Denise "Vanity" Matthews Dies at 57


One of Prince's innumerable talents was finding gorgeous women to work with. The women were not always impressive musicians, but they each possessed an intangible star quality, a twinkling in the eye. One of those women was Denise "Vanity" Matthews.

Matthews was a model, singer, and actress who became an ordained minister later in her life. She passed away Monday at 57 the New York Times confirms.
Matthews was a Prince protegé who led the girl-group Vanity 6. With the trio, she scored a hit in 1982 with Nasty Girl, a song Prince wrote and produced.  She went on to release two solo albums and act in a handful of films.

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Prince mourned Matthews' death in concert while performing in Australia. "Someone dear to us has passed away, I’m gonna dedicate this song to her," he said according to the Herald Sun. He played "Little Red Corvette" and "Dirty Mind."





Photo: WireImage/Ron Wolfson