Wendy Jo Smith

Wendy Jo Smith

Photograph by Stas Tagios
Born Toledo, Ohio
Other names Wendy Ho (stage persona)
Alma mater Missouri State University
Occupation Comedian, singer and rapper
Years active 2002 to present
Website
Official website

Wendy Jo Smith, better known as her stage-name Wendy Ho, is an American rap-artist, singer, and comedian.

Early life and career

Wendy Jo Smith's "Wendy Ho" stage persona, photo by Stas Tagios

Smith was born in Toledo, Ohio, and spent much of her childhood in Kansas City, Kansas. She moved to New York City in the summer of 2002, where she participated in the caberet scene and performed in regional theatre shows.[1][2][3] She acquired the nickname "Wendy Ho" while attending college at Missouri State University, where she was the recipient of the Kathleen Turner Performance Scholarship.[4]

Smith began her career in the straight comedy clubs of New York, eventually playing a Christmas show at a gay-oriented venue. From that point forward she began focusing her much of her act on gay audiences.[5][6] The persona used in the act used her college nickname "Wendy Ho", which has been described as a parody of a prostitute from Harlem[7] as well as a "female drag queen".[5] Her act contains both stand-up comedy, rap performances, and singing.[8] She has stated that she uses the word "Ho" in her stage name in order to reclaim the word from its negative connotations.[9]

Entertainment career

Album cover from Ho's second album Yes I'm a Ho!

Smith's first release was the rap album The Gospel According to Ho, for which the music video for the track Bitch, I Stole Yo’ Purse was produced. The video earned its way into circulation on the cable music video channel Logo TV. Logo viewers voted the video the "ultimate funniest video in February 2008.[10] The television series Nip/Tuck also hired Jennifer Coolidge to play a parody of the Wendy Ho persona called "Hot Coco", who sings a song entitled Yo Stank from an album called The Gospel According to Coco (the name of which parodies the title of Smith's first album). After the performance Coolidge stated that, "Wendy Ho is about as cool as it gets. I’d never seen anything like her."[11]

The song Fuck Me became a favorite among drag queens in the United States, who began commonly performing to the song after its release. Smith later released a remixed version of the song on her album Number 2 in the summer of 2010 and released her second full album Yes, I’m a Ho! in October 2010.[1][5][12] Television appearances for Smith have included her appearance on the Showtime series I Can't Believe I'm Still Single.[13] In 2014 her album Greatest Shits entered the Billboard Comedy Album top ten chart, hitting number eight for the November 1, 2014 list.[14]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Paul E. Pratt (October 21, 2010). "Gay Fave Wendy Ho Releases New Album". San Francisco Bay Times. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  2. ↑ Shaun Knittel (December 24, 2010). "Wendy Ho skanks up Seattle for the holidays". Seattle Gay News. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Interview With Wendy Ho, Comedian, Rapper, Singer and Truth Teller". Blog Talk Radio. October 30, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Kathleen Turner visits SMS campus Monday". The Standard. November 4, 1998. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 MM Adjarian (August 17, 2010). "Wendy Ho :: Singer. Rapper. Truth Teller. Ho". Edge Boston. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  6. ↑ Mark Robins (June 19, 2013). "Wendy Ho wants to change attitudes". Gay Vancouver. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  7. ↑ Dave Jaffer (August 20, 2009). "The Manhattan Comedy Project: First we take Manhattan". Hour. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  8. ↑ Paul E. Pratt (March 20, 2008). "NYC Ho Makes Her Rounds in San Francisco". San Francisco Bay Times. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  9. ↑ MM Adjarian (August 17, 2010). "Wendy Ho :: Singer. Rapper. Truth Teller. Ho (Part 2)". Edge Boston. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  10. ↑ "The Click List: Ultimate Funniest Videos, 02.01.08". Logo TV. February 1, 2008. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  11. ↑ Brandon Voss (April 1, 2010). "Comedy". Advocate. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Out & About: Jan. 27". Washington Blade. January 26, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  13. ↑ Tracy Parks (March 14, 2012). "Wendy Ho 'The Queen of Sass and Crass' at The Palm". Banderas News. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Billboard Comedy Albums". Billboard. November 1, 2014. Retrieved October 27, 2014.

External links