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Prince in 2007, photo by prphotos
Birth Name: Prince Rogers Nelson
Date of Birth: June 7, 1958
Place of Birth: Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States
Date of Death: April 21, 2016
Place of Death: Chanhassen, Minnesota, U.S.
Ethnicity: African-American
Prince, also referred to as Ƭ̵̬̊, The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (TAFKAP), and Camille, was an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, actor, and director. He is remembered for his amazing vocal range and ability to play multiple instruments proficiently. His songwriting is also highly acclaimed. He wrote some of the best hits for many other artists. Prince starred in the films Purple Rain (1984), Under the Cherry Moon , Sign o’ the Times , Graffiti Bridge , and 3 Chains o’ Gold . He was a member of R&B/pop rock The Revolution, band The Family, and jazz fusion band Madhouse. His backing band was New Power Generation.
Prince was the son of Mattie Della (Shaw), a jazz singer and social worker, and John L. Nelson (John Lewis/Louis Nelson), a jazz musician, songwriter, lyricist, and pianist. His father performed with the jazz group the Prince Rogers Trio, under the stage name Prince Rogers. His sister was singer Tyka Nelson. Prince was formerly married to actress and dancer Mayte Garcia . They had a son, Ahmir, who died a week after birth.
Prince’s parents were both black, as were all of his grandparents and great-grandparents. His father was born in Cotton Valley, Webster Parish, Louisiana. His mother was born in Minneapolis, to parents from Louisiana. A picture of Prince with his parents can be seen here . Genealogist Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, writing for The Huffington Post, traced Prince’s roots on both sides of his family. Among her findings are that six of Prince’s eight great-grandparents were born into slavery, and one of his great-grandmothers was possibly the daughter of her owner.
Early in his career, Prince stated that he had Italian ancestry, sometimes from his father, and sometimes from his mother. This is not accurate. In the autobiographical film Purple Rain , Prince’s character’s father is played by an African-American actor, and Prince’s character’s mother is played by a Greek actress. This was not reflective of his real life heritage.
Prince’s paternal grandfather was The Rev. Clarence Allen Nelson (the son of The Rev. Edward/Ed Nelson and Emma Hardy). The Rev. Clarence was born in Homer, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, and was a minister. His sister, Mittie, known as “Madame Gordon,” was a political activist and street speaker in Chicago, Illinois. The Rev. Edward was a minister in the Colored Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church. He was said to have been the son of John Nelson, a white slave owner, and of a Cherokee Native American woman slave. However, he is listed on the 1880 U.S. Census as “mulatto” and the 1900 U.S. Census as “black.”
Prince’s paternal grandmother was Carrie Jenkins (the daughter of Handy Jenkins and Dina/Dinah/Lina Ann Forall). Carrie was born in Louisiana. Dina was born in Bayou Rapides, Louisiana, the daughter of Mose Foxall and Virginia Brown.
Prince’s maternal grandfather was Frank/Franklin Shaw (the son of Preston/Presley Shaw and Eliza/Liza Britt/Brett). Frank was born in Arcadia, Bienville Parish, Louisiana, and was a pullman porter at Pullman Corporation.
Prince’s maternal grandmother was Lucille Bonnell/Barnell (the daughter of Sam W. Bonnell and Katy/Kate F. Hale/Head). Lucille was born in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana.
Sources: Family history of Prince – https://www.ktalnews.com
Genealogies of Prince – http://www.geni.com http://www.wikitree.com http://www.findagrave.com
Prince’s paternal grandfather, The Rev. Clarence Allen Nelson, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Prince’s paternal great-grandparents, The Rev. Edward/Ed Nelson and Emma Hardy, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Prince’s paternal grandmother, Carrie Jenkins, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Prince’s maternal grandfather, Frank/Franklin Shaw, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Prince’s maternal grandmother, Lucille Bonnell/Barnell, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org