Apollonia Kotero
| Apollonia Kotero | |
|---|---|
 Apollonia Kotero at L.A. Fashion Week, Culver City, California, in March 2008 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Patricia Apollonia Kotero |
| Also known as | Apollonia |
| Born |
August 2, 1959 Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, Minneapolis sound, freestyle |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actress, model, designer, talent manager |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Associated acts | Apollonia 6, Prince |
| Website |
www |
Apollonia Kotero (born Patricia Apollonia Kotero on August 2, 1959, in Santa Monica, California) is an actress, singer, former model and talent manager of Mexican heritage.[1] She is perhaps best known for co-starring in Prince's 1984 film Purple Rain and for having been the lead singer in the girl group Apollonia 6.[2]
Career
Early career
Kotero initially pursued fame and fortune via work as an actress, singer and model. After winning the Miss San Pedro beauty competition, and following a stint as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Rams in the early 1980s, Kotero began acting in film and television shows such as CHiPs, Tales of the Gold Monkey, Fantasy Island, Matt Houston and Knight Rider. In 1982, she appeared in the music videos for "The Other Woman" by Ray Parker, Jr. and "Shakin'" by Eddie Money. She appeared in the 1984 TV movie The Mystic Warrior as the Native American woman "Wicahpi".
Prince and Purple Rain
When Denise "Vanity" Matthews, then leader of the girl group Vanity 6, resigned from its membership before Prince's 1984 film Purple Rain was made, Kotero landed the movie's female lead role. Vanity 6, which was renamed Apollonia 6 for this movie, also featured supporting singers Brenda Bennett and Prince's then girlfriend Susan Moonsie. Apollonia 6 embarked on a worldwide tour to promote their hit single, "Sex Shooter."
Apollonia had originally recorded a version of the song "Manic Monday" for the 1984 album Apollonia 6. Written and composed by Prince, the song would later become a worldwide hit single for girl group The Bangles. Prince's song "Take Me with U" featured vocals by Apollonia, and it reached #25 on the Billboard Top 40 chart in the U.S.
Apollonia left Prince's camp in 1985 to appear on the CBS primetime soap opera Falcon Crest, playing "Apollonia", the girlfriend of the character played by Lorenzo Lamas, for ten consecutive weeks. She performed several solo songs, including "Red Light Romeo", written and composed by Jon Lind.
Later career
In 1988, Warner Bros. Records released Apollonia's eponymously titled first album. Containing high energy dance music, three singles were released: "Since I Fell For You," "The Same Dream," and "Mismatch."
She went on to appear in such films as Ministry of Vengeance (1989), Back To Back (1990), Black Magic Woman (1991), and two Italian productions: La Donna di una Sera [A Lady For A Night] (1991) and Cattive Ragazze [Bad Girls] (1992). She returned to television on such shows as Sliders and Air America (which co-starred Lorenzo Lamas, her former co-star in Falcon Crest), and also hosted The Jazz Channel's Latin Beat program. During this period an exercise video entitled Go For It was also released. Apollonia could also be seen on E!'s Celebrity Homes and MTV Cribs, with friend Carmen Electra, "The Test" and "Rendezview."
In 2005, Apollonia formed a multimedia entertainment company, Kotero Entertainment, which formed partnerships with a number of producers to produce a children's animated television series, as well as feature films. Kotero Entertainment also began managing young talent such as television and film star Sascha Andres and young pop singer Nikki Barreras, also known as Nikki B.
In 2009, Kotero recorded with Greg Dulli's The Twilight Singers on a cover of "When Doves Cry" for Spin magazine's 25th anniversary tribute to the Purple Rain album, entitled Purplish Rain.
Personal life
During the mid-1980s, Apollonia was linked to Prince, Lorenzo Lamas, Robbin Crosby, and David Lee Roth. She was later married to writer Kevin Bernhardt, from 1987 to 1996.
References
- ↑ Murthi, R.S. (Jan 8, 1990). "Apollonia keeps the fires going". New Straits Times.
- ↑ The New York Times
External links
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