Born Mary Frierson, she adopted the stage name Wendy Rene on suggestion of Otis Redding. She 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). In 1967, after divorcing her first husband and marrying Stax employee James Cross, Rene retired from the business.