Minneapolis musician Tyka Nelson, the only full sibling of the legendary Prince, died Monday at North Memorial Health in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, her son President Nelson confirmed. She was 64. The cause of death remains unknown, with President Nelson stating it may take "a couple of days" to determine. Born to jazz musician John L. Nelson and Mattie Della Shaw, she carved her own niche in music, gaining fame for her 1988 album "Royal Blue." This album birthed her hit songs "Marc Anthony's Tune" and "L.O.V.E.", both of which spent weeks on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Tyka Nelson expressed her individuality through her music, which was noted for being "mostly adult-contemporary or easy-listening." Her discography includes four albums, with the last released in 2011. While best recognized as Prince's sister, she maintained her identity, emphasizing, "I've been Prince's sister ever since I got here on Earth." She planned to retire in June with a farewell concert, but illness thwarted this.
President Nelson highlighted her efforts to honor Prince's legacy by engaging with his fans. Tyka Nelson leaves behind two sons, President and Sir, along with five grandchildren. A statement from the family requested people "take care of one another" in lieu of sending flowers. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)