The American singer, who did a lot for the memory of the Kid from Minneapolis, died on November 4. She notably performed Marc Anthony’s Tune which remained on the charts for 11 weeks.
Singer Tyka Nelson, sister of Prince, died Monday, November 4, at North Memorial Health in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, at the age of 64. Although she grew up in the shadow of the Minneapolis icon, she distinguished herself as a singer-songwriter, releasing four albums over the course of her career.
Born in 1960, two years after Prince, Tyka Nelson is the daughter of jazz musician John L. Nelson. She began her musical career in 1988 with the album Royal Bluewhich contains his greatest hits: Marc Anthony’s Tuneranked 11 weeks on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, reaching number 33e please, and LOVEanother of his flagship titles, remained in the same ranking for seven weeks with a meritorious 52e place. She then continues with the albums Yellow Moon, Red Sky in 1992, A Brand New Me in 2008, and Hustle in 2011. The singer was scheduled to give a farewell concert in June at the Dakota. Unfortunately, due to illness, the concert will take place without her. With a pang in the heart, she had said to Minnesota Star Tribune , “I’m getting old”regretting not being able to find his fans one last time.
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On April 21, 2016, Prince died prematurely at the age of 57 from an opioid overdose at his Minnesota estate. The autopsy concluded that it was an accidental death. This family drama will mark the musical career of his sister, who also had to face the horrors of drug addiction. « I struggled with this addiction for a long time, and after my father died, it really got worse. »she told Australian television. Unlike his brother, icon of pop icons, Tyka Nelson never really chased fame. With a touch of modesty, she admitted, « I wasn’t really a singer »last June in an interview with Minnesota Star-Tribune .
Managing her brother’s $156 million inheritance will have represented a real obstacle course for her, Prince having left behind neither wife nor children. Tyka Nelson ended up selling 98% of his shares to the music management company Primary Wave, while retaining artistic influence on the songs of the man nicknamed «The Purple Majesty».
“Prince always wanted people to discover his music”
Tyka Nelson
In the years since, Tyka Nelson has kept Prince’s catalog and his memory alive. Six months after his death, Paisley Park, the former home of the Minneapolis Kid, opened as a museum, boasting a trove of more than 7,000 items, including tour outfits, motorcycles, about 120 guitars and 2,000 pairs of shoes. The opening of Paisley Park was an ambition to which “the Prince” was very attached declared Tyka Nelson in a press release during the opening of the museum. « Only a few hundred people had the chance to visit the estate during its lifetime. she added to demonstrate the interest of visiting this place dedicated to one of the most important personalities of pop.
She contributed to the release of numerous posthumous records from «King of the Funk»including Welcome 2 Americareleased 5 years after his death. « Prince always wanted people to discover his music »said Tyka Nelson in an interview with Rolling Stone in 2021.
« I had to bring to life the repertoire of my brother, who worked hard all his life to make people love his art. His legacy, which I strive to pass on, aims to ensure that each of you can listen to his music at least once in your life. » Tyka Nelson leaves behind two sons, President and Sir, and five grandchildren. It will now be up to them to pass on the artistic legacy of Prince and Tyka.
Marc Anthony’s Tune sung by Tyka Nelson