Tyka Nelson, songwriter and singer who was Prince’s only full sibling, dies at 64

Prince’s younger sister Tyka Nelson, who was involved in the protracted legal battle over the performer’s multimillion-dollar estate, has died. “It’s time 4 a new direction / It’s time 4 jazz 2 die / 4th day of November / We need a Purple high” Her cousin Charles “Chazz” Smith also confirmed her death, writing on Facebook: “Our family is very saddened to share the news of my cousin Tyka Evene Nelson who passed away this morning.” The music writer and performer released four albums between 1988 and 2011, according to the Star Tribune. Tyka Nelson was identified early on as the “When Doves Cry” singer’s only full sibling, sharing musicians John L. Nelson and Mattie Della Shaw as parents. Less than a month after her older brother died, she told Minnesota’s Carver County District Court that she believed Prince died without a spouse, children or surviving parents and she did not know “of the existence of a will.” The complicated case was settled in August 2022 when a Minnesota judge approved an agreement to divide the estate among Prince Legacy LLC and Prince Oat Holdings LLC, companies that were formed to represent the various siblings and heirs.