t want him to do anything for me because then I’ll never know if people liked my music. So I stopped listening to Prince’s music and missed a lot of years, and therefore I didn’t see what the world saw.’
She revealed that all that changed after he died, and she was moved by his impact on so many fans.
‘But when he died and the entire world lit up in purple, there was no questioning it. Even still, I am amazed. After he passed, all these fans came and shared their stories about what Prince did in their lives, through his music. I was overwhelmingly amazed by it.’
Nelson leaves behind six children, President LenNard, Danielle, Crystal, Rachard, Sir Montece, and Chelsea, who she shares with her husband Maurice Phillips.
Nelson’s cause of death is still unclear at this time.
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