John Lewis Nelson (June 29, 1916 – August 25, 2001),[1] also known by his stage name Prince Rogers, was an American jazz musician and songwriter.

He was the father of musicians Prince and Tyka Nelson and a credited co-writer on some of his son's songs.

In 1956, he met Mattie Della Shaw (November 11, 1933 – February 15, 2002) at a show on the north side of Minneapolis.

Ed became a travelling preacher for the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church and married Emma, a Black woman.

That year Prince dedicated Joni Mitchell’s song "A Case of U", on his One Nite Alone... album, to his father.