Wendy Rene

Wendy Rene was the stage name of soul singer and songwriter Mary Frierson, later Mary Cross (born in Memphis in 1947; died December 16, 2014). Adopting the stage name Wendy Rene on suggestion of Otis Redding, she recorded for Stax Records in the mid 1960s.

Frierson initially performed as part of The Drapels, but soon went solo on the initiative of her producers at Stax Records. Her first, and arguably biggest, hit ensued: "After Laughter Comes Tears" (1964). This song can be heard sampled in the Wu-Tang Clan's song Tearz (on the Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) album).

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