14 Facts About Prince’s Sister Tyka Nelson Who Died at 64

Tyka Nelson, the younger sister of the legendary musician Prince, has passed away at the age of 64, as confirmed by her son, President Nelson. The cause of her death was not disclosed. “She had her own mind,” Nelson’s half-sister Sharon Nelson said. “She’s in a better place.”

In this slideshow, we look at memorable photos of Nelson and key milestones of her career.

Tyka, who was Prince’s only full sibling, was a singer and released four albums during her career. She had planned to perform a farewell concert in June but fell ill before the event. “I’m getting older,” she said before canceling her performance. “I really wasn’t a singer. I’m a writer. I just happen to be able to sing. I enjoy singing.”

Four days before Prince died, Nelson previously revealed, “He kept avoiding questions. I kept getting mad. I felt like, ‘Talk to me for two seconds.’ He’d change the subject, make a joke and then we’d both laugh. He asked me could I find more information about our family. Prince wanted me to find [half-sister] Sharon’s number. I didn’t question it.”

Family Background: Tyka Evene Nelson was born on May 18, 1960, and was the daughter of jazz musician John L. Nelson and jazz singer Mattie Della Shaw.

Siblings: She was the only full sibling of the famous musician Prince and had seven half-siblings.

Music Career: Nelson released four albums between 1988 and 2011, achieving notable success with her song “Marc Anthony’s Tune,” which reached No. 33 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in July 1988.

Song Inspiration: The song “Marc Anthony’s Tune” was written by Nelson because she had a crush on the singer Marc Anthony.

Recognition After Prince’s Death: Following her brother Prince’s death in 2016, she accepted the American Music Award for Top Soundtrack on his behalf.

Last Public Performance: Nelson’s last public performance occurred in Australia in 2018, and she attempted to perform again in June 2024.

Prince’s Estate: In July 2021, she agreed to sell 90% of her shares in Prince’s estate, while her half-brother Omar Bakker and deceased half-brother Alfred Jackson sold 100% of their shares.

Retirement: She announced her retirement from music in June 2024 due to illness, shortly before she had planned a concert performance.

Memoir Plans: At the time of her retirement, Nelson indicated that she was working on a memoir.

Personal Life and Children: Tyka was married to Maurice Phillips and had six children. At her death, her known survivors included her two sons, Sir and President, and five grandchildren.

Death: Tyka Evene Nelson passed away on November 4, 2024, at the age of 64, after reportedly being ill since June 2024. She died at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, Minnesota.