Wild Orchid

Formed in the mid-1990s as a dance-pop outfit aimed at teenagers, Wild Orchid attracted only a modest audience. The trio consisted of Stacy Ferguson, born March 27, 1975, in Whittier, CA; Stefanie Ridel, born May 17, 1973; and Renee Sandstrom, born February 15, 1974, in Worchester, MA. Having known each other since childhood, the three decided to start the band following their shared experiences acting on the Nickelodeon series Kids Incorporated and providing backing vocals for Martika. After inking a deal with RCA, their A&R representative Ron Fair served as co-producer on the self-titled debut album released in 1996, bringing aboard contributors including Jerry Hey's Horns, David Frank, Abraham Laboriel, Sr., Junior Vazques, Bob Brockmann, and Matthew Wilder. Critics responded favorably for the most part to Wild Orchid, which achieved moderate commercial success, paving the way for the 1998 release Oxygen. Despite the subsequent rise of Ferguson, now known as Fergie, into a successful solo career alongside her role in Black Eyed Peas, the group lingered as a minor note in pop music annals.