Wendy Rene

Executives at Stax Records sliced Wendy Rene (born Mary Frierson) from <a href="spotify:artist:7M5pqTaB9EXdMFALwb80Ay">the Drapels</a>, who released two singles before the separation. Stax employee/artist/songwriter Deannie Parker created the catchy name. A month after Stax issued the final Drapels' single, they issued "After Laughter Comes Tears" (August 1964) and credited it solely to Wendy Rene, though <a href="spotify:artist:7M5pqTaB9EXdMFALwb80Ay">the Drapels</a> recorded the song as a unit. The diss prompted Wilbur Mondie to leave for college, and <a href="spotify:artist:2BkYM9AstPNNVYQvmjaQMg">Rene</a>'s brother Johnny Frierson and Marianne Brittenum (the other members) to have second thoughts. The heartfelt ballad became the Memphis, TN, native's biggest hit.

A tour with <a href="spotify:artist:3iRSHS3b4NUdjNbnw3Opg8">Rufus Thomas</a> included an appearance at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY. <a href="spotify:artist:2BkYM9AstPNNVYQvmjaQMg">Rene</a> returned from the Big Apple, to the dismay of her parents, with a monkey she purchased at a pet store there. Arguments over the monkey messin' up the house became the predominant topic; <a href="spotify:artist:2BkYM9AstPNNVYQvmjaQMg">Rene</a> was still a teen and lived at home. Monkeys were a status-symbol in the '60s for some. You dressed them, tuxedos were the vogue, and drove around in convertibles with the critters riding shotgun. Soul singer <a href="spotify:artist:1B8AXU6gIIafpyLEpbcv1u">Edwin Starr</a>, among others, briefly owned monkeys. Get a hit, buy a drop top and a monkey.

The Drapels, minus Mondie, sang backing vocals on <a href="spotify:artist:3iRSHS3b4NUdjNbnw3Opg8">Rufus Thomas</a>' "Jump Back" b/w "All Night Worker" uncredited, and on <a href="spotify:artist:1QAGLCom3FHTTiuRFsjzOj">Carla Thomas</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:60df5JBRRPcnSpsIMxxwQm">Otis Redding</a> tracks. Seeing the writing on the wall, Johnny Frierson and Marianne Brittenum concentrated on songwriting and co-wrote some significant records with other partners, while Stax still used them (uncredited) on <a href="spotify:artist:2BkYM9AstPNNVYQvmjaQMg">Rene</a>'s sessions. Her second release "Bar-B-Q" (November 1964) sounds like <a href="spotify:artist:2BkYM9AstPNNVYQvmjaQMg">Rene</a> imitating <a href="spotify:artist:2iE18Oxc8YSumAU232n4rW">the Jackson Five</a> only the Gary, IN, natives wouldn't record until 1968. Wendy Rene was <a href="spotify:artist:3fMbdgg4jU18AjLCKBhRSm">Michael Jackson</a> before Michael. More sessions followed, but Stax didn't release much of what <a href="spotify:artist:2BkYM9AstPNNVYQvmjaQMg">Rene</a> did. "Give You What I Got" b/w "Reap What You Sow" dropped May of 1965, other releases include "I Wish I Were That Girl." Nothing hit with any impact after her solo debut and Stax gave up on Wendy.

Ace Records has released a CD of Wendy Rene songs, entitled You Thrill My Soul, which contains previously unissued recordings. Ace also has issued singles by <a href="spotify:artist:7M5pqTaB9EXdMFALwb80Ay">the Drapels</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:2BkYM9AstPNNVYQvmjaQMg">Rene</a>, much to their surprise as they continued to receive royalty checks from these recordings. Wendy Rene and brother Johnny Frierson got bigger checks, as songwriters from <a href="spotify:artist:2BkYM9AstPNNVYQvmjaQMg">Rene</a>'s biggest hit "After Laughter Comes Tears" which <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">Wu-Tang Clan</a> revised as "Tearz." Wendy Rene married and has a daughter; she became Mary Cross, a member of the Bountiful Blessing Church in Memphis, and sings in their Bountiful Blessing Choir. ~ Andrew Hamilton, Rovi