Editing Vanity 6

{{Short description|American musical group}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Vanity 6
| image             = Vanity 6 1982 press photo.jpg
| caption           = Left to right: Brenda Bennett, Vanity, and Susan Moonsie (1982).
| background        = group_or_band
| birth_name        = 
| alias             = 
| origin            = [[Minneapolis]], Minnesota, U.S.
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]<ref>{{cite web| url=https://themusic.com.au/news/vanity-six-lead-singer-and-prince-protege-passes-away-at-57/KNY7Oj08Pz4/16-02-16/| title=Vanity 6 Lead Singer & Prince Protege Passes Away at 57| publisher=[[The Music (magazine)|The Music]]| date=February 16, 2016| access-date= June 6, 2020}}</ref>
* [[Pop music|pop]]<ref>{{cite news|first= Jessica |last= Gelt |title= Prince protege Denise 'Vanity' Matthews dies at 57 |date= February 15, 2016 |newspaper= [[Los Angeles Times]] |url= http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-prince-protege-denise-vanity-matthews-dies-at-57-20160215-story.html |access-date= May 19, 2016}}</ref>
* [[funk]]<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Lynn |last= Norment |title= Prince's Intriguing Women |magazine= [[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]] |date= November 1987 |volume= 43 |issue= 1 |page= 168 |issn= 0012-9011 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=u8wDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA168}}</ref>
* [[rock music|rock]]<ref>{{cite magazine |first= Darren |last= Leon |title= Vanity sheds 'nasty girl' image in film |magazine= Monmouth |url= http://209.212.22.88/Data/RBR/1980-1989/1985/1985.06.09.pdf |date= June 9, 1985 |page= 5 |access-date= May 19, 2016 |archive-date= June 10, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160610164718/http://209.212.22.88/Data/RBR/1980-1989/1985/1985.06.09.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref>
* [[synth-pop]]<ref>{{cite news|first= Pierre |last= Perrone |title= Vanity: Prince protégée who fronted the synth-pop trio The Hookers, fell prey to drug abuse and became a born-again Christian |date= February 23, 2016 |newspaper= [[The Independent]] |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/vanity-prince-prot-g-e-who-fronted-the-synth-pop-trio-vanity-6-fell-prey-to-drug-abuse-and-became-a-a6892006.html |access-date= May 19, 2016}}</ref>
}}
| years_active      = 1982–1983
| label             = [[Warner Records|Warner Bros.]]
| website           = 
| past_members      =
* [[Vanity (singer)|Vanity]]
* [[Brenda Bennett]]
* [[Susan Moonsie]]
}}

'''Vanity 6''' was an American female vocal trio that gained popularity in the early 1980s. They were protégées of musician [[Prince (musician)|Prince]]. Led by singer [[Vanity (singer)|Vanity]], they are known for their song "[[Nasty Girl (Vanity 6 song)|Nasty Girl]]".<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/6875318/vanity-denise-katrina-matthews-prince-vanity-6-dies-at-57|title=Vanity, Former Prince Protégé & Leader of The Hookers, Dies at 57|magazine=Billboard|date=February 16, 2016|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref> Vanity left in 1983 and the band was reformed as [[Apollonia 6]].

== History ==

===Formation===
In 1981, Prince, himself a rising musical star, suggested that [[Susan Moonsie]] and her sister Loreen, along with Cavallo, Ruffalo & Fargnoli employee Jamie Shoop form a [[girl group]] that would be called the Hookers.{{Sfn|Tudahl|2018|p=13}} Prince's vision was that the three women would perform in lingerie and sing sensual songs with lyrics about sex, romance, and fantasy.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Collier|first=Aldore|date=Jan 11, 1993|title=Vanity Tells Why She Gave Up Sexy Image And Became Born-Again Christian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XsIDAAAAMBAJ&dq=vanity+denise+matthews+jet&pg=PA58|journal=Jet|pages=58}}</ref> Later, musician [[Rick James]] claimed that Prince had stolen the idea for creating a sexy trio in negligees who sang about love, pain, money, and power from him while Prince was the opening act on James's tour in 1980.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Collier|first=Aldore|date=Sep 26, 1983|title=Rick James Talks About Life with Fast Women and Hot Cars|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AbMDAAAAMBAJ&dq=vanity+6+jet+1982&pg=PA61|journal=Jet|pages=61}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=James|first=Rick|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-m9NAgAAQBAJ&q=vanity|title=Glow: The Autobiography of Rick James|date=2014-07-08|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-1-4767-6416-0|pages=245|language=en}}</ref> Set designer Roy Bennett's wife [[Brenda Bennett]], who later joined the group stated that Prince was looking to create a somewhat "1980s version of The Supremes."{{Sfn|Tudahl|2018|p=14}}

The original trio recorded a few [[Demo (music)|demos]] before Prince met Canadian model and [[B movie]] actress [[Vanity (singer)|Denise Matthews]] at the [[American Music Awards]] in January 1982.{{Sfn|Tudahl|2018|p=13}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/from-the-pitchfork-review/9731-do-it-all-night-the-story-of-princes-dirty-mind/|title=Do It All Night: The Story of Prince's Dirty Mind {{!}} Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com|date=October 6, 2015 |language=en|access-date=2017-11-04}}</ref> Prince was so taken by her charisma that he decided she would be the perfect lead vocalist for his group the Hookers. He also suggested that Matthews use the stage name Vagina. She agreed to be part of the act, but insisted that the name of the group be changed from the Hookers, and that she will not be using the stage name Vagina. They settled on her stage name as Vanity and the group's name became Vanity 6.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20088910,00.html|title=Her Romance with Prince Hit the Rocks, but Vanity's Singing Career Is Going Grrr-Eat|website=People.com|date=15 October 1984}}</ref> Prince chose the name because he said that looking at her was like looking in a mirror at the female version of himself.{{Sfn|Tudahl|2018|p=13}} Around this time, Prince and Vanity began a romantic relationship. Loreen and Jamie were not in the group, and with Vanity's arrival, that left Vanity 6 as Vanity on lead vocals, and Brenda Bennett and Susan Moonsie on backing vocals.{{Sfn|Tudahl|2018|p=14}} Prince provided the group, now dressed in lingerie and high heels, with provocative songs (although within the album credits, group members were sometimes given writing credits).<ref>{{Cite journal|date=Jan 24, 1983|title=Vanity 6 Living Out Daring Fantasies on Stage|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uLYDAAAAMBAJ&q=vanity|journal=Jet|pages=60}}</ref>

=== Career ===
Their first single, "He's So Dull", failed to chart on the main US Hot 100 chart and was a minor hit in Australia and the Netherlands; it appeared in the film ''[[National Lampoon's Vacation]]''.<ref name="ned">{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Vanity+6|title=dutchcharts.nl > Discografie Vanity 6|language=nl|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=2016-02-20}}</ref><ref name="aus">{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St. Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|edition=Illustrated|page=320|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref> 

The second single, "[[Nasty Girl (Vanity 6 song)|Nasty Girl]]", was also not a hit on the US Hot 100, but did become a hit on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|U.S. R&B]] chart, hitting number 7, and the [[Hot Dance Club Play|U.S. Dance]] chart, hitting number one.<ref>{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p21236|label=Vanity}}</ref> The song was a top 10 hit in the Netherlands,<ref name="ned" /> and a top 20 hit in the Flanders region of Belgium.<ref name="bel">{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/20c99/Vanity-6-Nasty-Girl|title=Ultratop > Vanity 6 – Nasty Girl|language=nl|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=2016-02-20}}</ref> "Nasty Girl" was featured in the film ''[[Beverly Hills Cop]]'', although it was not included on the soundtrack. It was also featured in the 1983 sex comedy film ''[[Private School (film)|Private School]]'' and the 1996 black comedy film [[Girl 6]].

The third single, "Drive Me Wild", was another minor hit. [[Music video]]s were shot for all three singles. Their first and only album, ''[[Vanity 6 (album)|Vanity 6]]'', was eventually certified [[Music recording sales certification|gold]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vanity - Vanity 6|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Vanity+6&ti=Vanity+6&format=Album&type=#search_section|access-date=2022-01-01|website=RIAA|language=en-US}}</ref> Members of the group sometimes provided backing vocals on Prince's albums.{{Sfn|Tudahl|2018|p=391}} The group was the opening act of Prince's [[1999 Tour|1999 tour]] for his [[1999 (Prince album)|album with the same name]] in 1982 and 1983, which also featured [[The Time (band)|The Time]]. 

The hierarchy in the group caused friction between Vanity and Bennett.{{Sfn|Tudahl|2018|p=14}} 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.{{Sfn|Tudahl|2018|p=14}} Vanity appeared in a [[Richard Avedon]] photoshoot with Prince with one of the photos being used on the cover of the April 28, 1983 issue of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Miller|first=Debby|date=1983-04-28|title=Prince's Hot Rock: The Secret Life Of America's Sexiest One-Man Band|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/princes-hot-rock-the-secret-life-of-americas-sexiest-one-man-band-67501/|access-date=2022-01-01|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> 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.{{Sfn|Tudahl|2018|p=78}} During pre-production of the movie ''[[Purple Rain (film)|Purple Rain]]'' in August 1983, Vanity decided to leave the group and relinquish her role in the film.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Draper|first=Jason|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EAVxDQAAQBAJ&dq=vanity+6+prince+1983&pg=PA34|title=Prince: Life and Times: Revised and Updated Edition|date=2016-11-01|publisher=Chartwell Books|isbn=978-0-7603-5363-9|pages=34|language=en}}</ref> Many possible reasons were given for her departure, such as disbursement of royalties, Prince being too controlling, and the end of their romantic relationship.<ref name=":1" />

=== Post-Vanity 6 ===
Vanity was replaced by [[Apollonia Kotero|Apollonia]] in the group, which was renamed [[Apollonia 6]]. She also took over Vanity's role in the film ''Purple Rain''.<ref name=":1" /> The new trio recorded their only album, ''[[Apollonia 6 (album)|Apollonia 6]]'', in 1984.

Former front woman Vanity went on to have a solo music and acting career.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-15|title=Remembering Vanity Five Years Later|url=https://www.spin.com/2021/02/remembering-vanity-five-years-later/|access-date=2022-01-01|website=SPIN|language=en-US}}</ref> In 1994, Vanity overdosed on [[crack cocaine]] and suffered from near-fatal [[kidney failure]]. Upon recovering, she became a [[Born again Christianity|born again Christian]] and renounced her stage name and her career in show business.<ref name=":0" /> She died from kidney disease on February 15, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://globalgrind.cassiuslife.com/4147805/denise-vanity-matthews-vanity-6-dead-at-57/|title=Denise "Vanity" Matthews Of Vanity 6 Dead At 57|date=February 16, 2016|website=Globalgrind.cassiuslife.com|access-date=June 20, 2019}}</ref> Moonsie went on to work as a realtor and later became a restaurateur.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mayo|first=Michael|date=March 6, 2020|title=Are changes ahead for popular Hardy Park Bistro in Fort Lauderdale?|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/restaurants-and-bars/fl-et-hardy-park-bistro-sold-fort-lauderdale-20200306-xnxkxw4nkrhb5lwvltciz36x7m-story.html|access-date=2022-01-01|website=sun-sentinel.com}}</ref>

==Discography==
===Studio albums===
* ''[[Vanity 6 (album)|Vanity 6]]'' (1982)

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of singles, with selected chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:9em;"| Title<br />{{Small|(A-side/B-side)}}
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:0.5em;"| Year
! scope="col" colspan="6"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:90%;"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br /><ref name="Bubbling Under The Billboard Hot 100 1959-2004">{{cite book|title=Bubbling Under The Billboard Hot 100 1959–2004|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|publisher=Record Research Inc.|year=2005|isbn=0-89820-162-4|edition=2nd|location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin|page=277}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:90%;"| [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US<br/>R&B]]
! scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:90%;"| [[Dance Club Songs|US Dance]]<br /><ref name="allmusic1">[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p21236|pure_url=yes}} ((( Vanity > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))]. allmusic (1959-01-04). Retrieved on 2010-08-18.</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:90%;"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<br /><ref name=aus/>
! scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:90%;"| [[Ultratop|BEL<br>(FL)]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/20c99/Vanity-6-Nasty-Girl|title=Ultratop > Vanity 6 — Nasty Girl|language=nl|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=February 20, 2016}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:90%;"| [[Single Top 100|NLD]]<br /><ref name=nld>{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Vanity+6|title=dutchcharts.nl > Discografie Vanity 6|language=nl|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=February 20, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| "He's So Dull"<br/>"Make-Up"
|rowspan=4| 1982
| — || — || — || 92 || — || 44
|rowspan=4| ''[[Vanity 6 (album)|Vanity 6]]''
|-
!scope="row"| "[[Nasty Girl (Vanity 6 song)|Nasty Girl]]"<br/>"Drive Me Wild"
| 101 || 7 || 1 || — || 11 || 7
|-
!scope="row"| "Drive Me Wild"<br/>"3&nbsp;×&nbsp;2 = 6"
| — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
!scope="row"| "Bite the Beat"<br/>"3&nbsp;×&nbsp;2 = 6"
| — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
| colspan="9" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}

===Unreleased second Vanity 6 album===
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]]",{{Sfn|Tudahl|2018|p=78}} 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 (song)|17 Days]]", the [[A-side and B-side|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",{{Sfn|Tudahl|2018|p=78}} 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",{{Sfn|Tudahl|2018|p=78}} which has been leaked online. The song features [[Prince (musician)|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 "[[Vibrator (sex toy)|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. Vanity's vocal track from this song would later be reused by Prince in 1994 for the [[Come (Prince album)]] on the outro track "Orgasm", the final part of a full track "Poem" which is heard throughout the duration of the album. She is credited in the liner notes as "She knows..." by Prince. <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.princevault.com/index.php?title=Orgasm | title=Orgasm |website=www.princevault.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.princevault.com/index.php?title=Vibrator | title=Vibrator |website=www.princevault.com}}</ref>
*"Moral Majority"{{Sfn|Tudahl|2018|p=78}}

==See also==
*[[List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
{{Cite book|last=Tudahl|first=Duane|title=Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions: 1983 and 1984|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2018|isbn=9781538116432}}

==External links==
*{{AllMusic}}

{{Vanity 6}}
{{Prince}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Vanity 6| ]]
[[Category:American funk musical groups]]
[[Category:American dance girl groups]]
[[Category:American synth-pop groups]]
[[Category:American feminist musicians]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1981]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1983]]
[[Category:Musical trios from Minnesota]]
[[Category:Warner Records artists]]
[[Category:Vocal trios]]