John L. Nelson

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John Lewis Nelson (June 29, 1916 – August 25, 2001), also known as Prince Rogers, was an American jazz musician. He is known for having been the father of the musician Prince and a credited co-writer of some of his songs.

Life

Nelson was born in Louisiana. He traveled to Minneapolis to become a musician in 1948. Playing the piano, he used Prince Rogers as a stage name and started The Prince Rogers Trio with local musicians.

Nelson maintained on-off relationship with Vivian Nelson. With her, he had four children: Sharon L. (born 1942), Lorna L. (1943–2006), Norrine (born 1947), and John R. (born 1948).[1] Nelson had another son, Duane, with Vivian in 1958.[2][3]

In 1956, he met Mattie Shaw (1933–2002), at a show on the north side of Minneapolis. Shaw was an aspiring jazz musician who became the musical group's singer. Nelson married Shaw and had two more children, musician Prince[4] on June 7, 1958 (who was named after his father's stage name) and daughter Tika Evene (usually known as Tyka) in 1960. When Nelson's career failed in late 1960, the couple became estranged and formally separated in 1966.

Nelson died on August 25, 2001, aged 85, in his home in Chanhassen, Minnesota.

Children

  • Sharon L. Nelson (1940)
  • Lorna L. Nelson (1943–2006)
  • Norrine Nelson (1947)
  • John R. Nelson (1948)
  • Prince Rogers Nelson (1958)
  • Duane Joseph Nelson (1958-2011)
  • Tyka Evene Nelson (1960)

Work with Prince

Nelson was a major influence on Prince's music, writing (or co-writing) some music which was released by his son in the 1980s. With some of these songs, Prince gave Nelson a co-writing credit for using chord sequences Nelson often used, rather than Nelson actually co-writing the songs with Prince.

ASCAP credits, or co-credits, him with the following:

  • "Father's Song" and "Purple Rain Cues", from the film Purple Rain, 1984
  • "Computer Blue" from the Purple Rain album and film, 1984
  • "Around The World In A Day" and "The Ladder", from the album Around The World In A Day, 1985
  • "Christopher Tracy's Parade" and "Under The Cherry Moon" from the album Parade, 1986
  • "Under The Cherry Moon Cues" from the film Under The Cherry Moon, 1986
  • "Scandalous!" from the Batman album and film, 1989

References

  1. ↑ "Obituary Lorna L. Nelson". Star Tribune. October 26, 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2012. 
  2. ↑ J., C. (March 10, 2011). "Funeral for Prince's half-brother, Duane Nelson, is Saturday". Star Tribune. Retrieved 1 February 2012. 
  3. ↑ "Obituary Duane Joseph Nelson". Star Tribune. March 10, 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2012. 
  4. ↑ "John Nelson". The Independent (London). September 1, 2001. Archived from the original on 1 February 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2010. 
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