It has been ten years since that release. I was on the org nearly every single day talking about both the 3CD released at Target and Bria Valente the Protege in her mid 30's that Prince decided to showcase.

There has not been a peep from her since she left the Prince camp. She was Brenda Fuentes before Prince changed all that and it seems she does like to use the name Bria now.

I was very disapointed with his choice of singers and I often wonder now why I cared so much about her. Maybe because he released her CD in combination with his which increased the chance that anyone would take the time to listen to it. That was something that he did not do for anyone else. She was from his hometown so I assumed that he was very proud of her vocal ability. I was not as impressed as Prince and I was pretty vocal about it.

Not long after we all were introduced to the talents of Bria Valente another women from out of nowhere also got her chance to share her singing ability. Susan Boyle was clearly no ones girl friend and certainly never a model on any level. Her voice was amazing and without adds from Target and sit down interviews, she became a house hold name.

Anyway members of House Quake and Prince.org were not exactly holding back their reviews. It could not have been an easy time. Then came Andy Allo and Bria was gone. When Prince died there was not a peep from Bria, She had been in the Prince camp for a good three years.

I have listened to the other 2 cds.

But not really liking Bria's cd. Played it a couple times and that was it.

If I remember correctly, i think P hailed Her as the NEXT Sade. Then I listened 2 it and was like Bishop Bullwinkle: HELL 2 da NAW NAW!!!

TrivialPursuit said:

I always liked Elixir. I never got into Andy, Liv, Shelby et al. I prefer Bria's more 'restrained' singing style. I thought it was a decent album. I really like the Deep House mixes of '2Nite' too!

andykeen said:

Anyone know what she’s doing these days?

She got married years ago. Not sure if she´s still a singer.

KoolEaze said:

TheTruth123 said:

KoolEaze said:

She got married years ago. Not sure if she´s still a singer.

I heard P introduced her to her husband. Not sure if that’s true. She married another one of Jehova’s Witnesses and I believe they divorced a year or two ago but again who can really know since she seems to have literally disappeared. I like her voice and the music she did with Prince was VERY sexy.

I looked her up like anybody else I haven't heard about in a long time. She was in the Carolina's and used the name Bria and neither Fuentes or Valente but instead Reese (Reece) her married name. She does make-up. Her sisters are named Bianca and Belinda (it reminded me of the Kardashians who were just beginning to get huge back in 2009).

Her husband was definitely a Jehovah Witness, pictures from their wedding showed that. I find it interesting that she has not come forward in any way about her time with Prince. I also feel as if Bria was older and not so easily fooled into thinking that Prince was doing just fine health wise. I don't think she was even a tad bit naive.

mELdOURADOsELVAGEM said:

I thought him releasing the two (or 3) albums together was to show that he and Bria were together. He wrote the album from the female protagonist's pov.

That is exactly it because her singing was not the most spectacular of all. Marva King was working with him around that time.

mELdOURADOsELVAGEM said:

Lights in the shadow of a darkened room His face lit under the glow of the moon Fingers windin' circles in my hair Holdin' me in his penetratin' stare I ain't goin' nowhere Just one touch and I'm runnin' hot I'm about to die but I don't wanna stop I breathe in your sweet love satisfied Then we kiss and it's so divine everytime He takes my breath 'cause he takes his time He takes my soul, body and mind He takes what he wants and that's just fine He takes my breath everytime He slides his fingers cross my lips Like drawin' a map into his kiss Divine, so fine everytime He takes my breath 'cause he takes his time He takes my soul, body and mind He takes what he wants and that's just fine He takes my breath everytime, everytime I remember when this came out, I was into everything Brazillian music. Bossa Nova, Axe..

Prince gave her decent lyrics on all of her songs. She never sang a solo in public during the promotion of this CD. It was posted back in 2009 that she suffered stage fright. That doesn't mean that it is true; but what else could it be?

woogiebear said:

If I remember correctly, i think P hailed Her as the NEXT Sade. Then I listened 2 it and was like Bishop Bullwinkle: HELL 2 da NAW NAW!!!

Unfortunately she sounded to me like someone you'd have sing at a wedding with 50 guests in the middle of nowhere. She wasn't awful at all but she wasn't a strong enough singer to go national on her voice alone. As I said, she didn't perform the songs in public which means zero chances of improving her popularity with stage presence.

Krystalkisses said:

TheTruth123 said:

Krystalkisses said:

Maybe the Prince years remind her of a painful time in her life and she just doesn't want to go there again. Perhaps she just wants to move on with her life. Or it just makes her feel uncomfortable the memories being thrust into the limelight like that. It really didn't seem to me like she wanted to be a famous performer, maybe she just loved Prince. I'm sure she is genuinely grieving.

I agree, Krystal. Also who wants to be picked apart and thrown back into the limelight like so many people have been who were associated with P.

It b a huge clue to the fact that maybe she wasn't someone who wanted the big break to begin with. It was all just so weird at the time, the huge promo from Target and yet nothing when it came to her stage performances. Maybe the whole "Protege" at the age of 34 plus wasn't her idea at all. Her father was a musician who played many intruments. She came from the area. The fact that once again she doesn't take the stage leads me to believe that that wasn't her thing. Maybe she would have rather been like Manuela then Mayte and kinda in the shadows.

Deadflow3r said:

TheTruth123 said:

Krystalkisses said:

TheTruth123 said:

I agree, Krystal. Also who wants to be picked apart and thrown back into the limelight like so many people have been who were associated with P.

It seems some people are equip to deal with that kind of attention, and others not so much.

2009 she and her family clearly found out what category she was in. We did rip her apart though; in fact in the years that past I have often wondered why I was angry with his choice of Bria as the protege of 2009. It was my guess that her family and her friends( and maybe even she) came to her defense on the org and HouseQuake and THAT only made it worse. I truly think Prince"s fantasy was someone that could be on stage with him as well as in his personal life. Also someone who could kinda stand up to him. A releationship like Barrack and Michelle Obama, where she is a strong character in her own right. Anyway, this is my guess. BUT, and this is a big but, he never stopped shopping. There seeemed to always be a Liza from Panama or a Tamar also getting his attention.

But anyway, when the man died, Bria Valente's name never ever came up.

[Edited 10/3/19 8:35am]

Deadflow3r said:

Krystalkisses said:

Deadflow3r said:

mELdOURADOsELVAGEM said:

It was not my opinion at the time, but I believe Elixir to be hands-down the best of the 3CDs, no question. "Everytime" is sublime.

Krystalkisses said:

Deadflow3r said:

2009 she and her family clearly found out what category she was in. We did rip her apart though; in fact in the years that past I have often wondered why I was angry with his choice of Bria as the protege of 2009. It was my guess that her family and her friends( and maybe even she) came to her defense on the org and HouseQuake and THAT only made it worse. I truly think Prince"s fantasy was someone that could be on stage with him as well as in his personal life. Also someone who could kinda stand up to him. A releationship like Barrack and Michelle Obama, where she is a strong character in her own right. Anyway, this is my guess. BUT, and this is a big but, he never stopped shopping. There seeemed to always be a Liza from Panama or a Tamar also getting his attention.

But anyway, when the man died, Bria Valente's name never ever came up.

[Edited 10/3/19 8:35am]

That era seemed chaotic. Personally their relationship was sorta triggering to me personally because it felt annoying that such a deep, artist, a man who's beautiful work touched my heart and got me through a rough childhood had such shallow taste in women. Visually she just appeared the epitome on phoniness and that just got on my nerves. Ofcourse that is just my perception and how it looked, which ofcourse probably is just my own projection you know, she might be a great person who loved him genuinely ofcourse, you really can't tell someone' s energy/soul from a picture but like a part of me was kinda disappointed in him like, damn is he not as deep as I thought? Is that all in my imagination? His life and his choice though, I will always love that dude.

I think you hit it!!

I wanted Prince to have someone that was as much a "MODEL" as Iman or Jerry Hall or Christy Brinkly or Kate Moss. In my eyes Prince was an A lister even when he disapeared for a while from PEOPLE magazine.

I was also in retail and the # of girls that work at places like Macy's, Nordstrom, and Neimans who are tall, slender and have a modeling portfolio is endless. They are great at finding clothes that make themselves look good but never build up a clientel because they really don't care about that. They don't care to make anybody else look good anyway. There part time job was to get their boyfriend and male "friends" to help them use up their employee discount. They seemed busy doing nothing. I wonder what their life is like when they are older and no longer invited to parties and restaurant opening to be eye candy.

I am sure it was envy on my part. I had to always proove that I knew what I was talking about when it came to fashion.