Musician Tyka Nelson, who was Prince’s only full sibling, passed away at the age of 64.
Nelson died on Monday at North Memorial Health in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, as confirmed by her son President Nelson to the Associated Press.
The cause of death is not known at this time, and President Nelson mentioned that it may take a couple of days to find out.
Born in 1960 to jazz musician John L Nelson and Mattie Della Shaw, two years after Prince, Nelson was a singer-songwriter who released four albums over her career, beginning with 1988’s Royal Blue. Her debut album included hits like Marc Anthony’s Tune and L.O.V.E.
Describing her music, Nelson once said, “The album is basically about love relationships between a man and a woman. I’m royal blue because I can’t find him.”
She also spoke about her unique bond with her brother Prince, stating, “The funniest thing is people say, ‘How does it feel to be Prince’s sister?’ They don’t actually realize what they’re saying. I’ve been Prince’s sister ever since I got here on Earth.”
In addition to her debut album, Nelson released three more albums during her lifetime: Yellow Moon, Red Sky in 1992, A Brand New Me in 2008, and Hustler in 2011.
Nelson is survived by her two sons, President and Sir, as well as five grandchildren.
President Nelson said in a statement, “Born in 1960, the daughter of Mattie and John Nelson, she was best known as Prince’s sister and worked to keep his legacy alive with his fans attending fan and industry events. Services will be private, and in lieu of flowers, the family has asked that you take care of one another.”
According to reports, Nelson had plans to retire and perform a farewell concert at the Dakota in downtown Minneapolis in June. Unfortunately, illness prevented her from taking the stage. Prior to the concert, she mentioned working on a mixtape and a memoir.
Prince passed away in 2016 from an accidental fentanyl overdose at his home in Minneapolis. He did not leave a will, so his six living siblings, including Tyka Nelson, inherited equal shares of his estate.
Representatives for Paisley Park, Prince’s private estate in Chanhassen, Minnesota, have not yet responded to requests for comment.