Catherine Vernice Glover (July 24, 1962 – September 24, 2024) was an American choreographer, dancer, singer, and rapper.

Background

Born on July 24, 1962, in the

North Lawndale North Lawndale is one of the 77 community areas of the city of Chicago, Illinois, located on its West Side. The area contains the K-Town Historic District, the Foundation for Homan Square, the Homan Square interrogation facility, and the gr ...

neighborhood of Chicago, Glover was raised first there and, from age 10 on, in

Morgan Park, Chicago Morgan Park, located on the far south side of the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States, is one of the city's 77 official community areas. Morgan Park is located south of the Beverly neighborhood and north of the Chicago city border, and ...

. The youngest of four girls born to Mildred Taylor and Doneall Glover, she was named after her maternal grandmother Catherine Taylor. Her birth date is given as July 23, 1964 in a number of obituaries; however, the date July 24, 1962 has been cited both after her death—by her manager, speaking with ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

''—and during her life, by Glover herself, in a 1989 interview conducted by the performer's cousin, Chicago-based journalist Chinta Strausberg, then with the ''

Chicago Defender ''The Chicago Defender'' is a Chicago-based online African-American newspaper. It was founded in 1905 by Robert S. Abbott and was once considered the "most important" newspaper of its kind. Abbott's newspaper reported and campaigned against Jim ...

''. Glover began performing at age 5 in a group called the Soullettes, started by her eldest sister Mitlitha and featuring the other three, Cat, Cynthia and Christine. At the age of eight, she appeared at the Playboy Towers Hotel in Chicago. Her first taste of mainstream television exposure came on the hit talent show ''

Star Search ''Star Search'' (later known as ''Ed McMahon's Star Search'') is an American television show that was produced by T.P.E./ Rysher Entertainment from 1983 to 1995, hosted by Ed McMahon, and created by Al Masini. A relaunch was produced by 29 ...

'', alongside dance partner Patrick Allen in the duo known simply as "Pat & Cat". Their act was the first to ever achieve a "Perfect Score" of Four Stars on the show. Glover was the standout member of the duo, winning the crowd over with her trademark dance move "Cat Scat".

Career

Glover was best known for her work with

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...

in the late 1980s. She choreographed and appeared in several of his videos and his concert film ''

Sign o' the Times ''Sign o' the Times'' (often stylized as ''Sign "☮︎" the Times'') is the ninth studio album by the American singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Prince. It was first released on March 31, 1987, as a double album by Paisl ...

'', traveled with him as a backing vocalist and dancer on the Sign o' the Times Tour and

Lovesexy Tour ''Lovesexy'' is the tenth studio album by American recording artist Prince. The album was released on May 10, 1988, by Paisley Park Records and Warner Bros. Records. The album was recorded in just seven weeks, from mid-December 1987 to late Janua ...

, and rapped on both '' The Black Album'' track "Cindy C." and the ''

Lovesexy ''Lovesexy'' is the tenth studio album by American recording artist Prince. The album was released on May 10, 1988, by Paisley Park Records and Warner Bros. Records. The album was recorded in just seven weeks, from mid-December 1987 to late Jan ...

'' song "

Alphabet St. "Alphabet St." is a song from American musician Prince's tenth album, ''Lovesexy'' (1988). It was the first single from that album and the album's only top 10 single, reaching the top 10 in both the UK and US. Initially written as an acoustic blu ...

" She was supposed to have released an album on

Paisley Park Paisley Park is a 65,000 square foot estate in Chanhassen, Minnesota, United States, once owned by American musician Prince. It was opened to the public as a museum in October 2016. History Construction of the $10 million complex began in Jan ...

, but the project was ultimately canceled. Following her work with Prince, she released the EP ''Catwoman'' in 1989. Subsequently, she worked in London and Los Angeles, recording her own material as well as continuing her choreography and performing. Glover recorded with

Tim Simenon Bomb the Bass is an electronic music alias of English musician and producer Timothy Simenon (born June 1967). As a name, Bomb the Bass came from Simenon's approach to collaging and mixing sounds whilst DJing in the mid- to late 1980s; he says ...

Bomb the Bass Bomb the Bass is an electronic music alias of English musician and producer Timothy Simenon (born June 1967). As a name, Bomb the Bass came from Simenon's approach to collaging and mixing sounds whilst DJing in the mid- to late 1980s; he says ...

Louie Louie "Louie Louie" is a rhythm and blues song written and composed by American musician Richard Berry in 1955, recorded in 1956, and released in 1957. It is best known for the 1963 hit version by the Kingsmen and has become a Standard (music), stand ...

, and Steve Hopkins.

Personal life and death

Glover had four children and died at her home in Los Angeles, on September 24, 2024, at the age of 62. Her body was discovered the same day. Glover's death was later revealed to be from congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Notelist

References

External links

*
Cat Glover
on

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Glover, Cat 1962 births 2024 deaths American female dancers Dancers from Illinois American film actresses African-American actresses African-American women rappers Paisley Park Records artists 21st-century American rappers 21st-century African-American women 21st-century African-American musicians 20th-century African-American people 20th-century African-American women 21st-century American women rappers African-American women choreographers Prince associates