Cheryl Lynn
| Cheryl Lynn | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Lynda Cheryl Smith |
| Born |
March 11, 1957 Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels |
Columbia (1978–85; 1996) Manhattan (1987–89) Virgin (1989–91) Avex Trax (1995–96) |
| Associated acts | |
Cheryl Lynn (born Lynda Cheryl Smith; March 11, 1957) is an American singer. Lynn is best known for her songs during the late 1970s through the mid–1980s; including 1978's R&B/disco song, "Got to Be Real". Lynn's singing career began when she was a young girl with her church choir. However, her professional singing career started during 1976 when she obtained a job as a backing vocalist for the national touring company of the musical drama The Wiz.
Eventually she would obtain the role of Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West, during the six-month national tour. Prior to her appearance on The Wiz, Cheryl taped an episode of the Gong Show during the early part of 1976. She scored a perfect 30 singing Joe Cocker's "You Are So Beautiful", a previous act (a singing juggler) had also scored 30 and in the audience applause tie-break the juggler was deemed the winner. After the episode was broadcast, during the autumn of 1976, record industry executives were calling to contract her.
After her performance on The Gong Show, Ahmed Ertegun of Atlantic Records company couldn't come to an initial meeting with Lynn, with the result that she was contracted with Columbia Records company. Lynn released her first and best-known song, "Got to Be Real," which was composed by keyboardist David Paich (of the band Toto), David Foster and Lynn. The song scored #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 record chart and #1 on the Rhythm & Blues chart. The success of the single album prompted a full scale debut album. Named Cheryl Lynn, it was produced by Paich. The album sold more than a million copies and scored #5 on Billboard magazine's R&B albums chart and #23 on Billboards top 200 album charts. The next single off the album, written by Judy Wieder and John Footman, "Star Love"', also became a #1 success. Wieder and Footman joined songwriting forces with the artist for her second album, In Love (album) with "Got Just What You Need!" During this time, members of the rock music group Toto were producing their debut album. During the production Lynn was asked to provide the female backing vocal for the single album, "Georgy Porgy,". The single scored #48 on Billboard's popular music charts. Although Toto would go on to chart more than a dozen popular music successes throughout the years, it was Lynn's vocal for "Georgy Porgy" that aided the group in charting their only R&B (#18) and Dance (#80) on the Billboard charts.
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