LOS ANGELES -- Vanity, one of Prince's prime protégés in the 1980s and lead singer of the band Vanity 6, died Monday. She was 57.
TMZ first reported the death of Vanity, whose given name was Denise Katrina Matthews. Another of Prince's prodigies of the era, drummer Sheila E, confirmed the death of her friend on Twitter:
SADDEN my FRIEND IN CHRIST gone 2day. Vanity, Denise Matthews. MISS YOU DEARLY. U ARE IN HIS ARMS NOW, NO Pain pic.twitter.com/UbCWtl8brc— SheilaEdrummer (@SheilaEdrummer) February 16, 2016
TMZ reported that Matthews recently battled an abdominal illness after years of kidney problems and died in a Fremont, California hospital.
The Canadian singer, songwriter, dancer and actress fronted the all-girl trio Vanity 6 from 1981 until 1983, when they disbanded. Their biggest hit came in 1982 with "Nasty Girl," though they also charted with "Pretty Mess," "Mechanical Emotion," and "Under the Influence."
After Vanity 6 called it quits, Matthews starred in films including 52 Pick-Up, The Last Dragon and Action Jackson.
