Wendy Moten

Wendy Moten

    While she was known principally to the general public for decades due to the hit, the Whitney Houston-like big ballad, "Come In Out Of The Rain," Wendy Moten has fashioned quite a career over the years, including some unexpected turns as the '20s hit. A singer and comedienne, the Memphis-born talentfirst broke out as a backing vocalist for Michael Bolton, and her reputation won for her a contract with Capitol Records, where she recorded with producer Troy Taylor (Boyz II Men, Kool & the Gang) for her successful debut album.  "Come In" hit the top 5 on the AC charts in 1992 and appeared to indicate a bright future for the attractive, big voiced singer. However the follow up, Life's What You Make It, failed to chart, resulting in her separation from Capitol. She recorded two more records in the 90s, working with talent like Carol Bayer Sager and James Ingram, but never achieved the level of success that her talent deserved.

    Around the turn of the century, Moten began serving regularly as a featured vocalist on tour with Julio Inglesias.   She also worked on albums by Michael McDonald, Kirk Whalum, Faith Hill & Tim McGraw, Vince Gill and Buddy Guy and performed off Broadway ("Mama I Want To Sing"). 

    In 2010, Moten teamed with pianist/producer Clay Perry and completed Tis The Season, an enjoyable holiday album that showed her to still be in fine voice. And she never had a shortage of opportunities to perform, either supporting other major artists or as a headliner who could sing jazz, blues, pop, country and just about anything else. 

    Moten's life turn a bit of a turn when she became a contestant on Season 21 of NBC's The Voice, and found herself a fan favorite, even as she competed against artists two decades her junior. But what she showed most of all was that she could bring it better than ever. And her crystal clear voice sounds as great now as it did when she scaled the charts in 1992 with "Come In Out of The Rain."

    By Chris Rizik

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