Wendy Moten (born November 22, 1964) is an American jazz singer from Tennessee. Born in Memphis and based in Nashville, Moten has had a successful career in music, including several major-label solo records, some international hit songs, and a second career as a touring musician.[1] Despite this success, she surprised many of her fellow musicians and fans when, at age 56, she took a career risk by entering an American national talent competition, The Voice. She finished as the runner-up on the show, but her career was buoyed by the national exposure, just as she had hoped.[1] Moten is best known for the single "Come In Out of the Rain", which was a No. 8 hit in the UK in February 1994.[2]
The daughter of a pastor, Moten began singing in a church choir as a child.[1] She attended Overton High School in Memphis and sang in the Overton Choir under the direction of the late Lulah M. Hedgeman.[2] She won a Mid-South Fair singing competition at age 16, and got a job singing at a theme park.[1] She attended Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis)[2] as a music business major at the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music.[3] She was discovered by promo man Dick Williams who heard her as she was singing on a jingle in a Memphis studio.[1] She got her first break singing with Michael Bolton at a benefit concert; after signing with EMI, in 1992 she released her self-titled debut album and opened for Bolton on tour.[2] Moten's biggest hit single was "Come In Out of the Rain", which, although only peaking at #55 in 1993 on the Billboard Hot 100, was a No. 5 adult contemporary hit, and also reached the Top 10 in the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at No. 8 in 1994. A follow-up single, "So Close to Love" did not chart in the U.S. but reached No. 35 in the UK Top 40. She had a starring role in an off-Broadway production, "Mama I Want to Sing". Moten also landed a feature song "Whatever You Imagine" in children's movie Pagemaster starring McKauley Culkin in 1994.[4] In the late 1990s, with her personal career at a crossroads, she accepted an offer to tour with Julio Iglesias, a working relationship that continued for the next 15 years.[1] She said, "I toured the whole world with him, singing in four languages . . . flying around in private jets and singing in front of massive audiencies."[1]
In 2006, Moten sang back-up vocals on the Soul2Soul II Tour with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. She continued touring with Tim and Faith from 2005-2018. She contributed backing vocals to Bonnie Tyler's 2013 album Rocks and Honey. She also toured with Martina McBride from 2014-2016 providing background vocals. Moten was a harmony singer for Vince Gill and was a member of his Time Jumpers for several years, but in 2020, Gill took her on tour as a featured vocalist.[5]
The Voiceedit
Moten said that in 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the touring business and live music venues, she found her career to be at a critical juncture.[1] She was not sure that her lucrative work as a backup singer on high-profile tours would be still be in existence.[1] When the chance for The Voice came, Moten said, "Deciding to do The Voice was hard. Because I've been on a certain level for like 30-plus years... and to be in a situation where you are trying to get people to love you and vote for you...it's tough. But decided to take a risk".[1] Moten competed in the twenty-first season of The Voice and finished as the runner-up of the season.[6] While working on the show, Moten fell over a monitor, fracturing her elbow. She was told at a Burbank hospital that it would require surgery, but she was determined to remain on the show for 3 more episodes and then had surgery to repair the fracture with titanium plates.[1] As of 2022, Moten is assembling a professional team to help re-launch her solo career following the surge in her media exposure on the show.[1]
Timeless - Wendy Moten Sings Richard Whiting (2014)
I've Got You Covered (2020)
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghijklMehr, Bob (February 7, 2022). "Memphis Singer Wendy Moten Ready for Stardom Again After 'The Voice'". No. 118:37. The Tennessean. USA Today Network. pp. 2-A, 5-A. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
^ abcdDeCosta-Willis, Miriam (2008). Notable Black Memphians. Amherst, N.Y.: Cambria Press. p. 374. ISBN9781604975055.
^Warthen, Cassie. "Memphis Alum Wendy Moten takes The Voice by storm". The Blue Note. The Blue Note. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^"Vince Gill Tours Solo Again with 'Voice' Finalist Wendy Moten". americansongwriter.com. American Songwriter. March 22, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
^"Memphian comes in second on 'The Voice' season finale". Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
External linksedit
The complete Wendy Moten Story with an interview in Soul Express
November 23, 2023
wendy, moten, born, november, 1964, american, jazz, singer, from, tennessee, born, memphis, based, nashville, moten, successful, career, music, including, several, major, label, solo, records, some, international, songs, second, career, touring, musician, desp. Wendy Moten born November 22 1964 is an American jazz singer from Tennessee Born in Memphis and based in Nashville Moten has had a successful career in music including several major label solo records some international hit songs and a second career as a touring musician 1 Despite this success she surprised many of her fellow musicians and fans when at age 56 she took a career risk by entering an American national talent competition The Voice She finished as the runner up on the show but her career was buoyed by the national exposure just as she had hoped 1 Moten is best known for the single Come In Out of the Rain which was a No 8 hit in the UK in February 1994 2 Wendy MotenWendy Moten at Wildhorse Saloon June 2023 Background informationBorn 1964 11 22 November 22 1964 age 58 Memphis Tennessee USGenresR amp Bsoulrockjazzcountry soulOccupation s Solo artist vocalist performerYears active1992 presentLabelsEMI Vital IRSWebsitewendymoten com Contents 1 Early life and career 2 The Voice 3 Discography 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and career editThe daughter of a pastor Moten began singing in a church choir as a child 1 She attended Overton High School in Memphis and sang in the Overton Choir under the direction of the late Lulah M Hedgeman 2 She won a Mid South Fair singing competition at age 16 and got a job singing at a theme park 1 She attended Memphis State University now the University of Memphis 2 as a music business major at the Rudi E Scheidt School of Music 3 She was discovered by promo man Dick Williams who heard her as she was singing on a jingle in a Memphis studio 1 She got her first break singing with Michael Bolton at a benefit concert after signing with EMI in 1992 she released her self titled debut album and opened for Bolton on tour 2 Moten s biggest hit single was Come In Out of the Rain which although only peaking at 55 in 1993 on the Billboard Hot 100 was a No 5 adult contemporary hit and also reached the Top 10 in the UK Singles Chart where it peaked at No 8 in 1994 A follow up single So Close to Love did not chart in the U S but reached No 35 in the UK Top 40 She had a starring role in an off Broadway production Mama I Want to Sing Moten also landed a feature song Whatever You Imagine in children s movie Pagemaster starring McKauley Culkin in 1994 4 In the late 1990s with her personal career at a crossroads she accepted an offer to tour with Julio Iglesias a working relationship that continued for the next 15 years 1 She said I toured the whole world with him singing in four languages flying around in private jets and singing in front of massive audiencies 1 In 2006 Moten sang back up vocals on the Soul2Soul II Tour with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill She continued touring with Tim and Faith from 2005 2018 She contributed backing vocals to Bonnie Tyler s 2013 album Rocks and Honey She also toured with Martina McBride from 2014 2016 providing background vocals Moten was a harmony singer for Vince Gill and was a member of his Time Jumpers for several years but in 2020 Gill took her on tour as a featured vocalist 5 The Voice editMoten said that in 2020 when the Covid 19 pandemic shut down the touring business and live music venues she found her career to be at a critical juncture 1 She was not sure that her lucrative work as a backup singer on high profile tours would be still be in existence 1 When the chance for The Voice came Moten said Deciding to do The Voice was hard Because I ve been on a certain level for like 30 plus years and to be in a situation where you are trying to get people to love you and vote for you it s tough But decided to take a risk 1 Moten competed in the twenty first season of The Voice and finished as the runner up of the season 6 While working on the show Moten fell over a monitor fracturing her elbow She was told at a Burbank hospital that it would require surgery but she was determined to remain on the show for 3 more episodes and then had surgery to repair the fracture with titanium plates 1 As of 2022 Moten is assembling a professional team to help re launch her solo career following the surge in her media exposure on the show 1 Performances on The Voice season 21Round Theme Song Original Artist Order Original Air Date ResultBlind Auditions We Can Work It Out The Beatles 1 11 September 20 2021 All four chairs turned John Legend blocked joined Team BlakeBattles Top 48 If I Ever Lose My Faith in You vs Manny Keith Sting 9 9 October 18 2021 Saved by coachKnockouts Top 32 Ain t No Way vs Jonathan Mouton Aretha Franklin 11 1 October 25 2021Live Playoffs Top 20 I Will Always Love You Dolly Parton Whitney Houston cover 15 20 November 8 2021 Saved by public s voteLive Top 13 Dedications Blue Bayou Linda Ronstadt 17 1 November 15 2021Live Top 11 Fan Week Freeway of Love Aretha Franklin 19 1 November 22 2021Live Top 10 Challenge Week Jolene Dolly Parton 21 2 November 29 2021Live Top 8 Semifinals 90s Duet with a fellow artist Change the World with Paris Winningham Eric Clapton 23 3 December 6 2021 You re All I Need to Get By Marvin Gaye amp Tammi Terrell 23 9Live Finale Final 5 Up tempo Song How Will I Know Whitney Houston 25 5 December 13 2021 Runner Up Ballad Over the Rainbow Judy Garland Patti LaBelle cover 25 10 Duet with Coach Just a Fool with Blake Shelton Christina Aguilera amp Blake Shelton 26 15 December 14 2021Discography editMain article Wendy Moten discography Wendy Moten 1992 Time for Change 1995 Christmas Time 1995 EP Life s What You Make It 1996 Tis the Season 2009 Timeless Wendy Moten Sings Richard Whiting 2014 I ve Got You Covered 2020 References edit a b c d e f g h i j k l Mehr Bob February 7 2022 Memphis Singer Wendy Moten Ready for Stardom Again After The Voice No 118 37 The Tennessean USA Today Network pp 2 A 5 A Retrieved August 4 2022 a b c d DeCosta Willis Miriam 2008 Notable Black Memphians Amherst N Y Cambria Press p 374 ISBN 9781604975055 Warthen Cassie Memphis Alum Wendy Moten takes The Voice by storm The Blue Note The Blue Note Retrieved August 8 2022 Huey Steve Wendy Moten Review allmusic com Netaktion LLC Retrieved August 5 2022 Vince Gill Tours Solo Again with Voice Finalist Wendy Moten americansongwriter com American Songwriter March 22 2022 Retrieved August 4 2022 Memphian comes in second on The Voice season finale Memphis Local Sports Business amp Food News Daily Memphian Retrieved January 14 2022 External links editThe complete Wendy Moten Story with an interview in Soul Express Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wendy Moten amp oldid 1182702648, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
