Sister to a Prince: Singer Tyka Nelson Dies at 64

Tyka Nelson, a Minneapolis singer and the younger sister of the late music icon Prince, died Monday morning at the age of 64, her family confirmed. No cause of death was provided.

Nelson's son, President Nelson, shared the news of her passing with the Minneapolis Star Tribune but did not give further details. Her cousin, Charles "Chazz" Smith, also confirmed her death in a Facebook post, writing, "Our family is very saddened to share the news of my cousin Tyka Evene Nelson who passed away this morning."

It is with deep sadness and sympathy that we share in the news on the passing of Tyka Nelson. Tyka was a beloved mother and sister. She was also a singer, songwriter and widely known as one of Prince’s siblings. She shared much time with him during his life. They were raised… pic.twitter.com/muxyboJbf5

— Prince (@prince) November 5, 2024

Tyka Nelson was the only full sibling of Prince, sharing the same parents, jazz musician John L. Nelson and singer Mattie Shaw Nelson. Like her brother, she had a passion for music, releasing four albums between 1988 and 2011. She gained attention in 1988 with her single "Marc Anthony's Tune," reportedly inspired by a crush she had at the time.

Nelson was set to hold a retirement and farewell concert in June at the Dakota jazz club in Minneapolis but had to withdraw due to illness. "I'm getting older," she told the Star Tribune earlier this year. "I really wasn't a singer. I'm a writer. I just happen to be able to sing. I enjoy singing." Despite her health issues, Nelson remained committed to her music and was working on a memoir at the time of her death.

Her final public performance was in 2018 in Australia, where she toured with Twin Cities musician Paul Peterson.

 

Nelson was known for her efforts to preserve Prince's legacy following his death in 2016. She accepted Prince's American Music Award for Favorite Soundtrack for "Purple Rain" on his behalf after his passing.

Prince died in 2016 at the age of 57 from an accidental fentanyl overdose, leaving behind one of the most complicated probate cases in Minnesota history. His multimillion-dollar estate led to disputes among his heirs, including Tyka Nelson and several half-siblings. The case was finally settled in 2022, with the estate divided among various family members and companies representing their interests.

Tyka Nelson is survived by her sons, President and Sir, her husband Maurice Phillips, and her half-siblings Sharon Nelson, Norrine Nelson, and Omarr Baker. She was preceded in death by her half-brothers Alfred Jackson and John R. Nelson.

Quincy Jones, Maestro Who Shaped American Music, Dies at 91

Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Quincy Jones, the legendary music producer whose work spanned across genres and generations, from producing Michael Jackson’s historic “Thriller” album, the best-selling album of all time, to writing award-winning film scores, died on Sunday at the age of 91.Jones’ publicist, Arnold Robinson, said the music titan died at his home in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles, surrounded by family.

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” Jones’ family said in a statement. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”

Jones' career rose from humble beginnings, running with gangs on the South Side of Chicago, to reaching the heights of the music and entertainment industry.

He was among the first Black executives to break through in Hollywood and became a prolific producer, arranger, and composer, responsible for some of the most memorable moments in American music.

Jones worked with an extraordinary roster of talent over the decades, collaborating with stars such as Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald and Michael Jackson. His contributions to music included jazz, pop, and soul, as well as landmark film scores. He was instrumental in producing Jackson's “Thriller,” which went on to become the best-selling album of all time, and he also co-produced “We Are the World,” the 1985 charity anthem for famine relief in Africa.

Jones’ influence went beyond music. He worked on television and film projects, including composing scores for “Roots” and “In the Heat of the Night.” He also organized President Bill Clinton’s first inaugural celebration, underscoring his role as a cultural figure who bridged music and public life.

New Orleans Honors Lil Wayne with Key to the City During Historic Hot Boys Reunion at Lil WeezyAna Fest

Photo Courtesy City of New Orleans

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell presents rapper Lil Wayne with a Key to the City during Lil WeezyAna Fest at the Smoothie King Center on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.

Grammy award-winning rapper Lil Wayne received the Key to the City of New Orleans from Mayor LaToya Cantrell during his annual Lil WeezyAna Fest on Saturday, marking a celebratory moment for the hometown hero who has long given back to the community through his music and philanthropy.

The event, held at the Smoothie King Center, featured a surprise "Hot Boys" reunion. For the first time in over two decades, Lil Wayne shared the stage with his original group members Juvenile, B.G., and Turk, alongside special guests Mannie Fresh and Rob 49. The reunion was a major highlight for the crowd, drawing on nostalgia and the rich legacy of New Orleans hip-hop.

Lil Wayne gets his flowers! 🙏🏽

the Mayor of New Orleans surprised him with the key to the city

and Master P says February 6th & 7th will be Lil Wayne day & they are starting a New Orleans walk of fame

(via Lil Weezyana Fest @PrimeVideo) pic.twitter.com/6sqGfXUhQj

— SOUND | Victor Baez (@itsavibe) November 3, 2024

"On behalf of your city, the entire city of New Orleans, I’m so proud to present you with this key that is a token of appreciation of who you are," Cantrell said, addressing Lil Wayne on stage. "This is your city saying to you, ‘You matter for generations to come — for what you have done, what you are doing, and what you will continue to do.’"

New Orleans Entertainment Ambassador Master P also took the stage to honor Lil Wayne. Master P, a renowned rapper and entrepreneur himself, was recently appointed to this role in anticipation of New Orleans hosting the 2025 Super Bowl. He presented Lil Wayne with a Career Achievement Award for his decades-long contributions to hip-hop and the New Orleans community.

The Hot Boys reunite at Lilweezyana Fest! 🤯🤯🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/sRCDwJho3G

— Andrew Barber (@fakeshoredrive) November 3, 2024

Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., launched Lil WeezyAna Fest in 2015 to give back to his hometown. The festival has become a celebration of New Orleans culture, and this year’s event had a special resonance with the Hot Boys reunion, drawing emotional responses from both the performers and the audience.

"It’s like Christmas Eve," Juvenile said about the reunion. "The wait, the wanting — wondering what it will be like. I’m excited for the moment. I’m at almost at a loss for words because it’s something I envisioned, and I’m happy it’s happening. People are gonna remember the trends we set, with the T-shirts and Gibaud jeans, our whole dress code, our talk, our style. When we first came out, we took the world by storm.”

"I was shocked and excited to see that Lil Wayne — [considering] the caliber of artist he is and where he’s at — wanted to share that stage with us, because he didn’t have to," Turk said. "I remember doing a prior Weezyana Fest and how it felt not having Birdman there, not having B.G. there. It wasn’t complete. So to put everybody on that stage, it ain’t nothin but God — I’m grateful.”

The performance concluded with Juvenile’s iconic track "Back That Azz Up," which brought the crowd to its feet, celebrating the group's influence on hip-hop culture. The song, originally released in the late 1990s, has had a resurgence thanks to TikTok, proving its staying power across generations.

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A post shared by Lil Wayne (@liltunechi)

Lil Wayne also addressed a recent controversy surrounding the Super Bowl halftime show. The rapper had previously expressed disappointment after Kendrick Lamar was chosen to headline the Apple Music halftime show in September. During Lil WeezyAna Fest, Lil Wayne spoke candidly to the crowd, sharing his feelings: "I worked my a** off to get that f---ing position, and it was ripped away from me, but this f---ing moment right here, they can't take that, man. They can't take that from me."

"This won’t be the last time," Mannie Fresh said about the reunion. "This won’t be like, ‘They did it and that’s it.’ We plan on doing this for a long time. When we started this, the mentality was, ‘This is not a game, we are not playing,’ and 30 years later, it’s still showing.”