Wendy Rene
Encyclopedia
Wendy Rene is a soul/R&B singer and songwriter. In her early teens, she was a member of the singing group The Drapels and was signed with Stax Records
. The group consisted of Wendy, her brother Johnnie Frierson and two friends, Marion Brittenum and Wilbur Mondie.
came up with the name Wendy René. She used that name regularly after she became a solo artist.
She recorded several songs, some of which have been used in films (Gegen die Wand, The Fighting Temptations
, Lucky Number Slevin
, The Wackness
…) and sampled/redone by current artists such as Wu-Tang Clan
and Alicia Keys
.
Her father was of mixed race and married a Memphis musician who was nearly 20 years his junior. The two had three sons and one daughter. As a teenager, Wendy married a military man. The young couple parted ways. Soon after, Wendy met and married songwriter and Stax employee James Cross.
In December 1967, Wendy was scheduled to fly with Otis Redding and the Bar-Kays
for what would have been her final live performance for the foreseeable future. A new mother, she backed out at the last minute to stay home with her child. Tragically, the plane crashed in Madison, Wisconsin
leaving Redding and six others dead. Wendy and James Cross have five sons and one daughter.
Stax Records
Stax Records is an American record label, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee.Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the name Stax Records was adopted in 1961. The label was a major factor in the creation of the Southern soul and Memphis soul music styles, also releasing gospel, funk, jazz, and...
. The group consisted of Wendy, her brother Johnnie Frierson and two friends, Marion Brittenum and Wilbur Mondie.
Biography
Mary Frierson needed a stage name and several options came up including the name Wendy Storm via Stax receptionist-turned PR head Deanie Parker. Otis ReddingOtis Redding
Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
came up with the name Wendy René. She used that name regularly after she became a solo artist.
She recorded several songs, some of which have been used in films (Gegen die Wand, The Fighting Temptations
The Fighting Temptations
The Fighting Temptations is a 2003 American musical dramedy film produced by Paramount Pictures and MTV Films. It stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. as the film's protagonist as he attempts to revive a church choir in order to enter a gospel competition with the help of a beautiful lounge singer with whom he...
, Lucky Number Slevin
Lucky Number Slevin
Lucky Number Slevin, renamed for the German/USA DVDs as Lucky # Slevin , is a 2006 crime thriller film written by Jason Smilovic, directed by Paul McGuigan and starring Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley, Stanley Tucci, and Lucy Liu...
, The Wackness
The Wackness
The Wackness is a 2008 American coming of age drama film by Jonathan Levine and starring Ben Kingsley, Josh Peck, Famke Janssen, and Olivia Thirlby. The film is distributed by Sony Pictures Classics and was released in the U.S. on July 3, 2008.-Plot:...
…) and sampled/redone by current artists such as Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
and Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
.
Her father was of mixed race and married a Memphis musician who was nearly 20 years his junior. The two had three sons and one daughter. As a teenager, Wendy married a military man. The young couple parted ways. Soon after, Wendy met and married songwriter and Stax employee James Cross.
In December 1967, Wendy was scheduled to fly with Otis Redding and the Bar-Kays
Bar-Kays
The Bar-Kays are a popular soul, R&B, and funk group who began performing in 1966 and continue to perform today, although with only one original member. The group had dozens of charting singles from the 1960s to the 1980s, including "Soul Finger" The Bar-Kays are a popular soul, R&B, and funk group...
for what would have been her final live performance for the foreseeable future. A new mother, she backed out at the last minute to stay home with her child. Tragically, the plane crashed in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
leaving Redding and six others dead. Wendy and James Cross have five sons and one daughter.
Singles
- with Volt Records
- 1964 Wondering/Please Don't Leave (with The Drapels)
- 1964 Young Man/Your Love Is All I Need (with The Drapels)
- with Stax RecordsStax RecordsStax Records is an American record label, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee.Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the name Stax Records was adopted in 1961. The label was a major factor in the creation of the Southern soul and Memphis soul music styles, also releasing gospel, funk, jazz, and...
- 1964 After Laughter Comes Tears
- 1964 Bar-B-Q
- 1965 Give You What I Got/Reap What You Sow
- I Wish I Were That Girl
Soundtracks
- After Laughter - Lucky Number Slevin
- After Laughter - Gegen die Wand (Head-On)
- Bar-B-Q - Once Upon a Time in the Midlands
- After Laughter - The Wackness
External links
- http://www.mp3.com/wendy-rene/artists/162919/biography.html