|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Member Number: 7856
Denise Katrina Matthews (born January 4, 1959 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada), better known as Vanity (but sometimes credited as Denise Matthews-Smith or D.D. Winters), is a Canadian-born singer, actress, and model. She was the lead singer for the Prince-mentored female trio Vanity 6, which recorded the 1982 R&B hit "Nasty Girl".
Personal life
The daughter of a German mother and an African-American father, she is the sister of Canadian model Patricia Matthews. Early in her career, Matthews appeared in B-movies such as Tanya's Island and Terror Train.
As Vanity
In 1982, she met Prince, who re-named her Vanity, stating he saw his female reflection when he looked at her. Other versions of the story suggest that Prince coined the name Vagina initially, but she refused and renamed herself "Vanity" instead. Later that same year, she became the lead singer of the group Vanity 6. Their trademark was explicit sexuality in their lyrics, performances, and attire (extending even to the group's name, with 6 alluding to the number of breasts in the group). The group's biggest hit, "Nasty Girl", reached #1 on Hot Dance Club Play and was produced by Prince. As Vanity, she dated Prince, Adam Ant, Miki Free and Billy Idol during the 1980s. Additionally, Matthews was engaged to Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx in 1987, and joked during interviews that she would then again become Vanity 6 (Sixx). They never married however (Matthews was a contributor to Sixx's book, released in 2007, called The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star, in which Sixx gives detailed accounts of his drug-filled year in 1987, which includes numerous and often bizarre incidents with Vanity, who had been turned on to cocaine).
After one album, Vanity decided to leave her role in Vanity 6 and the proposed film Purple Rain in 1983. She signed a lucrative record deal with Motown Records in 1984 and recorded two albums, Wild Animal and Skin On Skin. Long versions of the singles "Pretty Mess" paired with "Mechanical Emotion", originally on Wild Animal were released on a 12" by Motown. She also starred in a handful of movies, including The Last Dragon and the 1988 action thriller Action Jackson, in which she starred opposite Carl Weathers, Craig T. Nelson, and Sharon Stone. She also played a villain torturing Nancy Allen's character in 1990's amnesia-plot TV movie Memories of Murder; the film has appeared on the Lifetime channel. She guest starred in an episode of Miami Vice in its third season; she posed for Playboy in 1985 and in 1988; and, in 1992, she appeared in an episode of Highlander: The Series opposite Adrian Paul.
Later life
She formally gave up her stage name "Vanity" and became a born-again Christian in 1994. In 1995, Matthews was quoted "When I came to the Lord Jesus Christ, I threw out about 1,000 tapes of mine—every interview, every tape, every video. Everything." (Totally Awesome 80's by Matthew Rettenmund, page 57). In 1995, after a month-long courtship, Matthews married former football player Anthony Smith (he was a defensive end with the Los Angeles Raiders at the time). They divorced in 1996.
An evangelist and born-again Christian, she travels the United States and currently resides in Fremont, California. Matthews is currently working on finishing her novel Blame it on Vanity.
Discography
Studio Albums
While in the group Vanity 6
- (1982) Vanity 6
As a solo artist
- (1984) Wild Animal
- (1986) Skin On Skin
Soundtracks
- (1985) The Last Dragon: the song "7th Heaven"
- (1988) Action Jackson: the songs "Undress", "Faraway Eyes" and "Shotgun" with David Koz and featuring vocalist Kareem.
Singles
with Vanity 6
| Year | Title | U.S. | U.S. R&B | U.S. dance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | "He's So Dull" | — | — | — |
| "Nasty Girl" | 101 | 7 | 1 | |
| "Drive Me Wild" | — | — | — |
Solo
| Year | Title | U.S. | U.S. R&B | U.S. dance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | "Pretty Mess" | 75 | 15 | 13 |
| 1985 | "Mechanical Emotion" | — | 23 | — |
| 1986 | "Under the Influence" | 56 | 9 | 6 |
| "Animals" | — | — | — |
Filmography
- (1980) Klondike Fever
- (1980) Terror Train
- (1980) Tanya's Island
- (1985) The Last Dragon
- (1986) Never Too Young to Die
- (1986) 52 Pick-Up
- (1987) Deadly Illusion
- (1988) Action Jackson
- (1992) South Beach
- (1992) Neon City
- (1993) Da Vinci's War
- (1995) Kiss of Death
TV appearances
- (1987) Miami Vice "By Hooker by Crook" guest appearance
- (1987) The New Mike Hammer "Green Lipstick/Mike's Daughter" guest appearance
- (1989) Friday the 13th: The Series "The Secret Agenda of Mesmer's Bauble" guest appearance
- (1989) Booker (TV series) "Deals and Wheels: Part 1" guest appearance
- (1990) Memories of Murder [made-for-TV-movie with Nancy Allen]
- (1991) Tales From The Crypt "Dead Wait" guest appearance
- (1991) Sweating Bullets "Mafia Mistress" guest appearance
- (1992) Silk Stalkings "Powder Burn" guest appearance
- (1992) Lady Boss [made-for-TV-movie with Kim Delany]
- (1992) Highlander: The Series "Revenge is Sweet" guest appearance
- (1993) Counterstrike "Muerte" guest appearance
Additionally, Matthews gave many performances and interviews on talk shows/music shows/variety shows from 1983-1995. Her most recent mainstream interview was in 2002 on the VH1 series Where Are They Now?. In the last few years, however, Matthews has made a few appearances on the conservative Christian channel TBN's programs, such as the long running Praise The Lord, and The Michael English Show.
- 1983: Solid Gold, Soul Train
- 1984: Solid Gold, Soul Train
- 1985: The Merv Griffin Show, "The Motown Revue Starring Smokey Robinson"
- 1986: American Bandstand, It's Garry Shandling's Show, Solid Gold, The Late, Late Breakfast Show
- 1987: The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers, The Late Show(hosted by Arsenio Hall)
- 1988: Club MTV, Soul Train
- 1994: Dateline NBC, The Joan Rivers Show
- 2002: Where Are They Now?
- 2004: Praise The Lord, The Michael English Show
- 2006: Praise The Lord
- Official Site
- Scrapbook with Various Pictures of Her Life
- Vanity at the Internet Movie Database
- wikipedia
Humanarchives.org provides the Denise Matthews archive to help educate and promote humanity. Join Us
Denise Matthews Search Results
Denise Matthews News and Information
RSS news is based on the words "Denise" and "Matthews" so the information provided can be unrelated to "Denise Matthews" specifically.
Aiken Remodels, Reopens Housing Development WJBF-TV, GA - Ivory Matthews, Acting CEO, Aiken Housing Authority: "So, we're staying in line with what public housing was designed for." Denise and her neighbors will ... |
Business Bulletin Board for Aug. 3 Inside Bay Area, CA - Contact: Denise Chambliss, 925-468-0400. Business Network International, Tri-Valley Business Builders — Meets 7-8:30 am Tuesdays. Membership is limited to ... |
What's On: Weekday Planner Toronto Star, Canada - Toronto Music Garden, 475 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000 or harbourfrontcentre.com Toronto Summer Music Festival has music and dance with Denise Djokic Tues. ... |
Reunion planned for Va. school Delmarva Now, MD - Denise Langley Bernard, a 1975 graduate who is Parksley's town clerk and who was on the reunion committee, said she and her husband, Allen, will drive to ... |
Sunday's Highlights Los Angeles Times, CA - Tabloids: Denise's press tour is interrupted by vicious tabloid rumors on " Denise Richards: It's Complicated" (10 pm E!). Top chef: The three final ... |
Rain threatens tribute bands concert Argus Press, MI - By MICHAEL PETERSON Argus-Press Staff Writer Argus-Press Photo by Michael Peterson RYAN CLIFFORD, lead singer of the Dave Matthews Tribute Band, ... |
Church News Culpeper Star Exponent, VA - Mallory and Denise Monroe are the pastors. The White Oak Run Baptist Church will have its annual Homecoming Service Aug. 3 at 11 am The guest preacher will ... |
VIP walk-ons pay off for "Hot L Baltimore" Denver Post, CO - Coors honcho Leo Kiely and his wife, Susan; pediatrician Dean Prina; and WellPoint Foundation president Caz Matthews not only agreed to make their ... |
 Boston Globe | Primary vote today Tulsa World, OK - Brad Henry appointed Roth of Oklahoma City to the post after Denise Bode, a Republican, took a job in the private sector. Corporation Commissioner Jeff ... Tuesday's primary quieter than previous years |
Waterford South is still the team to beat TheDay, CT - East Hampton - A year removed from her team's trip to the Little League Softball World Series, Waterford South coach Denise Spellman is still amazed every ... |
Denise Matthews Archive References
Are there any errors in this archive? The information presented is as provided by a number of possible sources including: Wikipedia, NNDB, IMDB, Answers.com and the archive administrator - contact admin with any corrections or concerns.
