John L. Nelson
Encyclopedia
John Lewis Nelson also known as Prince Rogers, was an American jazz
musician.
. 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.
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 her and fathered two children, musician Prince
in 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
.
ASCAP credits, or co-credits, him with the following:
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician.
Life
Nelson was born in LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. He traveled to Minneapolis to become a musician in 1948. Playing the piano, he used Prince Rogers as a stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
and started The Prince Rogers Trio with local musicians.
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 her and fathered two children, musician Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
in 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
Chanhassen, Minnesota
Chanhassen is a city in Carver and Hennepin counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is southwest of Minneapolis. The population was 22,952 at the 2010 census....
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
Children
Before marrying Shaw, Nelson was in an on-off relationship with a woman whom he left in 1954. With her, he fathered four children: Sharon L. (born 1942), Lorna L. (1943–2006), Norrine (born 1947), and John R. (born 1948). With another woman, Nelson also fathered Duane J. (born 1958). With yet another woman, he fathered Roskco Motes (born September 28, 1952 in Philadelphia).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 RainPurple Rain (film)Purple Rain is a 1984 film directed by Albert Magnoli and written by Magnoli and William Blinn. Prince makes his film debut in this movie, which was developed to showcase his particular talents, hence, the film contains several extended concert sequences. The film grossed more than US$80 million at...
, 1984 - "Computer BlueComputer Blue"Computer Blue" is the fourth track on Prince and The Revolution's soundtrack album, Purple Rain. In the film, the song represents Prince's angst at the budding relationship between the characters played by Morris Day and Apollonia. The song was composed by Prince, with credit to his father, John...
" from the Purple RainPurple Rain (album)Purple Rain is the sixth studio album by Prince, the first to officially be credited to Prince and The Revolution, and is the soundtrack album to the 1984 film Purple Rain.Purple Rain is regularly ranked among the best albums in pop music history...
album and film, 1984 - "Around The World In A Day" and "The Ladder", from the album Around The World In A DayAround the World in a DayAround the World in a Day is the seventh studio album by Prince and the second by The Revolution, released on April 22, 1985 on Warner Bros. In compliance with Prince's wishes, the record company released the album with minimal publicity, not even releasing an accompanying single until almost a...
, 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 MoonUnder the Cherry MoonUnder the Cherry Moon is a 1986 film directed by and starring Prince as a gigolo named Christopher Tracy and Time member Jerome Benton as his partner, Tricky. Together, the pair swindle wealthy French women...
, 1986 - "Scandalous!" from the BatmanBatman (album)Batman is the eleventh studio album by musician Prince and the soundtrack for the 1989 film Batman. As a Warner Bros. stablemate, Prince's involvement in the soundtrack was designed to leverage the media company's contract-bound talent as well as fulfill the artist's need for a commercial revival...
album and filmBatman (1989 film)Batman is a 1989 superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name, directed by Tim Burton. The film stars Michael Keaton in the title role, as well as Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl and Jack Palance...
, 1989