After the passing of her brother, Tyka Nelson conveyed to Prince enthusiasts, “I am aware that he also cherished all of you.”
The Purple One was discovered unconscious in an elevator at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota, on Thursday, April 21.
Prince, originally named Prince Rogers Nelson, went through two divorces and experienced the loss of his only child a week after birth.
Nelson, aged 55, is the surviving family member of the departed music icon.
Here are five things to know about Nelson and her relationship with the “Purple Rain” singer.
Tyka is the most likely candidate to inherit Prince’s estate
Tyka is Prince’s only full biological sibling. His parents, John L. Nelson and Mattie Shaw, both passed away.
They divorced in 1966 when Tyka was 6 and Prince was 8.
Tyka is now Prince’s closest living relative. Before their parents got together, John Nelson had three daughters and two sons from a previous relationship.
Shaw later remarried and had two sons, Omarr Baker and Alfred Jackson.
According to statute 524.2-103 of the Minnesota probate code, Baker, Jackson, Norrine Nelson, John R. Nelson, and Sharon L. Nelson are eligible beneficiaries to Prince’s estate if he didn’t have a will.
Lorna L. Nelson, a half-sister, passed away in 2006 at 63, and Duane Nelson, a half-brother and former head of security at Paisley Park, died in 2011 at age 52.
She is married and has six children
On Saturday, Tyka and her husband Maurice Phillips were spotted at Paisley Park, where family and friends assembled for a private farewell ceremony for Prince, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Tyka, a mother of six, has daughters Danielle Phillips, Crystal Phillips, Chelsea Phillips, and sons Rachard Phillips, Sir Montece Laeil, and President LenNard Laeil Nelson.
President LenNard Laeil Nelson joined his mother at the First Memorial Waterston chapel in Minnesota on Monday to transport the late singer’s ashes.
Like her brother, Tyka is also a musician
Tyka shares a passion for music, much like her brother Prince and her jazz musician parents.
In a 2008 interview with City Pages, she mentioned starting to write songs at the age of 10.
However, she hasn’t collaborated with Prince since their youth. Throughout her music career, Tyka has released six albums, with the latest one being a gospel album titled A Brand New Me in 2008.
In addition to her singing career, she plays four instruments: piano, guitar, bass, and clarinet.
She bounced back from prostitution and crack addiction
Tyka struggled with crack cocaine addiction. To support her children, she turned to prostitution, as reported by The National Enquirer on September 23, 2003.
In an exclusive interview, she revealed, “I was a single mother, and my boys were babies. I sold my body for food, money, and pampers.
I pawned the car Prince had given me and sold the kids’ TV for drugs.” Prince enrolled Tyka in a rehab program in the early 2000s.
By 2008, after achieving sobriety, he reignited her music career.
Read more: How much did Prince’s siblings inherit?
Her sibling relationship was not always good
Tyka shared her Minnesota childhood in a City Pages interview. “I was the overweight kid, no boyfriend.
I believed ‘ugly, fat, stupid’ comments,” she recalled.
Her brother viewed her as crazy. In Prince’s early career, their relationship was strained.
Tyka told The National Enquirer in 2003, “I love my brother, but I’m not a yo-yo.
He can’t just keep spinning me in and out of his life.
T Bag, J.D., LL.M. Professor of Law and Mediation Expert in Family and Siblings Property Disputes
Education:
- J.D., Conflict Resolution and Mediation, Harvard Law School
- LL.M., Estate Planning and Family Law, Yale Law School
Experience:
- Over 15 years of experience mediating complex family property disputes, including estate conflicts and business succession issues.
- Extensive background in facilitating negotiations between siblings and other family members to preserve relationships and family wealth.
- Recognized authority on the legal and psychological aspects of property disputes among family members.
Publications:
- “Mediating Family Property and Estate Conflicts: Keeping the Peace and Preserving Family Wealth” – A comprehensive guide on the advantages of mediation over litigation in family disputes.
- “Negotiating Principles of Entitlement in Sibling Property Disputes” – An analysis of entitlement principles applied in sibling conflicts over property.
Professional Affiliations:
- Member of the American Bar Association, Section of Dispute Resolution
- Fellow at the Center for the Study of Dispute Resolution, University of Missouri
Awards:
- Recipient of the Excellence in Mediation Award from the National Mediation Conference
- Honored with the Distinguished Mediator Award by the International Mediation Institute
Teaching:
- Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, teaching courses on family law, estate planning, and conflict resolution.
- Guest lecturer at various law schools across the USA, sharing insights on mediating family property disputes.
Consulting:
- Provides expert consulting services to law firms and families on matters related to inheritance, property rights, and intergenerational wealth transfer.
- Advises on creating legal frameworks that minimize conflict and promote fair resolution in family property disputes.
Philosophy:
- Believes in the power of mediation to resolve conflicts while maintaining family harmony and protecting privacy.
- Advocates for creative and compassionate solutions that address the underlying emotional dynamics of family disputes.
Contact Information:
- Email: tbag@usamediationexpert.edu
- Office: Department of Law, University of California, Berkeley