Cherry Vanilla

Cherry Vanilla (born Kathleen Dorritie; October 16, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, publicist, and actress. After working as an actress in Andy Warhol's Pork, she worked as a publicist for David Bowie, before becoming a rock singer. She subsequently became a publicist for Vangelis.

Career Kathleen Dorritie was born in Woodside, New York. She worked for MainMan LTD as David Bowie's publicist, in the early 1970s. The group's first released material was the track "Shake Your Ashes", on the Max's Kansas City album of 1976.

Her high profile in New York was the impetus for Miles Copeland III to invite her to England. She relocated to London in 1976, becoming part of the burgeoning punk scene and was signed by RCA Records. The London-based Cherry Vanilla Band initially consisted of Vanilla's boyfriend/guitarist Louis Lepore and pianist Zecca Esquibel, along with bassist Gordon "Sting" Sumner, guitarist Henry Padovani and drummer Stewart Copeland, who loaned their services and equipment in exchange for £15 a night and the support spot on her tour, including a date on March 5, 1977 at London's legendary Roxy Club. (The support spot was for Copeland's band The Police, and would be the setting for the band's first live performances. )

A more permanent line-up comprised Louis Lepore (guitar), Zecca Esquibel (keyboards), Howie Finkel (bass guitar), and Michael (Manny) Mancuso (drums). Their first release was the single "The Punk" in September 1977, followed in February 1978 by the debut album Bad Girl. In 1984, she played the hitchhiker and the waitress on Roger Waters' album, The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking In 1987, she was the composer in the boxing club documentary film Broken Noses. She returned to recording in the early 1990s, releasing Blue Roses, with Man Parrish and Barb Morrison, plus two singles. Blue Roses combines spoken word poetry with electronic music. The foreword was written by Rufus Wainwright.

A launch party for "Lick Me" was held November 4, 2010 at Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles where Rufus Wainwright performed and Angela Bowie was in attendance.

Trivia A song entitled "Cherry Vanilla" celebrating her career and recorded by The (Fabulous) Cult of John Harley was produced by Martin Rushent. The song was used during the launch of the book "Lick Me".

Filmography Let's Get Lost (1988), herself

Discography Albums Bad Girl (1978), RCA Venus d'Vinyl (1979), RCA Blue Roses (with Man Parrish) (1993), E.S.P.

Singles "The Punk" (1977), RCA "Liverpool" (1978), RCA Victor – Netherlands only "Moonlight" (1979), RCA "Fone Sex" (1991), Radikal – with Man Parrish "Techno Sex" (1992), Radikal – with Man Parrish

Books "Lick Me: How I Became Cherry Vanilla" (2010) Chicago Review Press