Mayte Garcia
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Mayte Jannell Garcia (b. 12 November 1973), better known as simply Mayte is a dancer and singer, best known as the former wife of pop-star, Prince. Born on a military base in Alabama, Garcia's parents (who are of Puerto Rican ancestry) relocated throughout the United States and Germany as a result of her father's military reassignments.
Mayte appeared on the American television program That's Incredible! at the age of 8 as the world's youngest professional belly dancer. She graduated from Wiesbaden American High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. This is the same high school that Priscilla Presley attended while dating Elvis.
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[edit] Working with Prince
Mayte first came to the attention of Prince in 1990 when her mother, Nell submitted a video cassette of Mayte's performance. Prince met the young dancer during the same year while on tour in Germany and eventually she was hired to dance in his Diamonds and Pearls tour. Her role was soon elevated as she became the focus of his next album — ("
"; see Love Symbol) and assumed the guise of an Egyptian princess for the concept album.
When Prince slimmed down the New Power Generation and changed his stage name to , Mayte revealed to fans her Puerto Rican heritage, remained in the NPG as a dancer, and often provided English and Spanish vocals on his albums. In 1995, produced an album for Mayte entitled Child of the Sun for a European release on his NPG Records label. Singles for the album included "If I Love U 2 Night".
[edit] Marriage, child and annulment
Rumors that and Mayte were an item were confirmed when they announced their engagement not long after her album was released. They were married on Valentine's Day, 1996. 's 3-CD opus, Emancipation was largely dedicated to their union and their then-unborn child. The child, rumored to have been named Gregory, was born with Pfeiffer syndrome, a rare skull disease and died shortly after birth. This event may have contributed to marital troubles, leading to an eventual annulment of their marriage in 1999. Mayte received a house in Spain as a settlement.
In 2001 Mayte was briefly engaged to Pamela Anderson's ex-husband Tommy Lee.
[edit] Recent activities
Mayte Jannell Garcia is a triple threat who can act, sing and dance. She recently guest starred on the USA Network show "Psych" and TNT show "The Closer," and has appeared as a guest star on the hit shows "Las Vegas (TV series)" and "Nip/Tuck".
Look out for Mayte in the forthcoming films: "Firehouse Dog", a New Regency film coming out in April '07 co-starring as "Pep"; Charlie Wilson's War opposite Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman for Universal Studios and Hanks' shingle Playtone Prods.; and the independent film EGO, to be directed by Antonio Macia. Nick Cassavetes is executive producing.
source material: Mayte.com
