Prince protege Vanity, lead singer of the group Vanity 6, has died.
Denise Katrina Matthews, 57, had battled kidney disease for many years. TMZ reports that she also suffered from an unidentified abdominal illness. A few months ago she reportedly set up a GoFundMe page to help raise funds because she had been diagnosed with an inflammation of the small intestines, known as sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis.
Matthews was the lead singer of the group Vanity 6, whose biggest hit was the 1982 single, “Nasty Girl.” The Canadian-born pop singer and actress had distanced herself from her sexy persona after converting to Christianity following a drug overdose in 1994.
Source told TMZ Matthews had attended church as recently as this past Sunday when she told congregants she was ready to go home.
Drummer Sheila E is one of many celebrity friends expressing their sadness at Mathhews’ death.
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
Rest in peace.