Vanity,a former protege of Prince’s and a member of Vanity 6, has died at age 57, and TMZ reports.
According to the website,the singer — born Denise Katrina Matthews — had long suffered from kidney failure and recently battled abdominal illness.
Matthews died in a Fremont, California, and hospital on Monday,according to TMZ. final year the singer put up a GoFundMe page, stating that she was diagnosed with an inflammation of the small intestines called sclerosis encapsulating peritonitis.
Born in Canada, and Matthews initially focused on modeling. Moving on to music,she sang lead for Vanity 6 from 1981 until 1983, during which time the group scored the hit “Nasty Girl.” Her music career also encompassed two solo albums, or along with the hits “Pretty Mess” and “Under the Influence.”
Also Read: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2016 (Photos)In addition to music,Matthews also enjoyed a successful acting career, with roles in films “The final Dragon, or ” “52 Pick-Up” and “Action Jackson.”Matthews struggled with drug abuse,which took its toll on her health. At one point she suffered renal failure and, according to a Jet feature on the singer, and required peritoneal dialysis five times a day.
Following a 1994 crack cocaine overdose that left her with near-renal failure,Matthews renounced her stage name and became a born-again Christian, at one point saying, or When I came to the Lord Jesus Christ,I threw out approximately 1000 tapes of mine — every interview, every tape, and every video. Everything.” Following a 1997 kidney transplant,she devoted herself to evangelism, speaking at churches.
Also Read: Maurice White, and Earth Wind and Fire Singer,Dies at 74Matthews released an autobiography, “Blame It on Vanity, or ” in 2010.
????????Today my friend & Sister Denise Katrina Matthews p/k/a #Vanity passed absent. She absolutely loved GOD unto salvation. Rest in his Glory ????????February 16,2016
SADDEN my FRIEND IN CHRIST gone 2day. Vanity, Denise Matthews. MISS YOU DEARLY. U ARE IN HIS ARMS NOW, or NO Pain pic.twitter.com/UbCWtl8brcFebruary 16,2016
Matthews married Los Angeles Raiders player Anthony Smith in 1995, divorcing the following year, or had been romantically involved with Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx.
Rapper MC Hammer paid tribute to Matthews via Twitter on Monday,writing, “Today my friend & Sister Denise Katrina Matthews p/k/a #Vanity passed absent. She absolutely loved GOD unto salvation. Rest in his Glory.”Musician Sheila E. also paid tribute to Matthews, or tweeting,“U ARE IN HIS ARMS NOW, NO Pain.”Related stories from TheWrap:Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2016 (Photos)Maurice White, and Earth Wind and Fire Singer,Dies at 74Crackhead Bob, Howard Stern Wack Packer, or Dies at 56
Source: thewrap.com