Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Breaking New: Prince Bangs Apollonia

August 2, 1959 in Santa Monica, California, Apollonia Kotero is a swimsuit model, actress and singer of Italian and Mexican descent. She joined Prince's entourage after the departure of Vanity, Denise Matthews, as lead in the film Purple Rain and as lead-singer of recording group Apollonia 6.

Kotero had taken part in nationwide audition to find a replacement for Vanity before being cast by Prince in the role that had originally been given to Vanity. It was at this time that Prince gave Kotero the stagename Apollonia and she also inherited Vanity's former lead role in Prince's girl group, with original members Brenda Bennett and Susan Moonsie. Purple Rain eventually became a huge success and Apollonia attained overnight stardom.

The newly renamed Apollonia 6 released one album in October, 1984 and released the hit single "Sex Shooter". The band became famous for appearing on stage in lingerie only. Although the album is credited to a producer named Jamie Starr, it has always been obvious that the album was completely produced by Prince himself.

Apollonia had originally recorded a version of the song "Manic Monday" for the 1984 Apollonia 6 album. Written by Prince as well, the song would later become a worldwide hit single for the girl group The Bangles. It was rumored that Prince had lost interest in the Apollonia 6 project and therefore removed several hit singles from their album (shortly before its release): namely "Manic Monday," "The Glamorous Life" (which instead ended up on the debut album of drummer Sheila E), and "Take Me With U" (the duet Apollonia performed with Prince, which ended up on the Purple Rain soundtrack album instead). "Take Me With U" is Apollonia's highest charting single, reaching #25 on the Top-40 chart in the U.S..

Apollonia left the Prince camp in 1985.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Opps, It's supposed to start "Born Patricia Kotero on . . ."

Sorry