Vanity 6

In 1981, Prince, himself a rising musical star, suggested that his girlfriend Susan Moonsie and her sister Loreen along with Cavallo, Ruffalo & Fargnoli employee Jamie Shoop form a girl group that would be called "The Hookers".[7] Prince's vision was that the three women would perform in lingerie and sing sensual songs with lyrics about sex, romance and fantasy.[8] Funk musician Rick James claimed that Prince had stole the idea for creating a sexy trio in negligees who sang about love, pain, money, power from him while Prince was the opening act on his tour in 1980.[9][10] Set designer Roy Bennett's wife Brenda Bennett, who later joined the group stated that Prince was looking to create a "1980s version of The Supremes."[11]

The original trio recorded a few demos before Prince met Denise Matthews, a Canadian model and B movie actress at the American Music Awards in January 1982.[7][12] Prince was so taken by her charisma that he decided she would be the perfect frontwoman for his "Hookers" project. He had originally suggested that Matthews use the stage name "Vagina", but she declined and instead they agreed upon "Vanity".[13] Prince chose the name because he said that looking at her was like looking in a mirror at the female version of himself.[7] Around this time, Prince and Vanity began a romantic relationship. With Vanity's arrival, Shoop decided not to join the new group, which also included Moonsie and Bennett as the background singers.[11] Prince renamed the new trio Vanity 6. He provided the group, now dressed in lingerie and high heels, with provocative songs (although within the album credits, group members were sometimes given sole writing credits).[14]

Their first single, "He's So Dull", was a minor hit in Australia and the Netherlands, and appeared in the film National Lampoon's Vacation.[15][16]

The second single, "Nasty Girl", was a hit on both the U.S. R&B chart, peaking at number 7, and U.S. Dance chart, where it hit number one. It also made an appearance on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[17] "Nasty Girl" was a top 10 hit in the Netherlands,[15] and a top 20 hit in the Flanders region of Belgium.[18] The song was featured in the film Beverly Hills Cop, although it was not included on the soundtrack. "Nasty Girl" was also featured in the 1983 sex comedy Private School.

The third single, "Drive Me Wild", was another minor hit. Music videos were shot for all three singles. Their first and only album, Vanity 6 was eventually certified gold.[19] Members of the group sometimes provided backing vocals on Prince's albums.[20] Vanity 6 opened up on the 1999 Tour in 1982 and 1983, which also featured The Time and Prince, as the headliner. The fact that The Time played behind a curtain during the Vanity 6 performance, caused a rift between the bands and friction within those friendships.

The hierarchy in the group caused friction between Vanity and Bennett.[11] Prince often put Bennett in charge of rehearsals and checking Vanity's vocals when Vanity saw herself as the one in charge of the group.[11] To the other group members' dismay, Prince chose Vanity to pose with him for a Richard Avedon photograph used on the cover of the April 28, 1983 issue of Rolling Stone magazine.[21] The issue also contained a two-page Avedon photo of Vanity 6. In 1983, Vanity recorded demos for a number of new songs, including "Sex Shooter", intended for the ill-fated second Vanity 6 album.[22] During pre-production of the movie Purple Rain in August 1983, Vanity abruptly decided to leave the Prince camp and relinquish her role in the film.[23] Many reasons were given for her sudden departure, including money, the end of her romantic relationship with Prince. Vanity was replaced in Purple Rain by Patricia Kotero, who would adopt the stage name Apollonia.[23]

Apollonia inherited the lead role in Vanity 6, which was renamed Apollonia 6, alongside Bennett and Moonsie.[23] The trio recorded what would be their only album, Apollonia 6 in 1984. Moonsie went on to work as a relator and later became a restaurateur.[24]

Former front woman Vanity went on to have a solo music and acting career.[25] In 1994, Vanity overdosed on crack cocaine and suffered from near-fatal kidney failure. Upon recovering, she became a born again Christian and renounced her stage name and her career in show business.[8] She died from kidney disease on February 15, 2016.[26]

• Vanity 6 (1982)

A number of songs were intended for the Vanity 6 follow up album, but due to Vanity's departure, these songs ended up performed by others.

• "Sex Shooter",[22] which was released by Apollonia 6. Vanity 6 did record at least one version of this song which has been leaked on the internet.
• "17 Days", the B-side to Prince's "When Doves Cry", ended up being released by Prince, with Bennett's background vocals still on the recording.
• "G-Spot",[22] which ended up on Jill Jones debut album. The Vanity 6/Prince with Jill Jones background vocals demo has been leaked on the internet as well.
• "Vibrator",[22] which has been leaked online. The song features Prince in a comedic sketch as well as Jill Jones. It is about Vanity feeling ignored by her lover only to find solace with her "body massager" which midway through the song loses power prompting Vanity to go purchase batteries at two different stores. The song is set in three distinct parts: The verse and chorus portions, then the comedic sketch, and finally, Vanity achieving an orgasm with her vibrator.
• "Moral Majority"[22]