Susan Moonsie

Template:Infobox musical artist Susan Moonsie-Mohan (born January 21, 1964) is a Trinidadian-born American singer. She is best known as a member of the 1980s musical groups Vanity 6 and Apollonia 6 that were associated with recording artist Prince.<ref name="Henderson">Template:Cite web</ref>

Life and career

Susan Vashtie Moonsie was born in Trinidad and Tobago on January 21, 1964, the daughter of a conservative school teacher.<ref name=":0" />Template:Sfn She grew up in Minneapolis, where she met Prince at a local discotheque when she was sixteen in 1980.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref> In 1981, he formed a girl group that would be called "The Hookers" with Moonsie and her sister Loreen along with Cavallo, Ruffalo & Fargnoli employee Jamie Shoop.Template:Sfn

Then in 1982, Moonsie became a member of Vanity 6 along with set designer Roy Bennett's wife Brenda Bennett and lead singer Vanity.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Moonsie was given a "teenage Lolita" image by Prince for shock value—Susan claimed she was only 16 years old at the time, although she was 18 years old when the group was formed.<ref name=":0" /> The group had a hit on the US R&B Chart with their single "Nasty Girl."<ref name=":0" />

After lead singer Vanity's departure in 1983, Moonsie and Bennett were joined by Patricia "Apollonia" Kotero, who replaced Vanity in the group. Prince changed the group's name to Apollonia 6 and they appeared in the 1984 film Purple Rain, which co-starred Apollonia, and had a minor hit with the song "Sex Shooter" that same year.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In the 1980s, Moonsie provided vocals on some of Prince's tracks.Template:Sfn

Moonsie has lived between the United States (in Florida) and Trinidad and Tobago since 2000.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Married with two children, Moonsie purchased Hardy Park Bistro in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with her son, Aaron Mohan, in 2020.<ref name=":1" /> She has also worked as a real estate broker.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Relationship with Prince

Moonsie had an on-and-off romantic relationship with Prince from about 1980 to 1985. They became very close during his 1980–81 Dirty Mind Tour and she was his main girlfriend until he met Denise "Vanity" Matthews in 1982. Some have stated that Moonsie chose to end her relationship with him around 1983 after he became infatuated with Vanity, and she became good friends with Vanity. Another story suggests that their relationship continued until 1984 when Prince began a close relationship with Susannah Melvoin (the twin sister of Revolution guitarist Wendy Melvoin).Template:Citation needed

Prince is believed to have written the song "When Doves Cry" about his relationship with Moonsie.Template:Sfn His song "Private Joy" was also reportedly written about her.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Moonsie kept in touch with Prince through the years, up until his death in 2016.<ref name=":1" />

In pop culture

Moonsie is mentioned in the lyrics of the Timex Social Club hit song "Rumors". "Did you hear that one about Susan, some say she's just a tease. In a camisole, she's six feet tall. She'll knock you to your knees".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This fact was confirmed by Timex Social Club founding member and lyricist Marcus A. Thompson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>