Bria Valente

{{short description|American singer}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Bria Valente

| image = Bria Valente, 2006.jpg

| image_size =

| landscape =

| alt =

| caption = Bria Valente in December 2006

| birth_name = Brenda Fuentes

| alias =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.

| origin =

| genre = R&B

| occupation = Singer, model

| instrument = Vocals

| years_active = 2001–present

| label = {{ubl|NPG Records|Purple Music Switzerland}}

| website =

}}

Brenda Fuentes, better known by her stage name Bria Valente,[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p974166|pure_url=yes}} Bria Valente]. AllMusic. is an American singer and model. A protégée of Prince, Valente released her debut album, Elixer, as part of a three-album set with Prince's Lotusflow3r and MPLSound on March 29, 2009. The collection debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 albums chart."[http://www.accesshollywood.com/country-music/keith-urban-scores-first-no-1-album_article_16480 Keith Urban Scores First No. 1 Album]". April 8, 2009. Access Hollywood. Retrieved on June 26, 2009.

Valente was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She stated in an interview with Tavis Smiley that she first met Prince at the age of 17 at Paisley Park Studios while working with keyboardist Morris Hayes.[https://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/200904/20090428_valente.html Bria Valente] interview. Tavis Smiley. April 28, 2009. Retrieved June 26, 2009. She later moved to Los Angeles, California, and worked as a model and background dancer for Usher. She is credited with backing vocals on Usher's 2001 album 8701.{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}}

Valente returned to Minneapolis, where she began her association with Prince, contributing vocals to his 2007 album, Planet Earth. Valente recorded Elixer in 2009; she sang lead vocals, with Prince on guitar, and Morris Hayes providing beats.Michaels, Sean (January 2, 2009) "[https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jan/02/prince-plans-three-albums-for-2009 Prince to release three albums in 2009]". The Guardian. Retrieved on June 26, 2009. Prince described it as a quiet storm-style album.[https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/briavalente/albums/album/27136731/review/27314352/elixer] {{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The music review website Metacritic rated the album 49 out of 100, labeling it as having "mixed or average" reception, based on 12 reviews."[http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/valentebria/elixer Bria Valente: Elixer (2009)]". Metacritic. Retrieved on June 26, 2009. The album was released through the website lotusflow3r.com, as well as exclusively through U.S. retailer Target.du Lac, J. Freedom (April 3, 2009). "[http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12038317 Prince's new three-album set includes some winners]". The San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved on June 26, 2009.

{{As of|2010}}, Valente was Prince's girlfriend. She also became a Jehovah's Witness during this period.Willis, Peter (July 5, 2010). "[https://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2010/07/05/prince-world-exclusive-interview-peter-willis-goes-inside-the-star-s-secret-world-115875-22382552/ Prince - world exclusive interview: Peter Willis goes inside the star's secret world]". Daily Mirror. Retrieved on July 6, 2010. Purple Music, a Swiss-based record label released Valente's CD single "2 Nite" on February 23, 2012, as part of a Prince club remixes package including the single "Dance 4 Me" by Prince.