Vanity 6
Vanity 6 was an American girl group formed in 1981 by musician Prince, evolving from his earlier project The Hookers, featuring lead singer Vanity (born Denise Katrina Matthews, who replaced original member Jamie Shoop), Brenda Bennett, and Susan Moonsie.[1][2][3] The trio was known for their bold, sexually provocative image, including lingerie-clad performances and sensual lyrics that blended funk, pop, New Wave, R&B, and dance music.[1][4] Assembled as Prince's first female protégé act, Vanity 6 debuted in 1982 with their self-titled album, produced by Prince under the pseudonym The Starr Company and featuring contributions from his band The Time.[1][2] The 31-minute record, released by Warner Bros. Records, included eight tracks such as the lead single "He's So Dull" and the standout "Nasty Girl," which reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and became a club staple.[2][4] Certified gold by the RIAA on August 1, 1985, the album showcased Prince's songwriting and musicianship while highlighting the group's flirtatious, empowering style.[2][5] The group disbanded in 1983 following Vanity's departure to pursue a solo career with Motown Records, after which Prince reformed the act as Apollonia 6 with new member Patricia Kotero (Apollonia).[1][2] Vanity 6's brief tenure left a lasting influence on subsequent R&B and rap girl groups, prefiguring the provocative aesthetics adopted by acts from the 1990s onward.[1]History
Formation
In 1981, musician Prince assembled an all-female vocal trio in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as a feminine counterpart to his male backing band The Time, envisioning a group that would embody provocative sensuality within his expanding creative ecosystem. Initially named The Hookers, the project drew from Prince's interest in exploring explicit themes, mirroring the sexual undertones emerging in his own work. He recruited his personal assistant Jamie Shoop as lead vocalist, along with sisters Susan Moonsie and Loreen Moonsie, both local performers connected to Prince's circle, to form the core of this early lineup.[1][5] The group's direction shifted decisively when Prince encountered aspiring singer and model Denise Katrina Matthews at the American Music Awards in early 1982, inviting her to join as the new lead after being impressed by her charisma and stage presence. Matthews, who adopted the stage name Vanity, replaced Shoop, while Boston native Brenda Bennett—already linked to Prince's team through her marriage to his lighting and set designer LeRoy Bennett—was brought in as a vocalist, supplanting Loreen Moonsie and solidifying the trio with Susan Moonsie. This reconfiguration emphasized Vanity's commanding persona, with the concept centering on lingerie-clad performances that projected bold, erotic allure to align with Prince's 1981 album Controversy and its themes of private desire and sexual liberation.[6][1] Following the lineup changes, the group underwent early rehearsals in Minneapolis during spring 1982, where Prince guided their sound and image development, including sessions that produced initial recordings. At Vanity's insistence, the name evolved from The Hookers to Vanity 6, directly tying the group's identity to her persona and subtly nodding to the members' combined physical appeal, marking the official formation of the act as it prepared for broader integration into Prince's projects.[3][7][8]Career
Vanity 6 signed with Warner Bros. Records and released their self-titled debut album on August 11, 1982.[9] The album, produced by Prince under his pseudonym The Starr Company, featured eight tracks blending funk, R&B, and synth-pop elements, and it later achieved gold certification from the RIAA in 1983, for sales exceeding 500,000 copies.[5] This release marked the group's entry into the mainstream music scene, capitalizing on Prince's rising influence in the Minneapolis sound. The second single, "Nasty Girl," written and produced by Prince, became their biggest hit, peaking at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in September 1982 and holding the No. 1 position on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart for four weeks.[10][11] Its provocative lyrics and infectious groove, supported by a music video showcasing the group's bold aesthetic, drove promotional efforts including TV appearances on shows like TopPop.[2] Follow-up singles "He's So Dull," released June 16, 1982, and "Drive Me Wild," released December 2, 1982, received modest airplay and charted lower, with "Drive Me Wild" serving as the B-side to "Nasty Girl" but failing to replicate its commercial success; both were promoted through additional video content and radio play targeting urban audiences.[9] As opening acts for Prince's 1999 Tour from November 30, 1982, to April 4, 1983, Vanity 6 delivered 20-minute sets across North America, often backed by pre-recorded tracks or live musicians from Prince's band, such as Dez Dickerson on guitar.[12] Their performances emphasized synchronized choreography and Vanity's commanding stage presence, integrating seamlessly into the tour's high-energy, multi-act format alongside The Time, which amplified the erotic and funky vibe of Prince's shows. In early 1983, during pre-production for the film Purple Rain, the group participated in acting and singing sessions intended to feature them, though they were not included in the final version after Vanity's departure.[13]Disbandment
In 1983, Vanity 6 disbanded after lead singer Vanity (Denise Matthews) departed the group to pursue a solo career.[2] Her exit occurred in late July or early August during pre-production for the film Purple Rain, where she was initially slated for a key role.[1] The split stemmed from creative differences between Vanity and Prince, including her growing discomfort with the group's provocative, sexually explicit image and presentation, which she later described as imposed by Prince to ensure her compensation.[14] Vanity sought greater artistic independence, aspiring to a more elegant persona modeled after Diana Ross rather than continuing under Prince's controlling vision.[2] Before the disbandment, Vanity 6 had recorded several tracks for a planned second album in spring and summer 1983, including "Sex Shooter," "Vibrator," "G-Spot," and "Promise to Be True," intended for a 1984 Warner Bros. release.[15] These sessions were halted with Vanity's departure, and most songs remained unreleased by the group, though "Sex Shooter" was retained and re-recorded for future projects.[15] Following her exit, Vanity signed with Motown Records and released her debut solo album, Wild Animal, on November 10, 1984, marking her transition to a more mainstream pop direction.[16] Prince responded swiftly to the group's end by recruiting actress and model Patricia Kotero (renamed Apollonia) as Vanity's replacement, reforming the trio as Apollonia 6 to continue with similar musical plans.[2]Members
Vanity
Denise Katrina Matthews, known professionally as Vanity, was born on January 4, 1959, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, to a Polish-German Jewish mother, Helga Senyk, and an African American father, Levia James Matthews.[17] Her early life was marked by challenges, including physical abuse from her father, who died when she was 15 years old; her parents divorced due to the abuse.[17][18] Matthews began her career in modeling during her teenage years, winning the Miss Niagara Hospitality pageant in 1977 and competing in other beauty contests, which led to opportunities in commercials and international work, including a stint in Japan.[19] She moved to Los Angeles for modeling opportunities and was discovered by musician Prince at the 1980 American Music Awards.[20][18] Prince crafted Vanity's stage persona, renaming her from her birth name after she rejected his initial suggestion of "Vagina," and positioning her as the charismatic lead singer and frontwoman of the girl group Vanity 6, which he formed in 1981.[1] As the group's focal point, Vanity embodied a bold, provocative image that aligned with Prince's vision of sensuality and performance, often appearing in lingerie and high-fashion outfits that emphasized her role as a sex symbol. She provided lead vocals on key tracks like "Nasty Girl," contributing to the band's signature sound and visual aesthetic, which highlighted themes of female empowerment through explicit allure.[21] Following the disbandment of Vanity 6 in 1983, Vanity pursued a solo career, signing with Motown Records and releasing her debut album Wild Animal in November 1984, which featured synth-funk tracks and peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Top Black Albums chart.[16] She expanded into acting, landing prominent roles such as the video jockey Laura Charles in the 1985 martial arts film The Last Dragon, where her performance alongside Taimak helped cement her status as a multifaceted entertainer in 1980s pop culture.[22] In 1994, after a near-fatal overdose on crack cocaine that severely damaged her kidneys, Vanity underwent a profound transformation, becoming a born-again Christian and renouncing her stage name and former lifestyle to focus on evangelism.[23] She received a kidney transplant in 1997 and dedicated her later years to gospel ministry, including writing an autobiography, Blame It on Vanity (1997), and appearing on religious television programs to share her testimony of redemption and sobriety.[24] Vanity retired from entertainment entirely in the mid-1990s, living quietly until her death from kidney failure on February 15, 2016, at age 57 in Fremont, California.[25]Brenda Bennett
Brenda Bennett, born January 24, 1962, in Warwick, Rhode Island, grew up in a musical family where her mother played piano and accordion while her father was a drummer. She launched her professional career in 1973 at age 11 as a member of the Columbia Records group Ken Lyon and Tombstone, performing on their album Contraband and touring nationally.[26][27][28] Bennett encountered Prince in 1980 at The Ritz in New York City and joined Vanity 6 in 1981 as one of its founding vocalists alongside Vanity and Susan Moonsie. In the group, she contributed her distinctive low-register voice to harmonies and shared lead vocals on tracks from their self-titled 1982 debut album, including "Nasty Girl" and "Wet Dream," while also performing choreography that aligned with the ensemble's provocative stage presence.[26][29] Following Vanity's departure in 1983 and the subsequent disbandment of Vanity 6, Bennett continued with the reconfigured Apollonia 6 from 1984 to 1985, providing primary vocals alongside Apollonia Kotero and Moonsie on their self-titled album. The project yielded the single "Sex Shooter," which appeared in the film Purple Rain and peaked at number 85 on the Billboard Hot 100. Bennett also featured her solo composition "Blue Limousine" on the album.[29][26][30] After Apollonia 6 dissolved in 1985, Bennett focused on solo pursuits and session work, including backing vocals on Prince-related projects during her marriage to his lighting and set designer LeRoy Bennett from 1983 to 1994. She released her debut solo album, A Capella, in 2011, featuring original material and covers in an a cappella style. In 2018, she issued her second solo album, Once Again, a personal response to Prince's death in 2016 that included tracks like "One Moment in Time." Bennett paused full-time performing after the 1992 birth of her son, Dylan Walsh, but resumed in the 2000s with live shows and recordings into the present day.[29][26][31]Susan Moonsie
Susan Moonsie was born on January 21, 1964, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, to a family of Trinidadian heritage; she relocated with her parents and siblings, including sister Loreen, to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area of Minnesota during her youth.[32][1] She entered Prince's musical circle in 1980 at age 16, meeting him at a local disco and soon collaborating on early projects like the short-lived group The Hookers, which featured her alongside Loreen and Prince's assistant Jamie Shoop.[33] Moonsie was recruited as an original member of Vanity 6 in 1981 by Prince, with whom she shared a close romantic relationship at the time; the trio consisted of lead singer Vanity (Denise Matthews), Brenda Bennett, and Moonsie, emphasizing a provocative image and sound crafted under Prince's production.[1] Within the group, she contributed background and occasional lead vocals, though her singing abilities were limited, often requiring support from others like Jill Jones during live performances.[1][6] On Vanity 6's self-titled 1982 debut album, Moonsie provided vocals across all eight tracks, including lead parts on "Drive Me Wild" and "Make-Up," helping to shape the group's synth-funk style while performing in backup roles during tours and shows.[6][9] Her involvement extended to the group's visual and thematic elements, aligning with Prince's vision for a bold, female-led ensemble.[1] Following Vanity 6's disbandment in 1983, Moonsie briefly continued with the reconfigured Apollonia 6 alongside Bennett and new lead Apollonia Kotero, contributing to their 1984 self-titled album and related performances.[34] In 1988, she married actor and editor David Garfield, with whom she had two children; Garfield died of a heart attack in 1994.[35] Thereafter, Moonsie largely withdrew from public musical endeavors, maintaining a private life with minimal output in the industry.[36]Music and Image
Musical Style
Vanity 6's music exemplified the Minneapolis Sound, a genre pioneered by Prince that fused synth-funk, contemporary R&B, and early new wave elements.[37] Their self-titled debut album, produced entirely by Prince, highlighted heavy use of synthesizers, prominent basslines, and electronic drum machines to create a danceable, futuristic groove.[37] Tracks like "Nasty Girl" showcased this through pulsating synth rhythms and mechanized beats, evoking the aphrodisiac drive of limousine-fueled nightlife.[38] The album's sound featured upbeat tempos and minimalist arrangements that prioritized the trio's layered vocals over complex instrumentation, drawing from Prince's own funk-rock influences while adapting them for a more accessible pop sensibility. This approach echoed contemporaries such as The Time, another Prince-produced act rooted in Minneapolis funk. Compared to Prince's solo work like Dirty Mind, which blended similar synth-funk with edgier rock edges, Vanity 6's tracks leaned toward streamlined R&B accessibility, making their sound more radio-friendly for a girl group format.[37] In unreleased material intended for a second album, Vanity 6's sound continued the synth-funk and electronic elements of their debut, with some tracks incorporating bolder textures. Demos such as "Sex Shooter" and "Vibrator" featured synthesized rhythms and sensual production, including sound effects and layered vocals that maintained their provocative R&B style.[39][40][41]Themes and Presentation
Vanity 6's lyrical content prominently featured themes of female sexuality, empowerment through sensuality, and playful naughtiness, positioning the group as bold proponents of sexual agency. Songs like "Nasty Girl" exemplified this approach by recontextualizing "nasty" as a positive attribute of confident femininity, celebrating women's independence and desire in a direct, unapologetic manner.[42] The group's visual and stage presentation amplified these themes through a highly provocative aesthetic curated by Prince, who assembled the trio and dictated their flirtatious, glamorous image. Members performed in lingerie and high heels, executing choreographed dances that emphasized seductive movements and coquettish allure, creating an overall persona of erotic playfulness.[43] This style extended to their album artwork, which depicted the women in scantily clad poses to underscore sensuality and tie into the burgeoning visual spectacle of 1980s music promotion.[44] In the context of early 1980s music conservatism, Vanity 6's sex-positive messaging provoked mixed reactions, challenging prevailing norms around female expression in pop and R&B. Their emphasis on women as sexual aggressors and empowered seductresses marked a departure from more subdued portrayals, fostering a "sex bomb" identity that both captivated and courted controversy.[45]Discography
Studio Album
Vanity 6's self-titled debut album, released on August 11, 1982, by Warner Bros. Records, served as the group's sole studio release and was entirely written and produced by Prince under the pseudonym The Starr Company. Recorded primarily at Prince's Kiowa Trail home studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota, during sessions spanning late 1981 and March–April 1982, with overdubs at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California, the album featured Prince performing all instrumentation while the trio provided vocals. The project emerged from Prince's prolific output that year, aligning with his simultaneous work on his own 1999 album and efforts for his band The Time.[9] The album comprises eight tracks, blending funk, synth-pop, and R&B elements with explicit, playful lyrics centered on female sexuality and empowerment. Key songs include the lead single "Nasty Girl," a synth-driven anthem written by Prince and credited to the group; "Wet Dream," an early session track from 1981; and "Make Up," which highlights the trio's harmonious delivery over Prince's minimalist beats. Other tracks, such as "Drive Me Wild" and "Bite the Beat," showcase the album's concise, dance-oriented structure, with most running under four minutes.| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nasty Girl | 5:10 |
| 2 | Wet Dream | 4:12 |
| 3 | Drive Me Wild | 2:31 |
| 4 | He's So Dull | 2:32 |
| 5 | If a Girl Answers (Don't Hang Up) | 5:34 |
| 6 | Make Up | 2:40 |
| 7 | Bite the Beat | 3:12 |
| 8 | 3-2-1 | 5:24 |