John Lewis Nelson was born in Webster Parish, Louisiana, the son of Carrie (Jenkins) and Clarence Nelson. The Nelsons had four other children. He traveled to Minneapolis to become a musician in 1948. Playing the piano, he used "Prince Rogers" as a stage name and started a band called "The Prince Rogers Trio" with local musicians.
In 1956, he met Mattie Della Shaw at a show on the north side of Minneapolis. Shaw was a jazz musician who became the musical group's singer. She had one son, Alfred Frank Alonzo Jackson; Nelson married Shaw on August 31, 1957, and the couple had two more children, musician Prince and daughter singer Tyka. The couple formally separated in 1965 and were divorced on September 24, 1968.
John Nelson's grandfather, Rev. Edward "Ed." Nelson was born to a White slaveowner, John Nelson and his Cherokee concubine. Rev. Ed became a travelling preacher for the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church and married Emma, a Black woman.
~ Source: Wikipedia
In 1956, he met Mattie Della Shaw at a show on the north side of Minneapolis. Shaw was a jazz musician who became the musical group's singer. She had one son, Alfred Frank Alonzo Jackson; Nelson married Shaw on August 31, 1957, and the couple had two more children, musician Prince and daughter singer Tyka. The couple formally separated in 1965 and were divorced on September 24, 1968.
John Nelson's grandfather, Rev. Edward "Ed." Nelson was born to a White slaveowner, John Nelson and his Cherokee concubine. Rev. Ed became a travelling preacher for the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church and married Emma, a Black woman.
~ Source: Wikipedia
John Lewis Nelson was born in Webster Parish, Louisiana, the son of Carrie (Jenkins) and Clarence Nelson. The Nelsons had four other children. He traveled to Minneapolis to become a musician in 1948. Playing the piano, he used "Prince Rogers" as a stage name and started a band called "The Prince Rogers Trio" with local musicians.
In 1956, he met Mattie Della Shaw at a show on the north side of Minneapolis. Shaw was a jazz musician who became the musical group's singer. She had one son, Alfred Frank Alonzo Jackson; Nelson married Shaw on August 31, 1957, and the couple had two more children, musician Prince and daughter singer Tyka. The couple formally separated in 1965 and were divorced on September 24, 1968.
John Nelson's grandfather, Rev. Edward "Ed." Nelson was born to a White slaveowner, John Nelson and his Cherokee concubine. Rev. Ed became a travelling preacher for the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church and married Emma, a Black woman.
~ Source: Wikipedia
In 1956, he met Mattie Della Shaw at a show on the north side of Minneapolis. Shaw was a jazz musician who became the musical group's singer. She had one son, Alfred Frank Alonzo Jackson; Nelson married Shaw on August 31, 1957, and the couple had two more children, musician Prince and daughter singer Tyka. The couple formally separated in 1965 and were divorced on September 24, 1968.
John Nelson's grandfather, Rev. Edward "Ed." Nelson was born to a White slaveowner, John Nelson and his Cherokee concubine. Rev. Ed became a travelling preacher for the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church and married Emma, a Black woman.
~ Source: Wikipedia
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