Renn Woods – Associated Artist

🟣 Associated Artist Profile: Renn Woods

(Glam Slam Escape — Associated Artists Series)

🟣 Overview

Renn Woods (born Ren Woods; January 1, 1958) is an American actress, vocalist, and songwriter whose career spans film, television, theatre, and music. Best known for her role as Fanta in Roots (1977), her electrifying performance of “Aquarius” in Hair (1979), and her recurring role as Edie in Beauty and the Beast (1987–1989), Woods stands as a multi‑disciplinary force in Black entertainment history.

Her connection to the Prince universe arrives through her 1982 album Azz Izz, which features the Prince‑written track “I Don’t Wanna Stop.”

🟣 Early Life & Musical Beginnings

Born in Chicago and raised in Portland, Oregon, Woods grew up in a politically conscious household led by her mother, a nurse and single parent. She began performing at age eight, forming a trio with neighborhood friends called Three Little Souls, later renamed Sunday’s Child.

The group toured internationally, appearing with Bob Hope, Jack Benny, and Bing Crosby — even joining Bob Hope’s final Vietnam tour. These early experiences shaped Woods into a confident, expressive performer long before her acting career began.

🟣 Career Breakthroughs

Woods transitioned into acting in the mid‑1970s, quickly gaining national attention:

• Dorothy in the first national tour of The Wiz (1976)

• Fanta in Roots (1977) — earning a People’s Choice Award

• “Aquarius” soloist in Hair (1979), a defining moment in the film

• Supporting role in The Jerk (1979)

• Appearances in Car Wash, Youngblood, Xanadu, 9 to 5, Penitentiary II, and The Brother from Another Planet

Her television work includes Hill Street Blues, The Jeffersons, Lou Grant, What’s Happening!!, The White Shadow, NYPD Blue, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and a major recurring role as Edie in Beauty and the Beast.

🟣 Music Career & Prince Connection

Woods released her debut album Out of the Woods in 1979, produced by Al McKay of Earth, Wind & Fire.

Her second album, Azz Izz (1982), is where her path intersects with Prince:

💜 Azz Izz (1982)

• Includes “I Don’t Wanna Stop”, written by Prince

• Woods’ band re‑recorded the track — making it the first Prince composition released without any Prince performance or production

• Later reissues removed the song entirely, making original pressings highly collectible

She later released Crazy (2015), a jazz‑standards album, and is currently recording an American Songbook project.

🟣 Discography (Selected Works)

(Integrated into the Associated Artist Profile)

Studio Albums

Out of the Woods

Released: 1979

Label: ARC / Columbia

Notes: Debut solo album produced by Al McKay (Earth, Wind & Fire). A polished blend of soul, pop, and West Coast R&B.

Azz Izz

Released: March 19, 1982

Label: Elektra Records

Prince Connection: Includes “I Don’t Wanna Stop”, written by Prince — the first Prince composition released without his musical involvement.

Notes: Later reissues removed the track, making original pressings highly collectible.

Crazy

Released: 2015

Label: Self‑released

Notes: A jazz‑standards project showcasing Woods’ mature vocal phrasing and interpretive range.

Other Musical Projects

A Diva Like Me

Format: One‑woman autobiographical musical

Era: 1990s

Notes: Later expanded into an ensemble production titled Sold: Renn Woods in Concert (A Play in Rhythm and Blues).

American Songbook Project

Status: In production

Notes: Woods’ current recording project, exploring classic American standards.

🟣 Stage Work & Later Career

Woods continued to thrive onstage, appearing as:

• The Moon in Caroline, or Change (Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles)

• Creator and star of A Diva Like Me and its expanded ensemble version

• Performer in numerous theatrical and musical productions across the U.S.

She has also appeared in documentary series such as Unsung Hollywood and TruInside: The Jerk.

🟣 Why She Matters to the Prince Universe

Renn Woods represents a fascinating intersection of Black musical theatre, Hollywood, and early‑80s R&B — a performer whose artistry resonated strongly enough for Prince to contribute a composition at a pivotal moment in her recording career.

Her version of “I Don’t Wanna Stop” stands as a unique artifact: the first Prince‑written song released without his musical involvement, and a rare example of his early‑80s generosity toward emerging artists.

🟣 Glam Flashback

A radiant, genre‑crossing performer whose voice, presence, and fearlessness defined a generation — and whose brief but meaningful connection to Prince adds a shimmering thread to the wider Glam Slam tapestry.

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