Vanity (singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vanity
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Vanity in 1984
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| Born |
Denise Katrina Matthews
January 4, 1959 Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
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| Died | February 15, 2016 (aged 57) Fremont, California, U.S.
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| Nationality | Canadian, American |
| Other names | Denise Matthews-Smith, D. D. Winters |
| Occupation | Singer, model, actress |
| Years active | 1977–1993 |
| Spouse(s) |
Anthony Smith
(m. 1995; div. 1996) |
| Partner(s) | Prince (1982–1983) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts |
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Denise Katrina Matthews (born January 4, 1959 – died February 15, 2016), known professionally as Vanity, was a talented Canadian singer, model, and actress.
Vanity became well-known as the lead singer of the all-female group Vanity 6. This group was created by the famous musician Prince. They had a big hit song in 1982 called "Nasty Girl". The group broke up in 1983 when Vanity decided to start her own solo music career. She released two solo albums, Wild Animal and Skin on Skin, with Motown Records. Vanity also had a successful acting career, appearing in movies like The Last Dragon and Action Jackson.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Denise Katrina Matthews was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, on January 4, 1959. Her mother, Helga Senyk, was of German-Jewish and Polish-Jewish background. Her father, Levia James Matthews, was of African-American descent. Denise had three sisters, Patricia, Deborah, and Renay, along with several half-siblings. Her father passed away when she was 15 years old.
Starting Her Career
Denise began her career by entering local beauty pageants. She moved to Toronto to pursue modeling. In 1977, she won the Miss Niagara Hospitality title. The next year, she competed for Miss Canada. At 17, she moved to New York City to further her modeling career. She signed with the Zoli Model Agency. Because she was not very tall, her modeling work was mostly for commercials and photoshoots. She appeared in commercials for Pearl Drops toothpaste. She also modeled in Japan.
Denise also had small acting roles early on. She appeared in the horror movie Terror Train (1980). She then played the main role in the film Tanya's Island (1980). For these early films, she was credited as D.D. Winters.
Music and Acting Success
In March 1982, Denise appeared on the cover of the funk band Cameo's album, Alligator Woman. She had met musician Prince earlier that year at the American Music Awards. Prince learned that she could sing and invited her to lead a girl group he was forming. This group became known as Vanity 6.
Rise to Fame with Vanity 6
Vanity 6 recorded one album and became famous internationally with their song "Nasty Girl". Vanity and Prince were featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine in April 1983. In August 1983, Vanity left the group. She also turned down a role in the 1984 movie Purple Rain. This role then went to her replacement, Apollonia Kotero.
Solo Music and Film Career
In 1984, Vanity signed with Motown Records as a solo artist. She released her funk-pop album Wild Animal. She had some success on the US pop and R&B music charts with her songs "Pretty Mess" and "Mechanical Emotion".
In 1985, Vanity made her big film debut in The Last Dragon. Her song "7th Heaven" was featured in the movie. She released her second and final album, Skin on Skin, in 1986. That same year, she starred in the movie Never Too Young to Die with John Stamos.
In 1987, Vanity was a guest star in an episode of the TV show Miami Vice. She then co-starred in the 1988 film Action Jackson. This was one of her most notable roles, where she acted alongside Carl Weathers and Sharon Stone. Vanity also appeared in several other TV programs. She was in Friday the 13th: The Series in 1989. She played a villain in the 1990 TV movie Memories of Murder. Her last acting role was in the film Kiss of Death in 1993.
Personal Life and Faith
Denise Matthews met Prince in January 1982 and they began dating. She was also linked to musician Adam Ant, who wrote a song about her called "Vanity". She was briefly engaged to Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx in 1987.
In 1995, Denise married football player Anthony Smith. They had a quick romance and married after knowing each other for only one month. Their marriage ended in 1996.
Finding Faith
In 1992, while filming Da Vinci's War, Vanity met actor Sam J. Jones. Jones invited her to read the Bible with him. Soon after, Vanity became a born-again Christian. At this time, she decided to stop using her stage name, Vanity, and went back to being known as Denise Matthews. She traveled and shared her story of converting to Christianity.
In 1994, Matthews became very ill and was hospitalized for three months due to severe kidney failure. She later shared that doctors believed she only had a few days to live. She said that during this time, she had a vision where Jesus appeared to her. She felt he told her that if she promised to leave her "Vanity" persona behind, he would save her.
After she recovered, Matthews decided to end her performing career. She cut ties with Hollywood and devoted her life to her Christian faith. In 1995, she said she threw away many of her old tapes and items from her career. After receiving a kidney transplant in 1997, Matthews dedicated the rest of her life to her faith. She gave speeches at churches around the world and led Pure Hearts Ministries in Fremont, California. In 2010, Matthews released her autobiography, Blame It On Vanity: Hollywood, Hell and Heaven.
Illness and Passing
Denise Matthews passed away in a hospital in Fremont, California, on February 15, 2016. She was 57 years old and died from kidney failure. She left much of her belongings to her church. She wished for her ashes to be scattered over the coast of Hawaii. She also wanted her loved ones to celebrate her life with happiness and "no tears."
Discography
Studio Albums
- Wild Animal (1984)
- Skin on Skin (1986)
Vanity 6
- Vanity 6 (1982)
See Also
In Spanish: Vanity (cantante) para niños
