Apollonia Kotero


Patricia Apollonia Kotero is an American singer, actress, former model and talent manager. She is known for co-starring in Prince's 1984 film Purple Rain and for having been the lead singer of the girl group Apollonia 6.

Early life

Kotero was born in San Pedro, California, the daughter of emigrants from Mexico, and the eldest of six children. Her father, Victor, was a restaurant manager, and her mother, Socorro, was a caregiver for the elderly. She droppped out at 16 to pursue a career as a model.

Career

Early career

Kotero worked as an actress, singer and a model. After winning the Miss San Pedro beauty competition, and following her stint as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Rams in the early 1980s, Kotero began acting in film and television series such as CHiPs, Tales of the Gold Monkey, Fantasy Island, Matt Houston, and Knight Rider. Between March and September 1982, she appeared in music videos for "The Other Woman" by Ray Parker Jr. and "Shakin'" by Eddie Money. In May 1984, she appeared in the ABC television film The Mystic Warrior as the Native American woman Wicahpi.

Prince and ''Purple Rain''

When then-leader of Vanity 6 Denise "Vanity" Matthews, resigned from its membership before Prince's 1984 film Purple Rain was filmed, Kotero landed the film's female lead role. Vanity 6, which was renamed Apollonia 6 for the film, 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".
Kotero had originally recorded a version of the song "Manic Monday" for the 1984 album Apollonia 6. The album was written and composed by Prince, the song later became a worldwide hit single for The Bangles. Prince's song "Take Me with U" featured vocals by Kotero, and it reached #25 on the Billboard Top 40 chart in the United States.
In 1985, Kotero left Prince's camp 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 Kotero's eponymously titled first solo album, Apollonia. Three singles were taken from the album: "Since I Fell for You", "The Same Dream" and "Mismatch".
She went on to appear in such films as Ministry of Vengeance, Back To Back, Black Magic Woman, and two Italian productions: La Donna di una Sera and Cattive Ragazze. She returned to television on such shows as Sliders and Air America, and also hosted The Jazz Channel's Latin Beat program. During this period an exercise video entitled Go For It was also released. Kotero could also be seen on E!'s Celebrity Homes, The Test, Rendezview, and MTV Cribs, with her friend Carmen Electra.
In 2005, Kotero formed a multimedia entertainment company, Kotero Entertainment, which enlisted 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's vocals appeared on The Twilight Singers cover of Prince's "When Doves Cry" for Spin magazine's 25th anniversary tribute to the Purple Rain album, entitled Purplish Rain.

Discography

Studio albums