Apollonia Kotero, the actress, singer and model who slipped into the female lead in the Prince film Purple Rain when Vanity dropped out, has written a birthday message to the late singer on what would have been his 59th birthday.
For many years you would call me on June 7th just to talk. Even when you no longer celebrated your Birthday, you still called me on this day. I would wish you a Happy Birthday & you would remind me that you were a JW and no celebration was permitted. I would tell you that is was ok since I was the one celebrating your day!! I bought a cake & balloons , I’d tell you. ???
You would laugh! Same thing every year.I miss your calls
I miss your voice
I miss you Prince
I will forever love you ??☔???
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
Apollonia dropped out of high school at 16 to start modeling and, after a time as a Los Angeles Rams cheerleader in the early-80’s, started appearing as a guest star in television shows.
Before productions started on the movie Purple Rain, Vanity, the lead of the group Vanity 6, quit the group and Kotero was hired as the new female lead with the group’s name changed to Apollonia 6.
Along with her role in Purple Rain, Apollonia had a hit with her group, Sex Shooter, which, although peaking at 85 on the Hot 100, went to number 7 on both the R&B Singles and the Dance charts. She can also be heard on the Prince single Take Me With U.
Apollonia left the Prince family in 1985 for a ten week guest role in the TV series Falcon Crest. She has since recorded a solo album which included the hit Mismatch (1989 / #10 R&B), appeared in a number of films and TV programs and formed her own Kotero Entertainment which produces films and children’s television shows.
