Vanity 6 - wikipedia Vanity 6 This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( July 2014 ) Vanity 6 Left to right : Brenda Bennett, Vanity, and Susan Moonsie ; 1983. Background information Origin Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Genres R&B pop funk rock synthpop Years active 1981 -- 1983 Labels Warner Bros. Associated acts Prince The Revolution The Time Apollonia 6 Past members Vanity ( deceased ) Brenda Bennett Susan Moonsie Vanity 6 was an American female vocal trio assembled by American musician Prince in mid -- 1981. Contents 1 Background 1.1 Formation 2 Career 2.1 Dissension and dissolution 3 Apollonia 6 4 Later life 5 Discography 5.1 Albums 5.2 Singles 6 Scheduled for Vanity 6 7 See also 8 References 9 External links Background Formation In 1981, Prince, himself a rising musical star, suggested that his three female friends -- his girlfriend Susan Moonsie, Boston native Brenda Bennett, and Jamie Shoop form a girl group that would be called `` The Hookers ''. Prince 's vision was that the three women would perform in lingerie and sing sensual songs with lyrics about sex and fantasy. Prince had been wanting to mentor a girl singer or group since the late -- 1970s when he saw the film A Star is Born with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. The original trio recorded a few demos before Prince met the then named Denise Matthews, a model and Canadian B movie actress, in January 1980. Matthews was Rick James ' date at the American Music Awards when Prince persuaded her to join his girl group. Prince was so taken by her charisma that he decided she would be the perfect frontwoman for his `` Hookers '' project. Matthews was eventually re-christened Vanity. Prince had originally suggested that she use the stage name `` Vagina, '' but instead they agreed upon `` Vanity. '' Other versions of the story suggest that it was Prince himself who coined the name `` Vanity, '' as he said that looking at her was like looking in a mirror at the female version of himself. Around this time, Prince and Vanity began a romantic relationship. With Vanity 's arrival, Shoop was dropped from the group. Career With the new trio finalized, Prince renamed the group Vanity 6. He provided the group, now dressed in lingerie and high heels, with provocative songs ( although within the album credits, group members were sometimes given sole writing credits ). Their first single, `` He 's So Dull '', was a minor hit in Australia and the Netherlands, and appeared in the film National Lampoon 's Vacation. The second single, `` Nasty Girl '', was a hit on both the U.S. R&B chart, peaking at number 7, and U.S. Dance chart ( where it hit number one ), and it also made an appearance on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. `` Nasty Girl '' was a top 10 hit in the Netherlands, and a top 20 hit in the Flanders region of Belgium. The song was featured in the film Beverly Hills Cop, although it was not included on the soundtrack. `` Nasty Girl '' was also featured in the 1983 sex - comedy Private School. During the group 's existence, members sometimes provided backing vocals on Prince 's albums. Dissension and dissolution The third single, `` Drive Me Wild '', was another minor hit. Music videos were shot for all three singles. Their self - titled album, Vanity 6 ( which would turn out to be their only release ) was eventually certified gold. The group opened up on the 1999 Tour, between 1982 and 1983, which also featured The Time and Prince, as the headliner. The fact that The Time played behind a curtain during the Vanity 6 performance, caused a rift between the bands and friction within those friendships. To the other group members ' dismay, Prince chose Vanity to pose with him for a Richard Avedon photograph used on the cover of an issue of Rolling Stone magazine. The issue also contained a two - page Avedon photo of Vanity 6. In 1983, Vanity recorded a demo for a new song, `` Sex Shooter '', and started reading for her lead role in Purple Rain opposite Prince. Prior to the shooting of the movie, later in 1983, Vanity abruptly decided to leave the Prince camp and relinquish her role in the film. Many reasons were given for her sudden departure, including money, the end of their romantic relationship, and, most importantly, Vanity having been offered a lucrative solo deal from Motown Records. Apollonia 6 Vanity was replaced in Purple Rain by Patricia Kotero, who would adopt the stage name Apollonia. She also inherited the lead role in Vanity 6, which was renamed Apollonia 6, alongside Bennett and Moonsie. The new trio recorded what would be their only album, Apollonia 6 in 1984. Later life In 1994, former front woman Vanity overdosed on crack cocaine and suffered from near - fatal renal failure. Upon recovering, she renounced her stage name and music and became a born again Christian. Vanity died on February 15, 2016 -- aged 57 -- from sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis, a complex form of a kidney disease. Discography Albums 1982 : Vanity 6 -- US # 45 Singles 1982 : `` He 's So Dull '' b / w `` Make - Up '' -- AUS # 92, NED # 44 1982 : `` Nasty Girl '' b / w `` Drive Me Wild '' -- US # 101, BEL ( Flanders ) # 11, NED # 7 1982 : `` Drive Me Wild '' b / w `` 3 × 2 = 6 '' 1982 : `` Bite the Beat '' b / w `` 3 × 2 = 6 '' Scheduled for Vanity 6 A number of songs were in fact intended for the Vanity 6 follow up album, but due to Vanity 's departure, these songs ended up performed by others. `` Sex Shooter '' was released by Apollonia 6. Vanity 6 did in fact record at least one version of this song which has been leaked on the internet extensively. The arrangement on this version is sparse and somewhat loose in performance which may indicate that this version was merely a rehearsal or demo version. `` 17 Days '', the B - side to Prince 's `` When Doves Cry '', ended up being released by Prince, with Bennett 's background vocals still on the recording. `` G - Spot '', which ended up on Jill Jones debut album. The Vanity 6 / Prince demo has been leaked on the internet as well. `` Vibrator '', which has been leaked extensively online. This song features Prince in a comedic sketch as well as Jill Jones. The song is about Vanity feeling ignored by her lover only to find solace with her ( actual quote from the song ) `` body massager '' which midway through the song loses power prompting Vanity to go purchase batteries at 2 different stores. The song is set in three distinct parts : 1 ) verse and chorus portions then 2 ) the comedic sketch and finally 3 ) Vanity achieving an orgasm with her vibrator. `` Manic Monday '', which Prince offered to and was eventually recorded by The Bangles for their album Different Light. See also List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart References Jump up ^ Gelt, Jessica ( February 15, 2016 ). `` Prince protege Denise ' Vanity ' Matthews dies at 57 ''. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 19, 2016. Jump up ^ Norment, Lynn ( November 1987 ). `` Prince 's Intriguing Women ''. Ebony. Vol. 43 no. 1. p. 168. ISSN 0012 - 9011. Jump up ^ Leon, Darren ( June 9, 1985 ). `` Vanity sheds ' nasty girl ' image in film '' ( PDF ). Monmouth. p. 5. Jump up ^ Perrone, Pierre ( February 23, 2016 ). `` Vanity : Prince protégée who fronted the synth - pop trio Vanity 6, fell prey to drug abuse and became a born - again Christian ''. The Independent. Retrieved May 19, 2016. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2005 ). Bubbling Under The Billboard Hot 100 1959 -- 2004 ( 2nd ed. ). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin : Record Research Inc. p. 277. ISBN 0 - 89820 - 162 - 4. Jump up ^ `` Do It All Night : The Story of Prince 's Dirty Mind Pitchfork ''. pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2017 - 11 - 04. Jump up ^ `` Her Romance with Prince Hit the Rocks, but Vanity 's Singing Career Is Going Grrr - Eat ''. 15 Oct 1984. ^ Jump up to : Kent, David ( 1993 ). Australian Chart Book 1970 -- 1992 ( Illustrated ed. ). St. Ives, N.S.W. : Australian Chart Book. p. 320. ISBN 0 - 646 - 11917 - 6. ^ Jump up to : `` dutchcharts.nl > Discografie Vanity 6 '' ( in Dutch ). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 20. Jump up ^ Vanity at AllMusic ^ Jump up to : `` Ultratop > Vanity 6 -- Nasty Girl '' ( in Dutch ). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 20. Jump up ^ Rettenmund, Matthew ( 1996 ). Totally Awesome 80s : A Lexicon Of the Music, Videos, Movies, TV shows, Stars, and Trends Of That Decadent Decade. Macmillan. p. 57. ISBN 0 - 312 - 14436 - 9. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) ^ Jump up to : `` UKmix > Forums > Chart Chat > Chart Analysis > Chart Histories ( page 209 ) ''. imgur.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 20. External links Vanity 6 at AllMusic Vanity 6 Vanity Brenda Bennett Susan Moonsie Studio albums Vanity 6 Soundtrack albums Girl 6 Singles `` Nasty Girl '' Related articles Vanity Prince Apollonia 6 The Time Jesse Johnson Girl 6 Prince Discography Albums Singles Videography Unreleased projects Awards and nominations Associates Concerts Prince Tour Dirty Mind Tour Controversy Tour 1999 Tour Purple Rain Tour Parade Tour Sign o ' the Times Tour Lovesexy Tour Nude Tour Diamonds and Pearls Tour Act I and II Interactive Tour The Ultimate Live Experience Love 4 One Another Charities Tour Jam of the Year Tour New Power Soul Tour Hit n Run Tour A Celebration One Nite Alone... Tour World Tour 2003 Musicology Live 2004ever Per4ming Live 3121 The Earth Tour : 21 Nights in London 20Ten Tour Welcome 2 Live Out Loud Tour Hit n Run Tour Piano & A Microphone Tour Filmography Purple Rain Under the Cherry Moon Sign o ' the Times Graffiti Bridge Videography Prince and the Revolution : Live Diamonds and Pearls Video Collection The Hits Collection 3 Chains o ' Gold Rave Un2 the Year 2000 Live at the Aladdin Las Vegas Video games Prince Interactive Stage productions Glam Slam Ulysses Billboards Associated companies Paisley Park Records NPG Records Related The Revolution The New Power Generation 3rdeyegirl The Time Vanity 6 Apollonia 6 The Family Madhouse Mazarati Mayte Garcia ( first wife ) Manuela Testolini ( second wife ) John L. Nelson ( father ) Tyka Nelson ( sister ) NPG Music Club Minneapolis sound Purplish Rain Book : Prince LCCN : n96016552 ISNI : 0000 0001 1507 2945 GND : 10038232 - 0 BNF : cb139072789 ( data ) MusicBrainz : 8f8f8cad - 974f - 4029 - 9014 - 1da7cc1861c7 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vanity_6&oldid=822430148 '' Categories : Vanity 6 American funk musical groups American pop girl groups American synthpop groups Feminist musicians Musical groups established in 1981 Musical groups disestablished in 1983 Musical trios Musical groups from Minnesota Warner Bros. Records artists Hidden categories : CS1 Dutch - language sources ( nl ) Articles needing additional references from July 2014 All articles needing additional references Use mdy dates from January 2013 Articles with hCards All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from March 2007 Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Italiano Nederlands Edit links This page was last edited on 26 January 2018, at 09 : 41. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: how many members were in her group vanity 6
Answer: three