Renee Ilene Sandstrom (born February 15, 1974), professionally known as Renee Sands, is an American singer and actress whose career began as a child performer. She gained early public recognition for her role on the 1980s television music program Kids Incorporated and later pursued pop recording and live performance work.
Early career and television
Sands first attracted attention as a young vocalist and actor on the ensemble show that combined scripted scenes with performances of contemporary pop songs. She appeared on the program in its early run (1983–1987), performing regularly with other child and teen cast members. The show served as a platform where several participants later moved into professional recording and mainstream entertainment.
Music career and Wild Orchid
After her television work, Sands focused increasingly on music. She became a founding member of the female pop group Wild Orchid alongside fellow former child performer Stacy Ferguson and singer Stefanie Ridel. The group recorded and toured during the 1990s and developed a radio-friendly pop sound influenced by contemporary R&B and dance-pop trends. Sands contributed as a vocalist and collaborative songwriter during this period.
Later work and artistic activity
Following the peak of Wild Orchid's activity, Sands continued to work in music and entertainment, providing studio vocals, writing, and occasional live appearances. Like many performers who begin young, she moved between recording projects, stage events, and collaborative sessions rather than maintaining a single long-running commercial profile.
Style, influences and legacy
Sands' background as a child performer shaped a career that spans acting and singing. Her musical approach reflects mainstream pop sensibilities with elements of R&B harmonies and polished production typical of late-20th-century girl groups. Historically, she is often mentioned in discussions of performers who transitioned from children's television into adult music careers.
Career highlights
- American singer and actress who began performing professionally as a child
- Early cast member on Kids Incorporated (1983–1987)
- Member of the pop group Wild Orchid in the 1990s
Today Sands is remembered for the combination of television exposure and later pop-group activity that typifies several entertainers who came of age in the 1980s and 1990s music-television era.