AnnaSantana said:

violetcrush said:

Interesting is one way to put it Yes, I have read some of the old threads with her comments and pictures. Honestly, I can't understand what Prince was thinking with bringing her into the mix. Well, he was thinking with something other than his head I guess, like the NBA players and other dudes. I think he was so set on trying to find a 90's version of the V6/A6 group that he compromised a lot for it. I saw a video of one of the "Uptown Dames" songs....awful, just awful. And the video that Anna Garcia (aka Fantastic) posted on YT of her trio dancing and lip syncing to Fantasia Erotica.....awful - the equivalent of high shcool girls trying out for the talent show. And then Carmen E....very pretty, great body but....singer/performer?? NO. They all came and went, along with his plans for another successful girl group.

Compromised what, exactly? So, he wanted a 90s version of Vanity6, so what?

What I meant was that he was "reaching", because the other girls were not talented enough to pull it off. Or, the time for the "sexy girl groups" was over. I can't reallly think of any other trio or group of girls in the 90's who were mainly singing about sex and wearing skimpy clothes. You had En Vogue, but they were all very talented singers and were not performing in lingerie or singing explicit lyrics.

OldFriends4Sale said:

violetcrush said:

Interesting is one way to put it Yes, I have read some of the old threads with her comments and pictures. Honestly, I can't understand what Prince was thinking with bringing her into the mix. Well, he was thinking with something other than his head I guess, like the NBA players and other dudes. I think he was so set on trying to find a 90's version of the V6/A6 group that he compromised a lot for it. I saw a video of one of the "Uptown Dames" songs....awful, just awful. And the video that Anna Garcia (aka Fantastic) posted on YT of her trio dancing and lip syncing to Fantasia Erotica.....awful - the equivalent of high shcool girls trying out for the talent show. And then Carmen E....very pretty, great body but....singer/performer?? NO. They all came and went, along with his plans for another successful girl group.

How did Robin come into the camp?

I think she was more of a replacement of Cat than anyone, but couldn't touch Cat.

With all the low budget attempts in 1990. I still wish he would have at least gave it a go... maybe.
When 1986 ended the Dream Factory the purple kingdom was never the same.

No, I don't think she was a replacement for Cat, because she never performed with Prince and his band. He was trying to form another girl group, and he put her in the lead position. Then his camp found some other chicks to be in the group - some may have been able to actually play instruments, but I'm not 100% sure on that. There is a video of them floating around - I'll look for it Robin Powers was the one who first saw Carmen E at a nightclub, and approached her about being part of their group.

*

Per Carmen, she was driven over to Prince's rental in LA to do an impromptu audition for him - she said he had her sing the"Do-Re- Me" song from Sound Of Music - I guess to see if she had any kind of singing voice. She said she didn't hear anything for a month or two, and then was contacted to fly to MN. Once Prince started grooming her (in more ways than one!), Robin P and her group were out, and Carmen's record was the focus. So, Robin essentially found her own replacement

violetcrush said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

How did Robin come into the camp?

I think she was more of a replacement of Cat than anyone, but couldn't touch Cat.

With all the low budget attempts in 1990. I still wish he would have at least gave it a go... maybe.
When 1986 ended the Dream Factory the purple kingdom was never the same.

No, I don't think she was a replacement for Cat, because she never performed with Prince and his band. He was trying to form another girl group, and he put her in the lead position. Then his camp found some other chicks to be in the group - some may have been able to actually play instruments, but I'm not 100% sure on that. There is a video of them floating around - I'll look for it Robin Powers was the one who first saw Carmen E at a nightclub, and approached her about being part of their group.

*

Per Carmen, she was driven over to Prince's rental in LA to do an impromptu audition for him - she said he had her sing the"Do-Re- Me" song from Sound Of Music - I guess to see if she had any kind of singing voice. She said she didn't hear anything for a month or two, and then was contacted to fly to MN. Once Prince started grooming her (in more ways than one!), Robin P and her group were out, and Carmen's record was the focus. So, Robin essentially found her own replacement

Here ya go....Robin Power and the Uptown Dames video....

^

https://youtu.be/8V6clsWFjaE

violetcrush said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

How did Robin come into the camp?

I think she was more of a replacement of Cat than anyone, but couldn't touch Cat.

With all the low budget attempts in 1990. I still wish he would have at least gave it a go... maybe.
When 1986 ended the Dream Factory the purple kingdom was never the same.

No, I don't think she was a replacement for Cat, because she never performed with Prince and his band. He was trying to form another girl group, and he put her in the lead position. Then his camp found some other chicks to be in the group - some may have been able to actually play instruments, but I'm not 100% sure on that. There is a video of them floating around - I'll look for it Robin Powers was the one who first saw Carmen E at a nightclub, and approached her about being part of their group.

*

Per Carmen, she was driven over to Prince's rental in LA to do an impromptu audition for him - she said he had her sing the"Do-Re- Me" song from Sound Of Music - I guess to see if she had any kind of singing voice. She said she didn't hear anything for a month or two, and then was contacted to fly to MN. Once Prince started grooming her (in more ways than one!), Robin P and her group were out, and Carmen's record was the focus. So, Robin essentially found her own replacement

I mean I think somehow she might have been or something. Not a replacement, but I don't think it is coincidence that she appeared as Cat left. Unless she was to be Cat's competition or something.

She never performed, or performed in the band, I think because Graffiti Bridge was a total flop. There was no post tour in promotion of the film. I think if it was a success, we would have gotten a lot of promotion, performing and touring as a result. She did apear in 1 or 2 of his videos. And they imitated that Prince/Cat(dancer) energy

also a lot of the styles Cat wore during the Lovesexy period, which is extremely connected to Graffiti Bridge you see Robin & the Uptown Dames wearing in those images of them

OF4S: I guess it's possible, but I just don't see any comparison between Cat's talent and Robin Power. Prince may have thought of her initially as a replacement, but I think he quickly realized it would not be the same. He could have included her on the Nude tour though, and he didn't. I think once he found Carmen, she was out. Then, once he realilzed Carmen was not cutting it she was out too. Then it was Mayte's turn, and she ended up being the gyrating eye candy on stage during his angry period....

violetcrush said:

OF4S: I guess it's possible, but I just don't see any comparison between Cat's talent and Robin Power. Prince may have thought of her initially as a replacement, but I think he quickly realized it would not be the same. He could have included her on the Nude tour though, and he didn't. I think once he found Carmen, she was out. Then, once he realilzed Carmen was not cutting it she was out too. Then it was Mayte's turn, and she ended up being the gyrating eye candy on stage during his angry period....

No, I'm not talking about 'comparison' I mean he had to fill shoes/roles after Sheila E Boni Cat Madonna left the project. Even if it was a 1 time thing for Graffiti Bridge, she was obviously there for more than the movie. But maybe,... she was associate with The Time in the film.
I'm not comparing Cat & Robin, but like in the video she was dancing and performing with Prince in a fashion that continued via Diamonds & Pearls, Mayte, Geneva(Rave era) another 2000 blonde dancer and then the twinz

.

Yeah, but I don't know when she actually came on the scene, she can move though, Robin can dance

She was in Theives in the Temple and Sexy MF

Carmen wasn't a dancer for Prince though, she was a 'protege' band

Diamonds & Pearls proceeded Mayte as dancers

.

at 12-13 her mother told her she needed to listen to Prince

she would pray at night to work with him and be his girlfriend

She met Prince when she was 17 went every night for 4 nights he gave her a gift every night

carnation, guitar pic, panties, tamborine

on the 4th night, he had Miko Weaver invite her to the after party

then she said Prince had Big Chick to get her and her friend in

but when he realized she was under age, he didn't allow her in

(* her details are off about this, Miko but not Big Chick unless he was working for Prince again in the late 80s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNUPk8Atx68&app=desktop

.

.

I didn't realize she had a little part in Coming To America...

I'm trying to find more background on her and Prince meeting

OldFriends4Sale said:

violetcrush said:

OF4S: I guess it's possible, but I just don't see any comparison between Cat's talent and Robin Power. Prince may have thought of her initially as a replacement, but I think he quickly realized it would not be the same. He could have included her on the Nude tour though, and he didn't. I think once he found Carmen, she was out. Then, once he realilzed Carmen was not cutting it she was out too. Then it was Mayte's turn, and she ended up being the gyrating eye candy on stage during his angry period....

No, I'm not talking about 'comparison' I mean he had to fill shoes/roles after Sheila E Boni Cat Madonna left the project. Even if it was a 1 time thing for Graffiti Bridge, she was obviously there for more than the movie. But maybe,... she was associate with The Time in the film.
I'm not comparing Cat & Robin, but like in the video she was dancing and performing with Prince in a fashion that continued via Diamonds & Pearls, Mayte, Geneva(Rave era) another 2000 blonde dancer and then the twinz

.

Yeah, but I don't know when she actually came on the scene, she can move though, Robin can dance

She was in Theives in the Temple and Sexy MF

Carmen wasn't a dancer for Prince though, she was a 'protege' band

Diamonds & Pearls proceeded Mayte as dancers

.

at 12-13 her mother told her she needed to listen to Prince

she would pray at night to work with him and be his girlfriend

She met Prince when she was 17 went every night for 4 nights he gave her a gift every night

carnation, guitar pic, panties, tamborine

on the 4th night, he had Miko Weaver invite her to the after party

then she said Prince had Big Chick to get her and her friend in

but when he realized she was under age, he didn't allow her in

(* her details are off about this, Miko but not Big Chick unless he was working for Prince again in the late 80s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNUPk8Atx68&app=desktop

.

.

I didn't realize she had a little part in Coming To America...

I'm trying to find more background on her and Prince meeting

Yes, I had read her story about first meeting Prince, and being underage, the party, etc. Did you read the interview she did for the expose on the NBA players after Magic announced he had HIV? She had a pretty messed up childhood. Her part in C2A was standing in a yellow bikini with other chicks in bikinis during the scene where Eddy and Arsenio go to the community fundraiser. They stand there, turn around, and then walk off stage.

*

My guess is that Prince went after her with his lawyers after that '93 NBA interview where she stated his penis size. Her comments were unbelievable. She disappeared after that. There was a link to that article posted on an old thread about her.

violetcrush said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

No, I'm not talking about 'comparison' I mean he had to fill shoes/roles after Sheila E Boni Cat Madonna left the project. Even if it was a 1 time thing for Graffiti Bridge, she was obviously there for more than the movie. But maybe,... she was associate with The Time in the film.
I'm not comparing Cat & Robin, but like in the video she was dancing and performing with Prince in a fashion that continued via Diamonds & Pearls, Mayte, Geneva(Rave era) another 2000 blonde dancer and then the twinz

.

Yeah, but I don't know when she actually came on the scene, she can move though, Robin can dance

She was in Theives in the Temple and Sexy MF

Carmen wasn't a dancer for Prince though, she was a 'protege' band

Diamonds & Pearls proceeded Mayte as dancers

.

at 12-13 her mother told her she needed to listen to Prince

she would pray at night to work with him and be his girlfriend

She met Prince when she was 17 went every night for 4 nights he gave her a gift every night

carnation, guitar pic, panties, tamborine

on the 4th night, he had Miko Weaver invite her to the after party

then she said Prince had Big Chick to get her and her friend in

but when he realized she was under age, he didn't allow her in

(* her details are off about this, Miko but not Big Chick unless he was working for Prince again in the late 80s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNUPk8Atx68&app=desktop

.

.

I didn't realize she had a little part in Coming To America...

I'm trying to find more background on her and Prince meeting

Yes, I had read her story about first meeting Prince, and being underage, the party, etc. Did you read the interview she did for the expose on the NBA players after Magic announced he had HIV? She had a pretty messed up childhood. Her part in C2A was standing in a yellow bikini with other chicks in bikinis during the scene where Eddy and Arsenio go to the community fundraiser. They stand there, turn around, and then walk off stage.

*

My guess is that Prince went after her with his lawyers after that '93 NBA interview where she stated his penis size. Her comments were unbelievable. She disappeared after that. There was a link to that article posted on an old thread about her.

yeah late 89-1990 was an interesting transitional period

Well time to get back to Vanity 6

violetcrush said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

No, I'm not talking about 'comparison' I mean he had to fill shoes/roles after Sheila E Boni Cat Madonna left the project. Even if it was a 1 time thing for Graffiti Bridge, she was obviously there for more than the movie. But maybe,... she was associate with The Time in the film.
I'm not comparing Cat & Robin, but like in the video she was dancing and performing with Prince in a fashion that continued via Diamonds & Pearls, Mayte, Geneva(Rave era) another 2000 blonde dancer and then the twinz

.

Yeah, but I don't know when she actually came on the scene, she can move though, Robin can dance

She was in Theives in the Temple and Sexy MF

Carmen wasn't a dancer for Prince though, she was a 'protege' band

Diamonds & Pearls proceeded Mayte as dancers

.

at 12-13 her mother told her she needed to listen to Prince

she would pray at night to work with him and be his girlfriend

She met Prince when she was 17 went every night for 4 nights he gave her a gift every night

carnation, guitar pic, panties, tamborine

on the 4th night, he had Miko Weaver invite her to the after party

then she said Prince had Big Chick to get her and her friend in

but when he realized she was under age, he didn't allow her in

(* her details are off about this, Miko but not Big Chick unless he was working for Prince again in the late 80s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNUPk8Atx68&app=desktop

.

.

I didn't realize she had a little part in Coming To America...

I'm trying to find more background on her and Prince meeting

Yes, I had read her story about first meeting Prince, and being underage, the party, etc. Did you read the interview she did for the expose on the NBA players after Magic announced he had HIV? She had a pretty messed up childhood. Her part in C2A was standing in a yellow bikini with other chicks in bikinis during the scene where Eddy and Arsenio go to the community fundraiser. They stand there, turn around, and then walk off stage.

*

My guess is that Prince went after her with his lawyers after that '93 NBA interview where she stated his penis size. Her comments were unbelievable. She disappeared after that. There was a link to that article posted on an old thread about her.

OF4S: Here is her 1992 interview, along with the other girls in her "groupie pack" - it was reissued in 2013... (sorry about no hyperlink...don't know why I can't get that :/ )

*

https://thestacks.deadspin.com/risk-and-romance-among-nba-groupies-an-embeds-report-1370693823

OldFriends4Sale said:

Vanity ( Denise Matthews)
Brenda Bennett
Susan Moosie

OldFriends4Sale said:

Definitely his most successful female protege act. I think the timing was right for it. It fit right in with the early 80's campy/vampy stuff that was going on. He hit it at the right moment.

violetcrush said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Definitely his most successful female protege act. I think the timing was right for it. It fit right in with the early 80's campy/vampy stuff that was going on. He hit it at the right moment.

yes Vanity 6 and Sheila E

I love their chic look in these above photos

Great thread. Didn't know that they made the cover of Jet.

OldFriends4Sale said:

violetcrush said:

Interesting is one way to put it Yes, I have read some of the old threads with her comments and pictures. Honestly, I can't understand what Prince was thinking with bringing her into the mix. Well, he was thinking with something other than his head I guess, like the NBA players and other dudes. I think he was so set on trying to find a 90's version of the V6/A6 group that he compromised a lot for it. I saw a video of one of the "Uptown Dames" songs....awful, just awful. And the video that Anna Garcia (aka Fantastic) posted on YT of her trio dancing and lip syncing to Fantasia Erotica.....awful - the equivalent of high shcool girls trying out for the talent show. And then Carmen E....very pretty, great body but....singer/performer?? NO. They all came and went, along with his plans for another successful girl group.

How did Robin come into the camp?

I think she was more of a replacement of Cat than anyone, but couldn't touch Cat.

With all the low budget attempts in 1990. I still wish he would have at least gave it a go... maybe.
When 1986 ended the Dream Factory the purple kingdom was never the same.

It definitely seems that,in the late 80s, (after Cat and Sheila E. left the camp),Prince was looking for another hot,sexy female act to be the next big thing.There was Robin Power......Anna Fantastic......Carmen Elektra.

"Number One" by Robin Power and the Uptown Dames (1990)

SoulAlive said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

How did Robin come into the camp?

I think she was more of a replacement of Cat than anyone, but couldn't touch Cat.

With all the low budget attempts in 1990. I still wish he would have at least gave it a go... maybe.
When 1986 ended the Dream Factory the purple kingdom was never the same.

It definitely seems that,in the late 80s, (after Cat and Sheila E. left the camp),Prince was looking for another hot,sexy female act to be the next big thing.There was Robin Power......Anna Fantastic......Carmen Elektra.

"Number One" by Robin Power and the Uptown Dames (1990)

Yes, but he wasn't able to find talented enough performers to pull it off. Also, the times were changing, and it was getting into the "tough female" thing. The V6 type thing was not happening in the early 90's.

*

Robin Power was the wrong choice. The Number One video is terrible in my opinion, and I'm sure why it never went anywhere. Then she did the "tell-all' interview in the early 90's which showed who she really was. Yikes!! I woder if she inspired the Days Of Wild lyric "Hooker, bithch and Ho, I only knew one and never told her so"

Prince × Vanity‏ @BestPrincevids 9h9 hours ago

Prince × Vanity‏ @BestPrincevids Oct 11

PurpleCreme said:

yeah late 89-1990 was an interesting transitional period

Well time to get back to Vanity 6

Susan’s shy confidence is so addicting. I love how she went all out on Ooo She She Wa Wa [Edited 10/12/18 10:15am]

Susan M is a talented dancer

peggyon said:

PurpleCreme said:

Susan’s shy confidence is so addicting. I love how she went all out on Ooo She She Wa Wa [Edited 10/12/18 10:15am]

Susan M is a talented dancer

Well, the moves the three girls were doing weren't exactly showcasing Susan's dancing skills, but I had read that she was into dance, and took classes and/or taught classes in MN...

Great thread, thanks!

Thanks for the thread, really enjoyed it. Would love to see more.

"He's So Dull" official music video by Vanity 6 (1982)

"Drive Me Wild" official music video by Vanity 6 (1983)

^^the "Drive Me Wild" features a party scene and someone is dressed as a clown with orange hair.It's an old rumor that the "somebody" is Prince

SoulAlive said:

SoulAlive said:

^^the "Drive Me Wild" features a party scene and someone is dressed as a clown with orange hair.It's an old rumor that the "somebody" is Prince

There's a video out there of one of the V6 shows where Prince had to fill in for Jesse on guitar. You can see him playing in jeans with no shirt and a bag or something over his head as a disguise. Pretty funny. It was on YT, but not sure if it's still out there.